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Discrete Mathematics

GATE CSE 2021 Set 1 · Q34

MCQ2 marksMedium

Time

Let GG be a group of order 6, and HH be a subgroup of GG such that 1<∣H∣<61 < |H| < 6. Which one of the following options is correct?

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Solution

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Official answer: B) G may not be cyclic, but H is always cyclic.

Discrete Mathematics

According to Lagrange's Theorem, the order of any subgroup HH of a finite group GG must divide the order of GG.

Given ∣G∣=6|G| = 6 and 1<∣H∣<61 < |H| < 6, the possible values for ∣H∣|H| are the proper divisors of 66, which are 22 and 33.

  • Every group of prime order is cyclic. Since both 22 and 33 are prime numbers, any subgroup HH of order 22 or 33 must be cyclic. Thus, HH is always cyclic.

  • A group of order 66 can be isomorphic to either the cyclic group Z6\mathbb{Z}_6 (which is cyclic) or the symmetric group S3S_3 (which is non-abelian and therefore not cyclic). Thus, GG may not be cyclic.

Therefore, GG may not be cyclic, but HH is always cyclic, which corresponds to option (B).

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This Discrete Mathematics previous year question is Q34 of the GATE CSE 2021 Set 1 paper. Find more GATE CSE PYQs on Discrete Mathematics in Engineering Mathematics, or browse all GATE CSE PYQs.

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Discrete Mathematics in GATE CSE

Discrete Mathematics has 50 GATE CSE PYQs across 23 papers from 2011 to 2026. 11 of them are 2-mark MCQs like this one, and GATE CSE 2021 Set 1 has 3.

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GateAI solution cardGATE CSE 2021 Set 1 · Q34 · MCQ

Let G be a group of order 6, and H be a subgroup of G such that 1 < |H| < 6. Which one of the following options is correct?

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Independent practice explanation verified by the GateAI team. GATE is conducted by the IITs; question text follows the official paper.