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Date May 2015 Marks available 2 Reference code 15M.1.hl.TZ0.3
Level HL only Paper 1 Time zone TZ0
Command term Explain Question number 3 Adapted from N/A

Question

Consider the set \(S = \{ 0,{\text{ }}1,{\text{ }}2,{\text{ }}3,{\text{ }}4,{\text{ }}5\} \) under the operation of addition modulo \(6\), denoted by \({ + _6}\).

Construct the Cayley table for \(\{ S,{\text{ }}{ + _6}\} \).

[2]
a.

Show that \(\{ S,{\text{ }}{ + _6}\} \) forms an Abelian group.

[5]
b.

State the order of each element.

[2]
c.

Explain whether or not the group is cyclic.

[2]
d.

Markscheme

    A2

Note: A1 for one or two errors in the table, A0 otherwise.

a.

closed no new elements     A1

\(0\) is identity (since \(0 + a = a + 0 = a,{\text{ }}a \in S\))     A1

\(0\), \(3\) self inverse, \(1 \Leftrightarrow 5\) inverse pair, \(2 \Leftrightarrow 4\) inverse pair     A1

all elements have an inverse

associativity is assumed over addition     A1

since symmetry on leading diagonal in table or commutativity of addition     A1

\( \Rightarrow \{ S,{\text{ }}{ + _6}\} \) is an Abelian group     AG

b.

    A2

Note: A1 for one or two errors in the table, A0 otherwise.

c.

since there is an element with order \(6\) OR \(1\) or \(5\) are generators     R1

the group is cyclic A1

d.

Examiners report

This question was well answered in general although some candidates showed only commutativity, not realising that they also had to prove that it was a group.

a.

This question was well answered in general although some candidates showed only commutativity, not realising that they also had to prove that it was a group.

b.

This question was well answered in general although some candidates showed only commutativity, not realising that they also had to prove that it was a group.

c.

This question was well answered in general although some candidates showed only commutativity, not realising that they also had to prove that it was a group.

d.

Syllabus sections

Topic 4 - Sets, relations and groups » 4.9 » Cyclic groups.

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