Question:hard

If \(G\) is a group of order 30, then the number of Sylow 5-subgroups in \(G\) must be ____.

Show Hint

Apply Sylow's theorem: \(n_5 \equiv 1 \pmod 5\) and \(n_5 \mid 6\).
Updated On: Jul 3, 2026
  • 1 or 2
  • 2 or 3
  • 3 or 5
  • 1 or 6
Show Solution

The Correct Option is D

Solution and Explanation

Step 1: Let $G$ be a group with $|G|=30=2\cdot3\cdot5$ and let $P$ be a Sylow 5-subgroup, so $|P|=5$. By definition, the number of Sylow 5-subgroups is $n_5=[G:N_G(P)]$, the index of the normalizer of $P$ in $G$.
Step 2: Since $P\subseteq N_G(P)\subseteq G$, the order $|N_G(P)|$ is a multiple of $|P|=5$ and a divisor of $|G|=30$. So $|N_G(P)|\in\{5,10,15,30\}$, giving $n_5=30/|N_G(P)|\in\{6,3,2,1\}$.
Step 3: Sylow's theorem also requires $n_5\equiv 1\pmod5$. Testing the four candidates: $6\equiv1$, $3\equiv3$, $2\equiv2$, $1\equiv1\pmod5$.
Step 4: Only $n_5=6$ and $n_5=1$ satisfy the congruence, so these are the only possible values.
\[\boxed{n_5 = 1 \text{ or } 6}\]
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