Exercise · ZW-LAGRANGES-THEOREM-007 · ★★☆ Intermediate

\(A_4\) has order \(12\). Which statement about its subgroups is true?

Choose one option.

Show answer
  • A. It has no subgroup of order \(6\), even though \(6\) divides \(12\)

Explanation

The subgroups of \(A_4\) have orders \(1,2,3,4\) and \(12\); \(6\) is missing. This shows the converse of Lagrange's theorem is false: \(d\) dividing \(|G|\) does not guarantee a subgroup of order \(d\).

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Review the concept: Lagrange's theorem

If \(H\) is a subgroup of a finite group \(G\), the order of \(H\) divides the order of \(G\), and the quotient is the index \([G:H]\).

\[|G|=[G:H]\,|H|\]

More practice problems: lagrange's theorem

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