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    • ▾Abstract algebra
      • ▸Binary operations and relations
        • •Properties of binary operations
        • •What is a relation? (for undergraduates)
        • •What is an equivalence relation?
      • ▾Group theory
        • •Intro to groups
        • •Subgroups
        • •Group isomorphisms
        • ▸Group homomorphisms
          • •Kernel of a group homomorphism
          • •Intro to group homomorphisms
        • •Equivalence classes
        • •Cosets of a subgroup
        • •Cosets and Lagrange's theorem
        • •Basic group theory proofs
        • ▸Abelian groups
          • •Lesson
          • •Practice
        • •Alternating groups
        • •Tidbits on Burnside's lemma
        • ▸Converting between array notation and cycle notation
          • •Converting cycle notation to array notation
          • •Converting array notation to cycle notation
        • •Cyclic groups
        • •Dihedral group
        • •Direct product of finite cyclic groups
        • •Direct product of groups
        • •Group automorphisms
        • •Is the table a commutative semigroup?
        • •Kernel of a group homomorphism
        • •Klein four-group
        • •Multiplying permutations in array notation
        • •Multiplying permutations in cycle notation
        • •Order of an element in a group
        • •Proof: Centralizer of group element is subgroup
        • •Compositions of group morphisms
        • •Normal subgroups
        • •Proof: Finite subgroup test
        • •Proof: First isomorphism theorem for groups
        • •Proof: Fundamental homomorphism theorem
        • •Proof: Group abelian iff cross cancellation property
        • •Proof: If \(y\) is a left or right inverse for \(x\) in a group, then \(y\) is the inverse of \(x\)
        • •Proof: Inverse of generator of cyclic group is generator
        • •Proof: Inverse of group inverse
        • •One-step subgroup test
        • •Proof: Order of element divides order of finite group
        • •Proof: Order of group element equals order of inverse
        • •Proof: Second isomorphism theorem for groups
        • •Proof: Special linear group is subgroup of general linear group
        • •Proof: Symmetric difference on power set forms group
        • •Proof: The conjugation map is an automorphism
        • •Proof: Two-step subgroup test
        • •Proving group homomorphisms
        • •Quotient groups
        • •Simple groups
        • •Solvable groups
        • •Sufficient conditions for a group to be abelian
        • •Symmetric group
        • •Symmetries of an equilateral triangle
        • •Verifying equivalence relations on groups
        • •What is cycle notation?
        • •Group actions
        • •Orbit stabilizer theorem
        • •Center of a group
      • ▸Ring theory
        • •Is it a ring?
        • •Basic ring theory proofs
        • ▸Integral ideals
          • •Intro to integral ideals
          • •Proving multiples form an integral ideal
        • •More ring theory proofs
        • •What is a subring?
     › Abstract algebra › Group theory

    Cyclic groups

    First, students will learn what cyclic groups are, and see some examples and nonexamples. Here's an excellent video. Then they will see a proof, such as this one, that cyclic groups really are groups. Following that, students will see that abelian does not imply cyclic, but cyclic does imply abelian. Here's a fantastic video on this topic. After that, students will practice proving some things are, or are not, cyclic groups. Here's an example where students are asked to prove a group is cyclic: Let \(\mathbb{Z}_m\) be the set of integers modulo \(m,\) and let \(+_m\) be addition modulo \(m.\) Is \((\mathbb{Z}_m, +_m)\) a group? If it is a group, is it cyclic? The answer can be found here. Here's an easy exercise: Prove \((\mathbb{R}, +\) is not cyclic (video.) Here's a slightly harder exercise: Prove \(\mathbb{Z} \times \mathbb{Z}\) is not cyclic (video). Finally, here are some additional ideas for exercises.

    Lessons and practice problems