[Math] order of automorphism group of an abelian group of order 75

abstract-algebragroup-theory

Let $G$ be an abelian group of order $75=3\cdot 5^{2}$. Let $Aut(G)$ denote its group of automorphisms. Find all possible order of $Aut(G)$.

My approach is to first study its Sylow 5-subgroup. Since $n_{5}|3$ and $n_{5}\equiv 1\pmod{5}$, $n_{5}=1$. So $G$ has a unique Sylow 5-subgroup, denote $F$. By Sylow's Theorem, $F$ is characteristic. Then $\forall \sigma\in Aut{G}$, $\sigma(F)=F$. Define the canonical homomorphism $Aut(G)\rightarrow Aut(H)$. So $|Aut(G)|=\# (\text{Aut(G) that fixes H pointwise})\times (\text{image of homomorphism})$.

Since the image of the defined homomorphism is a subgroup of $Aut(F)$, then its order is a factor of $Aut(F)=20$. I'm not sure how to compute the number of $Aut(G)$ that fixes $H$. My understanding is this: Since we leave $H$ fixed, all that left to be permuted are the 25 Sylow 3-subgroup. Since each Sylow 3-subgroup is cyclic, it has 2 automorphisms. So altogether $|\text{Aut(G) that fixes H pointwise}|=25\times 3=75$. And all possible order of $Aut(G)$ is $75\cdot x$ where $x$ divides 20. This seems incorrect. Could someone please help me?

Best Answer

Sylow theory is generally not useful for Abelian groups since we already know so much about their structure, and since every Abelian group has a unique $p$-Sylow subgroup when it exists.

Using the classification theorem, we have that $|{G}| = 75$ implies $G \cong \mathbb{Z}/3\mathbb{Z} \times (\mathbb{Z}/5\mathbb{Z})^2$ or $G \cong \mathbb{Z}/3\mathbb{Z} \times \mathbb{Z}/25\mathbb{Z} \cong \mathbb{Z}/75 \mathbb{Z}$.

Now we use standard combinatorical methods to count the automorphisms in each case.

In the first case we must send $(1,0,0)$ to an element of order $3$, giving $2$ choices. We must send $(0,1,0)$ to an element of order $5$, giving $24$ choices. We must send $(0,0,1)$ to an element of order $5$ so that our function is surjective, giving $24 - 4 = 20$ choices. That is we are subtracting off the elements in the subgroup generated by the image of $(0,1,0)$. After defining our function on a basis, we can extend uniquely to a homomorphism on the group. This gives $20 \cdot 24 \cdot 2 = 960$ automorphisms. This work is made easier by noting $\text{aut}(H) \times \text{aut}(K) \cong \text{aut}(H \times K)$ when $H$ and $K$ are abelian groups of relatively prime orders.

In the second case we must simply pick a generator, giving $\phi(75)$ automorphisms, where $\phi$ is the Euler totient function.

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