# Equal Powers of Finite Order Element

## Theorem

Let $G$ be a group whose identity is $e$.

Let $g \in G$ be of finite order.

Let $\order g = k$.

Then:

$g^r = g^s \iff k \divides \paren {r - s}$

## Proof

### Necessary Condition

Suppose that $k \divides \paren {r - s}$.

From the definition of divisor:

$k \divides \left({r - s}\right) \implies \exists t \in \Z: r - s = k t$

So:

$g^{r - s} = g^{k t}$

Thus:

 $\displaystyle g^r$ $=$ $\displaystyle g^{s + k t}$ $\displaystyle$ $=$ $\displaystyle g^s g^{k t}$ $\displaystyle$ $=$ $\displaystyle g^s \paren {g^k}^t$ $\displaystyle$ $=$ $\displaystyle g^s \paren e^t$ $\displaystyle$ $=$ $\displaystyle g^s$

$\Box$

### Sufficient Condition

Let $g^r = g^s$.

Then:

$g^{r - s} = g^r g^{-s} = g^s g^{-s} = e$

By the Division Theorem:

$r - s = q k + t$

for some $q \in \Z, 0 \le t < k$.

Thus:

$e = g^{r - s} = g^{k q + t} = \paren {g^k}^q g^t = e^q g^t = g^t$

So by the definition of $k$:

$\paren {t < k} \land \paren {e = g^t} \implies t = 0$

So:

$r - s = q k + 0 = q k \implies k \divides \paren {r - s}$

$\blacksquare$