[Math] find the cyclic subgroup of $U_{21}$ generated by $[10] \in U_{21}$

abstract-algebracyclic-groupsfinite-groupsgroup-theory

Let $G = U_{21}$.

Find the cyclic subgroup of $G$ generated by $[10]$.

I'm not sure how to do this but here is what I tried:

\begin{array}{l}
g = 10 \equiv 10 \pmod {21} \\
g^2 = 100 \equiv 16 \pmod {21} \\
g^3 = 1000 \equiv 13 \pmod {21} \\
g^4 = 10000 \equiv 4 \pmod {21} \\
g^5 = 100000 \equiv 19 \pmod {21} \\
g^6 = 1000000 \equiv 1 \pmod {21}
\end{array}

Once you get to $1$, the cycle repeats.

The subgroup has elements $[10], ???, [1] $.

$[10]$ has order $6$.

Best Answer

Indeed, you have found all the elements of $\langle 10\rangle \lt U_{21}$. $\langle 10 \rangle = \left\{[1], [4], [10], [13], [16], [19]\right\},\,$ and there are exactly six elements, so $\;\left|\langle 10 \rangle\right| = 6.\;$

A good "sanity" check when determining the order of a subgroup $H$ generated by an element $h \in G$ (for finite $G$) is using Lagrange's Theorem: If $H\leq G$, and $G$ is finite, then we know that the order of $H$ must divide the order of $G$.

In this case, $\left|U_{21}\right| = \varphi(21) = 12$, and sure enough, $6 \mid 12$. $\quad\large\checkmark$

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