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23 votes
3 answers
1k views

In an inductive family of groups, does the probability that a particular word is satisfied converge?

We have some group word $w$ in $k$ letters. We say a $k$-tuple of group elements $\vec{g} = (g_1, g_2, \ldots , g_k) \in G^k$ satisfies the word $w$ if $w$ gives the identity at $\vec{g}$. More ...
John Wiltshire-Gordon's user avatar
21 votes
0 answers
578 views

Density of first-order definable sets in a directed union of finite groups

This is a generalization of the following question by John Wiltshire-Gordon. Consider an inductive family of finite groups: $$ G_0 \hookrightarrow G_1 \hookrightarrow \ldots \hookrightarrow G_i \...
Gene S. Kopp's user avatar
  • 2,200
10 votes
2 answers
815 views

Paper by I. N. Sanov, Solution of the Burnside problem for exponent 4

I have searched extensively online and for copies of printed journals containing the paper which details Sanov's solution to the Burnside Problem for exponent 4, which is widely cited in many papers ...
user50229's user avatar
  • 201
10 votes
1 answer
1k views

When is the semidirect product of an elementary abelian group and a cyclic group generated by two elements?

I am trying to characterize when a semi-direct product of the form $(Z/pZ)^n \rtimes (Z/qZ)$ is isomorphic to a group generated by two elements. Here $p$ and $q$ are distinct odd primes. I would be ...
Pat Devlin's user avatar
  • 2,720
9 votes
0 answers
310 views

Breuer-Guralnick-Kantor conjecture and infinite 3/2-generated groups

A group $G$ is called $\frac{3}{2}$-generated if every non-trivial element is contained in a generating pair, i.e. $$\forall g \in G \setminus \{e \}, \ \exists g' \in G \text{ such that } \langle g,g'...
Sebastien Palcoux's user avatar
7 votes
2 answers
751 views

Looking for deterministic criteria to generate the symmetric group?

So let $S_N$ be the symmetric group of degree $N$. We think of it as a permutation group via its natural action on the set $T=\{1,2,\ldots,N\}$. Say that $H\leq S_N$ is a subgroup which acts ...
Hugo Chapdelaine's user avatar
7 votes
0 answers
420 views

Are these two kernels isomorphic groups?

We have a finitely presented, infinite group $\mathsf{B}$, coming from a geometric topology problem (it is the quotient of a braid group for a genus 2 surface). It is generated by elements \begin{...
Francesco Polizzi's user avatar
5 votes
1 answer
2k views

For what finite groups is the cardinality of a minimal generating set well defined?

Recently I learned that the cardinality of a minimal set of generators of a finite $p$-group $G$ is well defined namely it is equal to the dimension of $H^1(G,\mathbb{F}_p)$. Moreover, if $S:=\{g_1,\...
Hugo Chapdelaine's user avatar
5 votes
1 answer
386 views

Is this semi-direct product residually finite?

I've copied over this question from what I asked on Mathematics Stack Exchange, in the hope that some experts here can help me find a way to check the residual finiteness of this group. Consider the ...
ghc1997's user avatar
  • 823
5 votes
2 answers
703 views

infinite group that maps onto dihedral group

The group is generated by $y_i$, $i=0, ...,p-1$ with relations $y_0y_1=y_1y_2=...=y_{p-1}y_0$ $y_0y_2=y_1y_3=...=y_{p-1}y_1$ $\vdots$ $y_0y_{p-1}=y_1y_0=...y_{p-1}y_{p-2}$ I have run into this ...
Menton's user avatar
  • 143
5 votes
0 answers
199 views

Finite groups with number of generators strictly less than number of relations

For the finite cyclic group of order $n$, there is the standard presentation $\langle a \mid a^n\rangle$. Also for $S_n$ (symmetric group), I know a few presentations where the number of relations is ...
gola vat's user avatar
  • 179
4 votes
2 answers
228 views

CCT groups of order $\leq 32$

A finite, non-abelian group $G$ is said to be a center commutative-transitive group $($or a CCT-group, for short$)$ if commutativity is a transitive relation on the set on non-central elements. In ...
Francesco Polizzi's user avatar
4 votes
2 answers
1k views

Cyclic subgroups of finite abelian groups

I learned from MO Subgroups of a finite abelian group that the problem of enumerating subgroups (not up to isomorphism) of finite abelian groups is a difficult one. Are there simple formulas if one ...
user22518's user avatar
4 votes
1 answer
2k views

Minimal generation for finite abelian groups

Let $G$ be a finite abelian group. I know of two ways of writing it as a direct sum of cyclic groups: 1) With orders $d_1, d_2, \ldots, d_k$ in such a way that $d_i|d_{i+1}$, 2) With orders that are ...
Calc's user avatar
  • 125
3 votes
1 answer
501 views

When is the semidirect product of $(Z/pZ)^n$ and $(Z/qZ)^2$ generated by two elements?

I asked a very similar question here and got a wonderful answer. But now I need to change the question slightly (this is the last question like this, I promise). I would like to characterize when $(\...
Pat Devlin's user avatar
  • 2,720
2 votes
1 answer
656 views

Combinatorial problem in $\mathsf{S}_4$

I am working on a problem in Combinatorial Group Theory related to a construction in Algebraic Geometry, and I would like to have a conceptual proof of the fact described below. I am looking for ...
Francesco Polizzi's user avatar
2 votes
2 answers
309 views

Combinatorial problem in $G(32, \, 6)$

The following problem arose when studying the same type of questions in Algebraic Geometry that led me to my previous question MO379272. Let us consider the group $G$ of order $32$ whose label in GAP4 ...
Francesco Polizzi's user avatar
2 votes
1 answer
339 views

Proving certain triangle groups are infinite

[Cross-posted from MSE] Consider the Von Dyck group $$ G = \langle x,y\mid x^a=y^b=(xy)^c=1\rangle $$ where $a,b,c\ge3$. Because $G$ is infinite and residually finite, it has an infinite family of ...
Steve D's user avatar
  • 4,425
2 votes
1 answer
233 views

Proving an inequality regarding number of transitive subgroups of the symmetric group

I defined the sequence $t$ where where $t(n)$ is the number of transitive subgroups of $S_n$ where we regard conjugate subgroups as distinct, i.e. the labeled version of A002106 at the OEIS. Then I ...
John Erickson's user avatar
1 vote
4 answers
537 views

Are the orders of the generators of a group and the product of pairs of thereof enough for this group to be isomorphic to a Coxeter group?

Let's say we have $n$ generators $x_1, x_2, \cdots, x_n$ along with the following facts concerning their orders: \begin{eqnarray*} ord(x_i) &=& 2 \text{ for } i = 1, 2, \cdots, n \\ ord(x_i ...
user avatar
1 vote
0 answers
21 views

Do small subsets of $S_n$ subgroups cover almost all permutation configurations of $S_n$?

Given integer $m\in[1,n]$ fix a set $\mathcal T$ of permutations in $S_n$. Then there are subgroups $G_1,\dots,G_m$ of $S_n$ so that $\mathcal T$ is covered by cosets of $G_1,\dots,G_m$. For ...
Turbo's user avatar
  • 13.9k
1 vote
0 answers
92 views

Are almost all permutation configurations from $S_n$ covered by small subsets subgroups of $S_n$?

Given integer $m\in[1,n]$ fix a set $\mathcal T$ of permutations in $S_n$. Then there are subgroups $G_1,\dots,G_m$ of $S_n$ so that $\mathcal T$ is covered by cosets of $G_1,\dots,G_m$. Do we have ...
Turbo's user avatar
  • 13.9k