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Revision difference : periodic group
Version 5 Version 4
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A group $G$ is said to be \emph{periodic} (or \emph{torsion}) A group $G$ is said to be \emph{periodic} (or \emph{torsion})
if every element of $G$ is of finite order. if every element of $G$ is of finite order.
All finite groups are periodic. All finite groups are periodic.
More generally, all locally finite groups are periodic. More generally, all locally finite groups are periodic.
Examples of periodic groups that are not locally finite include Tarski monsters and infinite Burnside groups. Examples of periodic groups that are not locally finite include Tarski monsters and infinite Burnside groups.
Some easy results on periodic groups: Some easy results on periodic groups:
\begin{theorem} \begin{theorem}
\item Every \PMlinkname{subgroup}{Subgroup} of a periodic group is periodic. \item Every \PMlinkname{subgroup}{Subgroup} of a periodic group is periodic.
\end{theorem} \end{theorem}
\begin{theorem} \begin{theorem}
\item Every quotient of a periodic group is periodic. \item Every quotient of a periodic group is periodic.
\end{theorem} \end{theorem}
\begin{theorem} \begin{theorem}
\item Every \PMlinkname{extension}{GroupExtension} of a periodic group by a periodic group is periodic. \item Every extension of a periodic group by a periodic group is periodic.
\end{theorem} \end{theorem}
\begin{theorem} \begin{theorem}
\item Every restricted direct product of periodic groups is periodic. \item Every restricted direct product of periodic groups is periodic.
\end{theorem} \end{theorem}
Note that (unrestricted) direct products of periodic groups are not necessarily periodic. For example, the direct product of all finite cyclic groups $\Z/n\Z$ is not periodic, as the element that is $1$ in every coordinate has infinite order. Note that (unrestricted) direct products of periodic groups are not necessarily periodic. For example, the direct product of all finite cyclic groups $\Z/n\Z$ is not periodic, as the element that is $1$ in every coordinate has infinite order.
Some further results on periodic groups: Some further results on periodic groups:
\begin{theorem} \begin{theorem}
Every solvable periodic group is locally finite. Every solvable periodic group is locally finite.
\end{theorem} \end{theorem}
\begin{theorem} \begin{theorem}
Every periodic abelian group is the direct sum of its maximal \PMlinkname{$p$-groups}{PGroup4} over all primes $p$. Every periodic abelian group is the direct sum of its maximal \PMlinkname{$p$-groups}{PGroup4} over all primes $p$.
\end{theorem} \end{theorem}