Questions tagged [free-groups]

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Do unit quaternions at vertices of a regular 4-simplex, one being 1, generate a free group?

Choose unit quaternions $q_0, q_1, q_2, q_3, q_4$ that form the vertices of a regular 4-simplex in the quaternions. Assume $q_0 = 1$. Let the other four generate a group via quaternion ...
John Baez's user avatar
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23 votes
1 answer
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products of conjugates in free groups

While trying to carry out some technical arguments in free groups, I have encountered the following problem, to which I don't know the answer. Let $F$ be a free group and let $g,a_1,\ldots,a_n \in F$....
Derek Holt's user avatar
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20 votes
4 answers
2k views

Categorical proof subgroups of free groups are free?

This is a crossport of this question from MSE. Is there a categorical proof that subgroups of free groups are free? How about the result that subgroups of free abelian groups are free abelian? What ...
Exterior's user avatar
  • 905
20 votes
0 answers
574 views

Infinitely generated non-free group with all proper subgroups free

Is there any example of group $G$ satisfying the following properties? $G$ is non-abelian, infinitely generated (i.e. it is not finitely generated) and not a free group. $H< G$ implies that $H$ is ...
W4cc0's user avatar
  • 599
18 votes
0 answers
462 views

Linear groups which don't contain products of free groups

Let $G \subset GL(n, \Bbb Z)$ be a f.g. linear group. The Tits alternative says that $G$ is either virtually solvable (i.e. has a solvable subgroup of finite index), or contains a free group $F_2$. ...
Igor Pak's user avatar
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17 votes
3 answers
1k views

Examples of locally hyperbolic groups

It is well-known that a subgroup of a hyperbolic group need not be hyperbolic. Let us say that a (finitely generated) group $G$ is locally hyperbolic if all its finitely generated subgroups are (...
Jean Charles's user avatar
17 votes
3 answers
926 views

A result of Schützenberger on commutators and powers in free groups

It is an old result of Schützenberger that in a free group, a basic commutator cannot be a proper power. A look at the original reference M.-P. Schützenberger, Sur l'équation $a^{2+n} = b^{2+m}c^{2+p}...
Andreas Thom's user avatar
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17 votes
1 answer
3k views

What are the relations between conjugates and commutators?

The following algebraic structure came up when I was thinking about invariants of coloured knots. The elements are all elements of a noncommutative free group $F$, and the operations are: $a^b= b^{-...
Daniel Moskovich's user avatar
16 votes
1 answer
638 views

Elements of a free group that can't be inverted by automorphisms

Let $F_n$ be a free group of rank $n$. Say that $w \in F_n$ is non-reversible if there does not exist any $f \in \text{Aut}(F_n)$ such that $f(w) = w^{-1}$. Original Question. Intuitively, I expect ...
Andy Putman's user avatar
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16 votes
1 answer
884 views

Explicit path in the unitary group of a $C^*$-algebra

For $G$ a discrete group, there is a canonical inclusion $g\mapsto u_g$ of $G$ into the unitary group of the reduced $C^*$-algebra $C^*_r(G)$. Denote by $[u_g]$ the class of $u_g$ in the (topological) ...
Alain Valette's user avatar
16 votes
1 answer
331 views

Must nonunit in group algebra of free group generate proper two-sided ideal?

Let $F$ be a free group and $k$ be a field. If $x$ is an element of the group algebra $k[F]$ that is not a unit (equivalently, that is not a nonzero scalar multiple of an element of $F$), must the 2-...
Dave Witte Morris's user avatar
15 votes
1 answer
378 views

Equivalence of surjections from a surface group to a free group

Let $g \geq 2$. Let $S = \langle a_1,b_2,...,a_g,b_g | [a_1,b_1] \cdots [a_g,b_g] \rangle$ be the fundamental group of a genus $g$ surface and let $F_g$ be a free group with $g$ generators. Given ...
user101010's user avatar
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14 votes
1 answer
980 views

Recognizing free groups

While I’m aware (and as it was pointed out in the comments) it is generally undecidable whether a given presentation represents a free group, I’m interested in criteria that nevertheless ensure that ...
ThorbenK's user avatar
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14 votes
1 answer
2k views

"Concretely" writing down elements in a free profinite group

Let $r$ be a natural number. The elements of the free group $F_r$ on $r$ generators have a nice concrete description as "words" in the $r$ generators (and their inverses). I'd like to know if there is ...
Akhil Mathew's user avatar
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13 votes
1 answer
1k views

Is there a name of semidirect product of a group with its automorphism group?

