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Corrected final paragraph.
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HJRW
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It's actually easier to prove the stronger statement that there are infinitely many double cosets $H\backslash F/K$.

First, note that if $F'$ is a subgroup of finite index in $F$, with $H'$ and $K'$ its intersections with $H$ and $K$ respectively, then the natural map $H'\backslash F'/K'\to H\backslash F/K$ is finite-to-one. So we may pass to finite-index subgroups.

EDIT: (I was a little glib in translating from topology to group theory before. Here's a corrected version of the final paragraph.)

Therefore, by Marshall Hall's theorem, we may take $F$ to be the fundamental group of a graph $X$ and $H$ and $K$ to be free factorscarried by embedded subgraphs $Y$ and $Z$, say. But But now the result isit's easy. Indeed, iflet $a$ isbe a generatorbased loop not contained in $H$$Y$ and $b$ is a generatorbased loop not contained in $K$, then$Z$. Then the double cosets $Ha^mb^nK$ are all distinct.

It's actually easier to prove the stronger statement that there are infinitely many double cosets $H\backslash F/K$.

First, note that if $F'$ is a subgroup of finite index in $F$, with $H'$ and $K'$ its intersections with $H$ and $K$ respectively, then the natural map $H'\backslash F'/K'\to H\backslash F/K$ is finite-to-one. So we may pass to finite-index subgroups.

Therefore, by Marshall Hall's theorem, we may take $H$ and $K$ to be free factors. But now the result is easy. Indeed, if $a$ is a generator not in $H$ and $b$ is a generator not in $K$, then $Ha^mb^nK$ are all distinct.

It's actually easier to prove the stronger statement that there are infinitely many double cosets $H\backslash F/K$.

First, note that if $F'$ is a subgroup of finite index in $F$, with $H'$ and $K'$ its intersections with $H$ and $K$ respectively, then the natural map $H'\backslash F'/K'\to H\backslash F/K$ is finite-to-one. So we may pass to finite-index subgroups.

EDIT: (I was a little glib in translating from topology to group theory before. Here's a corrected version of the final paragraph.)

Therefore, by Marshall Hall's theorem, we may take $F$ to be the fundamental group of a graph $X$ and $H$ and $K$ to be carried by embedded subgraphs $Y$ and $Z$, say. But now it's easy. Indeed, let $a$ be a based loop not contained in $Y$ and $b$ a based loop not contained in $Z$. Then the double cosets $Ha^mb^nK$ are all distinct.

Source Link
HJRW
  • 25k
  • 3
  • 68
  • 144

It's actually easier to prove the stronger statement that there are infinitely many double cosets $H\backslash F/K$.

First, note that if $F'$ is a subgroup of finite index in $F$, with $H'$ and $K'$ its intersections with $H$ and $K$ respectively, then the natural map $H'\backslash F'/K'\to H\backslash F/K$ is finite-to-one. So we may pass to finite-index subgroups.

Therefore, by Marshall Hall's theorem, we may take $H$ and $K$ to be free factors. But now the result is easy. Indeed, if $a$ is a generator not in $H$ and $b$ is a generator not in $K$, then $Ha^mb^nK$ are all distinct.