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Section 1.21 Sylow theorems: conclusion of proof

Subsection 1.21.1 Second action: \(H\) on \(G/K\)

We now move on to a proof of the the Sylow 2. That proof makes use of the left multiplication action of \(G\) on the coset space \(G/K\text{,}\) where \(K\in \Syl_p(G)\text{.}\) The proof will make use of the following proposition, which is interesting in its own right.

Proof.

Decompose \(A\) into its distict orbits \(O_{a_1}, O_{a_2}, \dots, O_{a_r}\text{.}\) Since \(\abs{O_{a_i}}=[G\colon G_{a_i}]\text{,}\) we see that either \(\abs{O_{a_i}}\) is divisible by \(p\text{,}\) or \(\abs{O_{a_i}}=1\text{,}\) in which case \(G_{a_i}=G\text{.}\) But we cannot have \(p\mid \abs{O_{a_i}}\) for all \(i\text{,}\) since then weโ€™d have
\begin{align*} \abs{A} \amp =\sum_{i=1}^r\abs{O_{a_i}}\\ \amp \equiv 0 \pmod p\text{,} \end{align*}
contradicting the fact that \(p\nmid \abs{A}\text{.}\) Thus we have \(G_{a_i}=G\) for some \(i\text{,}\) as desired.

Proof of Sylow 2.

Let \(p\) be a prime divisor of \(\abs{G}\text{,}\) let \(K\in Syl_p(G)\text{,}\) let \(H\) be a \(p\)-subgroup of \(G\text{,}\) and consider the action of \(H\) on \(G/K\text{.}\) Since \(\abs{G/K}=m\text{,}\) where \(p\nmid m\text{,}\) it follows that one of the cosets \(gK\) of \(G/K\) is fixed under left multiplication by \(H\text{:}\) i.e., \(h\cdot gK=gK\) for all \(h\in H\text{.}\) But by Theoremย 1.17.3 it follows that \(H\leq G_{gK}=gKg^{-1}\text{,}\) as desired.

Subsection 1.21.2 Third action: \(G\) on \(\Syl_p(G)\)