[Math] Number of elements of order 2

finite-groupsgroup-theory

Suppose $G, \ast$ is a finite group or order $2p$, where $p$ is an odd prime. I was able to prove that there must be a subgroup of order $p$ denoted by $H$ and that for each element $g \in G$ we have that $g^2 \in H$. The third question I needed to solve regarding this exercise is the number of elements of order $2$ in the group $G$. I think I should be able to use what I found before.

I also know (from a previous exercise) that each abelian group having at least two elements of order 2 has a subgroup of order 4, so for abelian groups, I have at most 1 element of order 2. I also know that the dihedral group of order $2p$ has $p$ elements of order 2. However, I have no idea on how to prove the number of elements more generaly… Any hints? (I only saw the definition of groups, subgroups, cosets and order of groups/subgroups and elements). Thank you in advance.

Best Answer

Let $H\subset G$ be a group of $p$ elements. $H$ is both left and right coset and it is easy to see that then $G\backslash H$ [just in case: elements of $G$ that are not in $H$] is also both left and right coset. If you take $g\in G\backslash H$, then all the elements of the kind $gg_1$, where $g_1\in G$ are different. Because for $g_1\in H$ we already get all $p$ elements of $G\backslash H$ as $gg_1$, it follows that $g^2\in H$. Now there are two cases:

  1. For all $g\in G\backslash H$ we have $g^2=e$. Then there are $p$ elements of the order $2$, just like in dihedral group.
  2. For some $g\in G\backslash H$ we have $g^2\in H$ but $g^2\ne e$. Therefore, $g^2$ is of the order $p$, and $g$ - of the order $2p$ - abelian case.