Cyclic Group

Definition

A cyclic group is a group which can be generated by a single element. That is G is cyclic if and only if there exists a gG such that:

G=g.

The cyclic group of order m is sometimes represented by Cm, although a cyclic group may be infinite. Note also that we say the cyclic group of order m since cyclic groups of equal order are isomorphic.

The name cyclic indicates, in the finite case, the fact that powers of the generator eventually recur in a repeating pattern, and every element can be expressed as a power of the generator.


Example

Consider the subgroup of the (C,×) generated by {e2iπ3}. In this cyclic group, the powers of the generator are, starting from 0, given by

1,e2iπ3,e4iπ3,1,e2iπ3,e4iπ3,1,
Example

(Z,+) is a cyclic group generated by 1.