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QUIZ II Solutions

The document contains model solutions for a quiz on Elementary Number Theory and Algebra, covering topics such as permutation groups, cyclic subgroups, irreducible polynomials, and ring theory. Each question is followed by an answer and a detailed explanation of the reasoning behind it. Key results include the order of permutations, the number of elements of specific orders in groups, and properties of rings and ideals.

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6 views3 pages

QUIZ II Solutions

The document contains model solutions for a quiz on Elementary Number Theory and Algebra, covering topics such as permutation groups, cyclic subgroups, irreducible polynomials, and ring theory. Each question is followed by an answer and a detailed explanation of the reasoning behind it. Key results include the order of permutations, the number of elements of specific orders in groups, and properties of rings and ideals.

Uploaded by

lalhriemsangfaihriemsang
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© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Quiz-II: MA 222: Elementary Number Theory and Algebra

Model Solutions

1. Let x be the 100-cycle (1 2 3 · · · 100) and let y be the 2-cycle (49 50) in the permutation
group S100 . What is the order of xy? [1]

Answer: 99.
Solution: Clearly, xy = (1 2 · · · 49 51 · · · 100) is a 99-cycle. Therefore, the order of
xy is 99.

2. The number of elements in Z1000001 of orders 101 and 1001 are, respectively [1]

Answer: 100 and 0.


Solution: The group Z1000001 is cyclic and 101 divides its order, i.e., 1000001. Hence
the number of elements of order 101 in Z1000001 is φ(101) = 100. Since 1001 does not
divide 1000001, there is no element of order 1001 in Z1000001 .

3. The number of cyclic subgroups of order 4 in S4 is equal to [1]

Answer: 3.
Solution: Any cyclic subgroup of order 4 is generated by an element of order 4 and
only elements of order 4 in S4 are 4-cycles. There are six 4-cycles in S4 , namely,
(1 2 3 4), (1 2 4 3), (1 3 2 4), (1 3 4 2), (1 4 3 2), and (1 4 2 3). Subgroups generated
by these six 4-cycles are:
h(1 2 3 4)i = {(1) , (1 2 3 4) , (1 3) (2 4) , (1 4 3 2)} = H1 ,
h(1 2 4 3)i = {(1) , (1 2 4 3) , (1 4) (3 2) , (1 3 4 2)} = H2 ,
h(1 3 2 4)i = {(1) , (1 3 2 4) , (1 2) (3 4) , (1 4 2 3)} = H3 ,
h(1 3 4 2)i = H2 ,
h(1 4 3 2)i = H1 ,
h(1 4 2 3)i = H3 .
Therefore, S4 has three distinct cyclic subgroups of order 4.

4. The number of elements of order 12 in S7 is equal to [2]

Answer: 420.
Solution: The only possible way to write a 12-order element in S7 is a product of 4-
7
and 3-cycle. The total number of 4-cycles in S7 is P4 4 = 210. The remaining three
symbols can form 2 possible 3-cycles. Thus, we have 210×2=420 elements of order 12
in S7 .

5. The number of elements in the set {x ∈ S5 : x4 = (1)} is equal to [2]

Answer: 56.
Solution: The set contains the elements from S5 of order 1, 2, and 4. In S5 , elements
5
of order 4 are 4-cycles only, and there are P4 4 = 30 number of 4-cycles. Whereas,
2-cycles and product of two distinct 2-cycles are of order 2. The number of 2-cycles in
5
S5 is P2 2 = 10.
For counting elements which are product of two 2-cycles, notice that after choosing
first 2-cycle in (5 C2 =) 10 ways, we need to choose 2 symbols from remaining 3 symbols
in (3 C2 =) 3 ways. Since elements like (1 2)(3 4) and (3 4)(1 2) are same, we divide by
2, to get the total number of elements which are product of two distinct 2-cycles equal
to 10×3
2
= 15. The identity is the only element of order 1 in any group, therefore, we
get the total number of elements in the set equal to 30 + 10 + 15 + 1 = 56.

6. Which of the following is(are) field(s)? [2]


(A) C[x]/(x2 + 2) (B) Z[x]/(x2 + 2) (C) Q[x]/(x2 − 2) (D) R[x]/(x2 − 2)

Answer: (C).
Solution: Since Q is a field and x2 − 2 is irreducible in Q[x], hence Q[x]
(x2 −2)
is a field.
Clearly, x2 + 2 and x2 − 2 have roots in C and R, respectively. Therefore, C[x]
(x2 +2)
and
R[x]
(x2 −2)
are not fields. We have

Z[x]
ax + b + (x2 + 2) : a, b ∈ Z ,

R := =
(x2 + 2)

with unity 1+(x2 + 2). Consider z = 2 + (x2 + 2) ∈ R, then z has no inverse in R.


Hence, R is not a field.

7. Write down all the irreducible polynomials of degree 2 in Z2 [x]. [1]

Answer: x2 + x + 1.
Solution: All possible polynomials of degree 2 in Z2 [x] are x2 , x2 + x, x2 + x + 1, and
x2 + 1. Substituting x = 0 and x = 1, we observe that the polynomials x2 , x2 + x, and
x2 + 1 have roots in Z2 . But f (x) = x2 + x + 1 has no root in Z2 , hence f (x) is the
only irreducible polynomial of degree 2.

8. For rings R and S, consider the ring R × S = {(r, s) : r ∈ R, s ∈ S} with respect to


componentwise addition and multiplication. Then, which of the following statement(s)
is(are) TRUE? [1]
(A) The characteristic of the ring 6Z is 6
(B) The ring 6Z has no zero divisor
(C) The characteristic of the ring (Z/6Z) × 6Z is zero
(D) The ring 6Z × 6Z is an integral domain

Answer: (B) and (C).


Solution: Characteristic of the ring 6Z is 0.
The ring 6Z has no zero divisors as it is a subring of an integral domain Z.
Since characteristic of 6Z is 0, therefore characteristic of (Z/6Z) × 6Z is also 0.
For any 0 6= a ∈ 6Z, we have (a, 0) · (0, a) = (0, 0). Therefore, 6Z × 6Z has zero divisors
and it is not an integral domain.

9. The number of units f in the ring Z12 [x] such that deg(f ) ≤ 2 is equal to [2]

Answer: 16.
Solution: Nilpotent elements in Z12 are 0 and 6. Units in Z12 are 1, 5, 7, and 11.
We know that f (x) = ax2 + bx + c is a unit if a and b are nilpotent elements, and c is
a unit. Hence, we have 2 × 2 × 4 = 16 polynomials which are units in Z12 [x].
10. Let I = {f (x) ∈ Z[x] : f (0) = 0} and J = {f (x) ∈ Z[x] : f (0) ∈ 2Z}. Which of the
following statement is TRUE? [2]
(A) Both I and J are maximal ideals (B) I is maximal but J is not maximal
(C) J is maximal but I is not maximal (D) Both I and J are not maximal ideals

Answer: (C).
Solution: Clearly I ( J ( Z[x], therefore I is not a maximal ideal.
Let J1 be an ideal of Z[x] such that J ( J1 . Then J1 contains a polynomial g(x)
whose constant term is an odd number. Also, h(x) = g(x) + 1 ∈ J ⊂ J1 , therefore
1 = h(x) − g(x) ∈ J1 which gives J1 = Z[x]. Hence, J is a maximal ideal.

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