Exercise · ZW-CYCLIC-GROUP-001 · ★☆☆ Basic

How many generators does the cyclic group \((\mathbb{Z}_{12},+)\) have?

Choose one option.

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  • B. 4

Explanation

The generators are the classes \(a\) with \(\gcd(a,12)=1\): \(1,5,7,11\). That is \(\varphi(12)=4\) of them.

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Review the concept: Cyclic group

A cyclic group is a group \(G\) with an element \(g\), called a generator, such that every element of \(G\) is a power of \(g\).

\[G=\langle g\rangle=\{\,g^k : k\in\mathbb{Z}\,\}\]

More practice problems: cyclic group

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