Each equivalence class is a power of [g]

In summary, we are discussing finding an equivalence class $[g] \in \mathbb{Z_{15}}^{*}$ that can serve as a base for all equivalence classes in $\mathbb{Z}^{*}_{15}$ to be expressed as powers of $[g]$. After trying several powers, it is concluded that such a class does not exist in this case. This is because the multiplicative group of the integers mod 15 is the direct product of the multiplicative groups of Z3 and Z5, meaning it is not cyclic and thus no element can generate all other elements.
  • #1
evinda
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Hello! :)

I have to find an equivalence class $[g] \in \mathbb{Z_{15}}^{*}$ so that each equivalence class $\in \mathbb{Z}^{*}_{15}$ is a power of $[g]$.

$\mathbb{Z}^{*}_{15}=\{[1],[2],[4],[7],[8],[11],[13],[14]\}$

I tried several powers of the above classes,and I think that there is no equivalence class $[g] \in \mathbb{Z_{15}}^{*}$ so that each equivalence class $\in \mathbb{Z}^{*}_{15}$ is a power of $[g]$.Is it actually like that or am I wrong?? (Thinking)
 
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  • #3
johng said:
You're exactly right. The multiplicative group of the integers mod 15 is the direct product of the multiplicative groups of Z3 and Z5 ; i.e the direct product of a cyclic group of order 2 and one of order 4, definitely not cyclic.
See the Wikipedia article Multiplicative group of integers modulo n - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Thank you very much! :rolleyes:
 
  • #4
Re: each equivalence class is a power of [g]

In fact:

$\langle [1]\rangle = \{[1]\}$

$\langle [2]\rangle = \{[1],[2],[4],[8]\} = \langle [8]\rangle$

$\langle [4]\rangle = \{[1],[4]\}$

$\langle [7]\rangle = \{[1],[7],[4],[13]\} = \langle [13]\rangle$

$\langle [11]\rangle = \{[1],[11]\}$

$\langle [14]\rangle = \{[1],[14]\}$

which shows that every element has order 1,2 or 4, and that no element has order 8.

(for $g > 7$ it is easier to compute $\langle[g]\rangle$ as $\langle[-(15-g)]\rangle$).
 
  • #5


I would approach this problem by first defining the terms and concepts involved. In this case, we are dealing with equivalence classes in the set of integers modulo 15, denoted as $\mathbb{Z}^{*}_{15}$. An equivalence class is a set of elements that are considered equivalent under a given equivalence relation. In this context, the equivalence relation is likely to be congruence modulo 15.

Now, the statement is asking us to find an equivalence class $[g]$ in $\mathbb{Z}^{*}_{15}$ such that each equivalence class in $\mathbb{Z}^{*}_{15}$ is a power of $[g]$. This means that for any equivalence class $[a]$ in $\mathbb{Z}^{*}_{15}$, there exists an integer $n$ such that $[a]=[g]^n$. In other words, every equivalence class is a power of $[g]$.

I agree with the conclusion that there is no such equivalence class $[g]$ in $\mathbb{Z}^{*}_{15}$. This can be easily seen by considering the elements in $\mathbb{Z}^{*}_{15}$. The only elements that have powers that are also in $\mathbb{Z}^{*}_{15}$ are $[1]$ and $[14]$, but neither of them can be the desired $[g]$ since they do not generate all of the elements in $\mathbb{Z}^{*}_{15}$ under multiplication.

In conclusion, it is not possible to find an equivalence class $[g]$ in $\mathbb{Z}^{*}_{15}$ such that each equivalence class is a power of $[g]$. This may be a good opportunity to explore other properties of equivalence classes in modular arithmetic and their applications in cryptography and coding theory.
 

FAQ: Each equivalence class is a power of [g]

What is an equivalence class?

An equivalence class is a set of elements that are considered equivalent based on a specific criteria or relationship. In mathematics, an equivalence class can be formed by grouping together elements that satisfy a certain equivalence relation.

What is a power of [g]?

A power of [g] refers to the result of raising the element [g] to a certain exponent. In mathematical terms, [g]^n is the n-th power of [g], where [g] is the base and n is the exponent.

How is each equivalence class related to a power of [g]?

Each equivalence class can be represented by a power of [g], where [g] is the base and the exponent is any element in the equivalence class. This means that all elements in the same equivalence class can be written as a power of [g].

Why is each equivalence class a power of [g]?

This is because the elements in an equivalence class share the same properties or relationship with the base element [g]. Therefore, all elements in the class can be represented by a power of [g], with the exponent being any element in the class.

How is the concept of each equivalence class being a power of [g] used in science?

In science, the concept of equivalence classes being powers of a certain element is used to simplify and organize complex systems. For example, in physics, different types of particles can be grouped into equivalence classes based on their properties, and each class can be represented by a power of a fundamental particle, such as an electron. This allows for easier understanding and analysis of the system.

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