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Date May 2015 Marks available 2 Reference code 15M.3srg.hl.TZ0.1
Level HL only Paper Paper 3 Sets, relations and groups Time zone TZ0
Command term Write down Question number 1 Adapted from N/A

Question

Consider the set S3={ p, q, r, s, t, u}S3={ p, q, r, s, t, u} of permutations of the elements of the set {1, 2, 3}, defined by

     p=(123123), q=(123132), r=(123321), s=(123213), t=(123231), u=(123312).

Let denote composition of permutations, so ab means b followed by a. You may assume that (S3, ) forms a group.

 

 

Complete the following Cayley table

[5 marks]

[4]
a.

(i)     State the inverse of each element.

(ii)     Determine the order of each element.

[6]
b.

Write down the subgroups containing

(i)     r,

(ii)     u.

[2]
c.

Markscheme

    (M1)A4

 

Note:     Award M1 for use of Latin square property and/or attempted multiplication, A1 for the first row or column, A1 for the squares of q, r and s, then A2 for all correct.

a.

(i)     p1=p, q1=q, r1=r, s1=s     A1

t1=u, u1=t     A1

 

Note:     Allow FT from part (a) unless the working becomes simpler.

 

(ii)     using the table or direct multiplication     (M1)

the orders of {p, q, r, s, t, u} are {1, 2, 2, 2, 3, 3}     A3

 

Note:     Award A1 for two, three or four correct, A2 for five correct.

[6 marks]

b.

(i)     {p, r} (and (S3, ))     A1

(ii)     {p, u, t} (and (S3, ))     A1

 

Note:     Award A0A1 if the identity has been omitted.

Award A0 in (i) or (ii) if an extra incorrect “subgroup” has been included.

[2 marks]

Total [13 marks]

c.

Examiners report

The majority of candidates were able to complete the Cayley table correctly. Unfortunately, many wasted time and space, laboriously working out the missing entries in the table - the identity is p and the elements q, r and s are clearly of order two, so 14 entries can be filled in without any calculation. A few candidates thought t and u had order two.

a.

Generally well done. A few candidates were unaware of the definition of the order of an element.

b.

Often well done. A few candidates stated extra, and therefore incorrect subgroups.

c.

Syllabus sections

Topic 8 - Option: Sets, relations and groups » 8.11 » Subgroups, proper subgroups.

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