Consider the construction $G \rtimes \text{Aut}(G)$. Here $ G$ is a group, $\text{Aut}(G)$ is the automorphism group and the semidirect product is over the most obvious action. 1) Is there any name ...
Breakfastisready's user avatar
13 votes
2 answers
476 views

Free groups and free restricted Lie algebras

If $G$ is any group and $\gamma_k(G)$ denotes the $k$th term in the lower central series of $G$, then the commutator bracket on $G$ endows $$\mathcal{L}(G) = \bigoplus_{k=1}^{\infty} \gamma_k(G) / \...
Andy Putman's user avatar
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13 votes
1 answer
523 views

Number of trivializations of a trivial word in the free group

Let $M$ be the free monoid on $2n$ generators $x_1,X_1,...,x_n,X_n$ and consider the set $T$ of all those elements of $M$ which map to 1 of the free group on $x_1,...,x_n$ under the homomorphism $\pi$ ...
მამუკა ჯიბლაძე's user avatar
13 votes
0 answers
195 views

Are there free and discrete subgroups of $\mathrm{SL}_2(\mathbb{R}) \times \mathrm{SL}_2(\mathbb{R})$ that are not Schottky on any factor?

$\DeclareMathOperator\SL{SL}$Does there exist a free and discrete subgroup $\Gamma < \SL_2(\mathbb{R}) \times \SL_2(\mathbb{R})$ such that neither $\pi_1(\Gamma)$ nor $\pi_2(\Gamma)$ is free and ...
Ilia Smilga's user avatar
  • 1,364
12 votes
3 answers
942 views

Road map to learn about $\operatorname{Out}{F_n}$

I'm a last year undergraduate student and I have taken a graduate course in geometric group theory. I'd like to start reading some more advanced stuff in geometric group theory and in particular about ...
1123581321's user avatar
12 votes
1 answer
510 views

Generators for the first cohomology of free groups

Let $F = \langle x_1, \dots, x_n \rangle$ be the free group on $n$ generators and $R = \mathbb Z$. The Fox derivatives $\frac{\partial}{\partial x_i} \colon F \to R[F]$ are the unique derivations ...
Patrick Perras's user avatar
12 votes
1 answer
408 views

"Bisecting" a free subgroup with respect to word length

My broad question is regarding the lengths of (reduced) words in a subgroup of a free group. As motivation, consider the free group $Gp(S)$ where $|S|=n$, that is, a free group of rank $n$. Let $S=\{...
BharatRam's user avatar
  • 939
11 votes
2 answers
746 views

History of Tarski's problems on free groups

As is known, Tarski posed his questions about first-order theories of non-abelian free groups around 1945. However, the questions were not published in his papers or books. What is the original ...
owb's user avatar
  • 893
11 votes
1 answer
887 views

Normal closures of finitely generated subgroups of a free group

Is it true that for every finitelty generated subgroup $H$ of infinite index in a free group $F$ on the two letters $\{x,y\}$, there exists a finite index subgroup $K$ of $H$, such that the normal ...
Pablo's user avatar
  • 11.2k
11 votes
1 answer
396 views

Union of conjugates in free groups

Let $F$ be a (finitely generated) free group, $H \leq F$ of infinite index. Is it possible that $$ \bigcup_{g \in F} gHg^{-1} = F?$$
Pablo's user avatar
  • 11.2k
11 votes
1 answer
367 views

A question on normal closures of elements in free groups.

Let $F$ be a free group of finite rank, and $p, b \in F$, where $b$ is a root element (i.e. not a proper power). I have a case where $p^{n_k} = V_{n_k}^{-1}b^{-1} V_{n_k} \cdot U_{n_k}^{-1}b U_{n_k}$,...
Alexey Kvashchuk's user avatar
11 votes
1 answer
358 views

Are groups with the Haagerup property hyperlinear?

