New to forum, and I was hoping you guys would be able to help me out with this problem. The course is abstract algebra.
The problem statement is:
If f : G → H is a homomorphism, prove the following: Let the range of f have m elements. If a ∈ G has order n, where m and n are relatively prime, then a is in the kernel of f.
I'm at a loss where to begin for this problem.
I know that the range of f is a subgroup of H. I know that the order of an element is defined to be the least positive integer n such that $a^n=e$. I know that the kernel of f is the set K of all the elements of G are carried by f onto the neutral element of H. I just do not know how all these go together to prove the statement.
Thank you!
Since $a^n=e$, we have $e=f(e)=f(a^n)= f(a)^n$. But, $f(a) \in f[G]$, hence the order of $f(a)$ must divide both $m$ and $n$. Hence $f(a)$ has order one, i.e. $f(a)=e$.