H=<x>

• Sep 30th 2011, 08:10 PM
dwsmith
H=<x>
Let $H=$.

Assume $|x|=\infty$. Then $H=$ iff $a=\pm 1$

I don't believe this will be too hard but not sure on how to start.
• Sep 30th 2011, 08:58 PM
Deveno
Re: H=<x>
we want to show that the only generators of <x>, when |<x>| = ∞, are x and x^-1.

by definition <x> is generated by x, so x is obviously a generator.

since <x^-1> is a group, (x^-1)^-1 = x is in <x^-1>, so <x> is contained in <x^-1>.

similarly, since <x> is a group, and x^-1 is contained in <x>, <x^-1> is contained in <x>, hence they are equal, so x^-1

generates <x> as well.

so now we show that if a ≠ ±1 then <x^a> is not all of H. since, by the above argument, <x^a> = <x^(-a)>,

(just use "x^a" instead of "x")

we can assume without loss of generality that a > 1. the simplest way to proceed is to show that x is not in <x^a> for a > 1.

for suppose it were: then x = (x^a)^k, for some integer k. thus e = x^(ak - 1).

thus we have found a positive integer (either ak -1, or 1- ak) m, for which x^m = e.

but this means that x is of finite order, whence |<x>| is finite, a contradiction.