Finite Subgroups of the Mobius Group
Every finite group of Mobius transformations is isomorphic (i.e.,
conjugate) to a group of rotations of the extended complex plane.
For any positive integer g let n(g) denote the number of conjugacy
classes of Mobius transformations each member of which generates a
cyclic group of order g. For what values of g is n(g)=1 (mod 6)?
It turns out that n(g)=1 (mod 6) if and only if g = p^(2d) or 2p^(2d),
where d is any positive integer and p is any prime of the form 12k+11.
This is closely related to the roots of polynomials with coefficients
taken from a diagonal of Pascal's triangle. For example, the diagonal
1
1 1
1 2 1
1 3 3 1
1 4 6 4 1
1 5 10 10 5 1/
1 6 15 20 15/
1 7 21 35/
1 8 28/
1 9/
1/
gives the quintic polynomial
x^5 + 9x^4 + 28x^3 + 35x^2 + 15x + 1 = 0
which has the roots
/ k pi \
x = -4 cos^2 | ---- | k=1,2,3,4,5
\ 11 /
It can be shown that a Mobius transformation (az+b)/(cz+d) generates
a cyclic group of order 11 iff (a+d)^2/(ad-bc) equals one of these 5
roots. This also defines the 5 conjugacy classes of transformation
groups of order 11. In general, the number of conjugacy classes of
order g is phi(g)/2, where phi is the Euler totient function. See
the note Congruences Involving the Totient Function for a discussion
of why this implies g = p^(2d) or 2p^(2d) if n(g)=1 (mod 6).
Also, for more on this subject see Linear Fractional Transformations.
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