Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge / 2017 / ii / Paper 2 / 17G / a / Solution

Let $g$ have order $n$ in a finite group. In a complex group representation, its matrix is diagonalizable with eigenvalues ${\zeta }_j$ satisfying ${\zeta }_j^n=1$. If each $g^i$ with $\gcd (i,n)=1$ is conjugate to $g$, the character of a representation is constant on these powers. Henceusing the stated integrality of each Ramanujan sum. Therefore $\chi (g)$ is rational. It is also an algebraic integer, being a sum of roots of unity; a rational algebraic integer is an integer. Thus $\boxed{\chi (g)\in \mathbb{Z}}$.

In a symmetric group, raising a permutation to a power coprime to its order preserves each cycle length and therefore its entire cycle type. Since cycle type determines the conjugacy class, the hypothesis holds, and all character values of symmetric groups are integers.