Exercise · ZW-DIRECT-PRODUCT-OF-GROUPS-009 · ★★★ Advanced

How many elements of order 3 are there in \(\mathbb{Z}_3\times\mathbb{Z}_3\)?

Choose one option.

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  • C. 8

Explanation

Every element \((a,b)\) satisfies \(3(a,b)=(0,0)\), so its order is 1 or 3, and it is 1 only for the identity. That leaves \(9-1=8\) elements of order 3, even though the group is not cyclic.

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Review the concept: Direct product of groups

The direct product \(G\times H\) of two groups \(G\) and \(H\) is the set of pairs \((g,h)\), with \(g\in G\) and \(h\in H\), with the operation defined componentwise.

\[(g_1,h_1)(g_2,h_2)=(g_1g_2,\;h_1h_2)\]

More practice problems: direct product of groups

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