TITLE: Showing that a Sylow subgroup of a group of order $p^{2}q$ is normal.
QUESTION [8 upvotes]: Suppose that I have a group $G$ of order $p^{2}q$ for two distinct primes $p$ and $q$.
I need to first show that one of its Sylow subgroups is normal.
I start by letting $H$ be a Sylow $p$-subgroup and $K$ be a Sylow $q$-subgroup.
If $K$ is not normal, then letting $r$ denote the number of Sylow $q$-subgroups, I have that $r|p^{2}$ and $r\equiv 1$(mod $q$).  I also have by the second Sylow theorem that $r\neq 1$.
So $r = p$ or $p^{2}$.
If $r = p^{2}$, I can write out the Sylow $q$-subgroups, and count their combined elements to show that $H$ is uniquely determined and then again imply Sylow number $2$ to obtain that $H$ is normal.
But if $r = p$, then I cannot see how to proceed.  Can anyone give any advice?
Thank you.
( I am happy to provide more detail for the $r = p^{2}$ case if it is desired or appropriate. )

REPLY [2 votes]: As you noted $n_q=1,p,p^2$. I assume $p<q$. If $n_q=p$ then $n_q=1+kq=p\Longrightarrow p>q$ which is a contradiction. If $n_q=p^2$, let $Q_1, Q_2$ be two distinct $q-$ sylow subgroup. They are both cyclic of order $q$. $Q_1\cap Q_2\le Q_1$ then $|Q_1\cap Q_2|\bigg|q$ so $|Q_1\cap Q_2|=1$ or $=q$. if $|Q_1\cap Q_2|=q$ then $Q_1\cap Q_2=Q_1$ which is wrong so $|Q_1\cap Q_2|=1$. Hence, every two $q-$ sylow subgroup has $1$ in common. Now enumerate all non-trivial element of the group which lie in these $p^2$ subgroups. It is as @Makoto pointed. It is exactly the order of a $p$ sylow subgroup of $G$. Since there is not any member in shared among $p-$ sylow subgroups and $q-$ sylow subgroups so the $p-$ sylow is normal in the group.