Normalizer and centralizer are equivalent when $p$ is the smallest prime dividing $|G|$

Let $p$ be the smallest prime dividing $|G|$, and suppose that some $P \in \mathsf{Syl}_p(G)$ is cyclic. Prove that $N_G(P) = C_G(P)$.

So I let $G=p^\alpha m$ $p$ does not divide $m$. P is cyclic, hence is abelian, so I get that $P \leq C_G(P) \leq N_G(P)$.

p is the smallest prime dividing the order of $G$, hence every prime divisor of $m$ is greater than $p$.

I also carried out the normal computation of Sylow theorem where $n_p$ is congruent to 1 mod p, and $n_p$ divides $m$.

I also tried looking at the index of $N_G(P), C_G(P)$ and tried to show that this equals to $1$ but got stuck there.

Any suggestion are welcome!

• Another way of looking at James' suggestion (+1). You should know what $Aut(P)$ looks like. And prove that $\gcd(|Aut(P)|,m)=1$. – Jyrki Lahtonen Oct 22 '14 at 5:12
• I was thinking exactly the same thing, I did think about the automorphism too but forgot to mention. I guess this is exactly my question is. What does the automorphism look like, and what is its order? – Akaichan Oct 22 '14 at 5:20
• With a cyclic group locating the automorphisms is simple. An automorphism is fully determined once we know where a generator goes. And it has to be mapped to a generator. How many generators does $C_{p^n}$ have? – Jyrki Lahtonen Oct 22 '14 at 5:26
• Where did you find this problem? – Jorge Fernández Hidalgo Oct 22 '14 at 14:19

You're on the right track. Since $C_G(P)$ contains $P$, and $P$ is a Sylow $p$-subgroup, it follows that the index $[N_G(P),C_G(P)]$ is prime to $p$, and divisible only by primes greater than $p$. But, the quotient group $N_G(P)/C_G(P)$ embeds in the automorphism group of $P$. (The action of $N_G(P)$ on $P$ by conjugation furnishes a homomorphism $N_G(P)\to\operatorname{Aut}P$ with kernel equal to $C_G(P)$; this is sometimes called the "N/C Lemma".) But as $P$ is cyclic, the prime divisors of $\operatorname{Aut}P$ do not exceed $P$, so $N_G(P)/C_G(P)$ must be trivial.
For the last step, recall that the automorphism group of a cyclic group $C_{p^n}$ of prime power order $p^n$ is isomorphic to $C_{p^{n-1}(p-1)}$, for odd $p$; and, for $p=2$ and $n>2$, the automorphism group is $C_2\times C_{2^{n-2}}$. (And, $\operatorname{Aut}(C_4)\cong C_2$ while $\operatorname{Aut}(C_2)$ is trivial.)
• If I were to write out the order of the automorphism of $P$, how should I write it though? – Akaichan Oct 22 '14 at 5:24