In his 2008 paper Hyperlinear and Sofic Groups: A Brief Guide, Pestov asked (Open Question 9.5) whether every group with the Haagerup property is hyperlinear (or sofic). Has this question been ...
MaoWao's user avatar
  • 1,027
11 votes
0 answers
364 views

Ascending chain condition for 1-element normal closures in a free group

Let $F$ be a free group of finite rank. Does $F$ satisfy the ascending chain condition on normal subgroups each of which is a normal closure of one element? In other words, can there exist elements $...
Ashot Minasyan's user avatar
10 votes
3 answers
775 views

Non-generating sets in a free group

Let $F_n$ be the free group generated by $x_i$, for $1\leq i\leq n$. Let $a_i$ be some elements of $F_n$, also for $1\leq i\leq n$. Is there a nice way to tell when the list $\{a_i^{-1}x_ia_i\}$ does ...
Dror Bar-Natan's user avatar
10 votes
1 answer
1k views

The set of subgroups of $F_2$

This question came up in our algebraic topology class and our Professor didn't know the answer. I also couldn't find an answer so far. What is the cardinality of the set of subgroups of $F_2$? ...
Georg Lehner's user avatar
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10 votes
1 answer
299 views

Is there a non-free group $G$ whose subgroups are all freely decomposable?

Suppose that $G$ is a group such that every subgroup $H \subseteq G$ (including $G$ itself) is either free or a non-trivial free product, i.e. $H = H_1 * H_2$ with $H_1, H_2$ both non-trivial. Is ...
user32157's user avatar
  • 337
10 votes
1 answer
544 views

Can automorphism equivalence in a free group be detected in a nilpotent quotient?

If $G$ is a group and $g_1, g_2 \in G$ let us write $g_1 \sim g_2$ if there is an automorphism $\alpha \in \operatorname{Aut}(G)$ such that $g_1^\alpha = g_2$. Let $F = F_2$ be the free group on two ...
Sean Eberhard's user avatar
10 votes
1 answer
541 views

Length of commutators in the free group

Let $G=F_2$ be the free group of rank $2$. Is there a constant $c>0$ such that the word length $|[u,v]|$ of every commutator $[u,v]=uvu^{-1}v^{-1}$ where $u,v\in G$, $|u|,|v|>0$ is at least $c(|...
markvs's user avatar
  • 1,804
10 votes
1 answer
509 views

The Tits alternative for $\operatorname{Out}(F_n)$

Not sure if this is the right place to ask this, but the paper I am reading seems to be too specialised for mathstack (if you do not agree, pleas let me know and I will take down this question) I am ...
Student's user avatar
  • 275
10 votes
1 answer
737 views

How can you order a free group?

A left order on a (discrete) group $G$ is a total order on $G$ satisfying $\forall g,h,k \in G: g < h \implies kg < kh$. A right order is defined symmetrically, and a biorder is an order that is ...
Ville Salo's user avatar
  • 6,337
10 votes
2 answers
382 views

Can a positive measure subset of a free group be nowhere dense?

Let $F$ be a finitely generated free group and let $S \subseteq F$ be a subset for which there is some $\epsilon > 0$ such that for any epimorphism to a finite group $\phi \colon F \to G$ we have ...
Pablo's user avatar
  • 11.2k
10 votes
1 answer
330 views

A subgroup of corank 1 in a free group contains a primitive element?

Let $F$ be the free group on $\{x_i\}_{i=1}^\infty$, and let $H \leq F$ be a subgroup with $\langle H \cup \{x_1\} \rangle = F$. Must there be a free basis $B$ of $F$ for which $B \cap H \neq \...
Pablo's user avatar
  • 11.2k
9 votes
3 answers
1k views

First-order axiomatization of free groups

Is there a way to axiomatize [non-abelian] free groups in first-order logic using the language of groups (which contains the binary operation symbol $\cdot$, and the constant symbol $e$)? Is there ...
Asaf Karagila's user avatar
  • 37.9k
9 votes
2 answers
2k views

Is there a useful limit or co-limit of a diagram that has only a single object?

I'm starting to study category theory kind of informally and everytime I read about the definitions of limits and co-limits, the first three examples are always the same: terminal/initial objects, ...
Rorsa's user avatar
  • 873
9 votes
2 answers
3k views

Number of subgroups of a given index of a free group

Given $n,d\in \mathbb{Z}^+$, how many subgroups of index $d$ does the free group of rank $n$ have? In case $n=1$ the question is trivial, and in case $n=2, d=2$ there are 3 such subgroups. I think I ...
Grub's user avatar
  • 333
9 votes
3 answers
389 views

Integer matrix that does not belong to a free group of rank 2

I'm given two matrices in $SL_2(\mathbb{Z})$ $$ A = \left(\begin{array}{cc} 2 & 3\\ 3 & 5 \end{array}\right), \ \ B = \left(\begin{array}{cc} 5 & 3\\ 3 &...
Ali Abdallah's user avatar
9 votes
1 answer
363 views

Morse theory on outer space via the lengths of finitely many conjugacy classes

Let $F_n$ be the free group on letters $\{x_1,\ldots,x_n\}$ and let $X_n$ be the (reduced) outer space of rank $n$. Points of $X_n$ thus correspond to pairs $(G,\mu)$, where $G$ is a finite connected ...
Sarah's user avatar
  • 93
9 votes
2 answers
877 views

A question on the fundamental group of a compact orientable surface of genus >1

Let $G=\pi(X,x)$ be the fundamental group of a compact orientable surface of genus $g\ge 2$. It is well known that a presentation of $G$ is $$G=\langle x_1,y_1,\dots,x_g,y_g \ | \ [x_1,y_1]\cdots [x_g,...
Xarles's user avatar
  • 1,386
9 votes
1 answer
821 views

Commutators in free groups

Let $F_m$ be the free group with $m$ generators $S:=\{x_1,\dots, x_m\}$. I am interested in the following quantity $$ F(n):=\frac{|\{w\in [F_m,F_m]: \|w\|_S\leq n\}|}{|B_S(n)|} $$ where $B_S(n):=\{w\...
M.B's user avatar
  • 2,468
9 votes
1 answer
501 views

Shortest almost trivial element of free group [duplicate]

Let $F_n$ be the free group with $n$ generators $\gamma_1,\dots,\gamma_n$. Consider the homomorphisms $h_i\colon F_n\to F_{n-1}$ defined by adding the relation $\gamma_i=1$ in $F_n$. What is the ...
Anton Petrunin's user avatar
9 votes
1 answer
353 views

Finite presentability of semi-direct product of free group and its commutator subgroup

Let $F_n$ be a free group of rank $n \geq 2$. The group $F_n$ acts on its commutator subgroup $[F_n,\, F_n]$ by conjugation. Let $G = [F_n,\, F_n] \rtimes F_n$. It's not hard to see that $G$ is ...
Cindy's user avatar
  • 93
9 votes
1 answer
516 views

Is a free group a product of f.g subgroups of infinite index?

Let $F$ be a free group, and let $H,K \leq F$ be finitely generated subgroups of infinite index in $F$. Is it possible that for the set of products we have $HK = F$ ?
Pablo's user avatar
  • 11.2k
9 votes
1 answer
193 views

Detecting/Characterising positive elements in free groups

Let $X$ be a set, and let $F(X)$ be the free group generated by $X$. I will say that an element of $F(X)$ is positive if it is in the monoid generated by all the conjugates in $F(X)$ of every member ...
user49822's user avatar
  • 2,033
9 votes
1 answer
314 views

Automorphism groups for free groups with action

Let $A$ be a (finitely generated) free group and $G$ be a (finitely generated) free $A$-group - that is, a group with an action of $A$, which is free in the category of groups with an $A$-action. ...
Aurélien Djament's user avatar
8 votes
2 answers
503 views

An endomorphism of free groups

So you have a free group $F_n$, freely generated by $\alpha_1 \cdots \alpha_n$. Pick any $n$ elements $g_1 \cdots g_n$ and define an endomorphism $\psi$ of $F_n$ by $\psi(\alpha_i) = g_i^{-1}\...
Stevie H's user avatar
  • 125
8 votes
2 answers
268 views

Equations in free groups satisfying all elements

please help me to solve the following problem. Let $F$ be a non-abelian free group and $w(x)=1$ be an equation in one variable $x$ ($w(x)$ may contain elements of $F$ as constants). Clearly, one can ...
Artem's user avatar
  • 153

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