All Questions
Tagged with finite-groups symmetric-groups
68 questions
73
votes
4
answers
4k
views
Is ${\rm S}_6$ the automorphism group of a group?
The automorphism group of the symmetric group $S_n$ is $S_n$ when $n$ is not $2$ or $6$, in which cases it is respectively $1$ and the semidirect product of $S_6$ with the (cyclic) group of order $2$. ...
- 1,069
31
votes
2
answers
1k
views
Does the symmetric group $S_{10}$ factor as a knit product of symmetric subgroups $S_6$ and $S_7$?
By knit product (alias: Zappa-Szép product), I mean a product $AB$ of subgroups for which $A\cap B=1$. In particular, note that neither subgroup is required to be normal, thus making this a ...
- 1,068
29
votes
3
answers
4k
views
Roots of permutations
Consider the equation $x^2=x_0$ in the symmetric group $S_n$, where $x_0\in S_n$ is fixed. Is it true that for each integer $n\geq 0$, the maximal number of solutions (the number of square roots of $...
- 109k
25
votes
6
answers
3k
views
What is the standard 2-generating set of the symmetric group good for?
I apologize for this question which is obviously not research-level. I've been teaching to master students the standard generating sets of the symmetric and alternating groups and I wasn't able to ...
- 4,492
25
votes
3
answers
4k
views
Simplicity of alternating group $A_n$
I am teaching an introductory group theory course, and it has come to the inevitable proof that $A_n$ is simple for $n\geq 5$. Now, there seem to be a number of proofs that I can find – one the "...
- 96.4k
22
votes
1
answer
599
views
A symmetric-like group and the quaternion group $Q_8$
It is well known that the symmetric group $S_n$ admits presentation with
$\{(ij) \mid i\neq j\}$ as the set of generators and the following list of relations
(in every formula distinct letters denote ...
- 493
21
votes
1
answer
1k
views
Okounkov-Vershik approach to representation theory of $S_n$
This is a rather soft question. I was wondering if someone could explain on a fundamental and intuitive level, what the Okounkov-Vershik approach to representation theory of $S_n$ is all about. It's ...
- 291
16
votes
2
answers
722
views
Minimal maximal subgroup of the symmetric group
The question is pretty much in the title: What is the maximal subgroup of $S_d$ of maximal index (so minimal size)? A slight variant (I am not sure if it leads to a different answer) is: what if we ...
- 96.4k
16
votes
1
answer
484
views
Irreducible representations occuring in $\mathrm{Ind}_G^{S_{|G|}}1$ for $G$ finite group
Let $G$ be a finite group with $|G|=n$, let $S_G=S_n$ be the group of $n!$ permutations of the set $G$. Then $G$ is a subgroup of $S_G$ via left-translation (i.e. $g\in G$ corresponds to the ...
- 691
15
votes
2
answers
838
views
factorization of the regular representation of the symmetric group
Let $\mathbb{C}[S_n]$ be the regular representation of the symmetric group $S_n$, and let $\mathbb{C}^n$ be the vector representation.
Question: Does there exist a representation $V$ (of dimension $(...
- 2,537
14
votes
4
answers
2k
views
Number of squares in a finite group
This was asked at MSE but never answered.
Let $G$ be a finite group and denote by $sq(G)$ the number of squares in $G$ i.e. the number of elements in $G$ which possess a square root. For example, if
...
- 1,411
14
votes
0
answers
262
views
Which irreducible representations of the symmetric group are eigenspaces of class sums?
In the setting of complex representations of finite groups, a class sum $1_C=\sum_{g\in C} g$ acts on an irreducible representation $V$ as $\lambda(C,V)\operatorname{Id}$, where $\lambda(C,V)=|C|\...
- 2,306
12
votes
1
answer
510
views
Can a large transitive permutation group need many generators?
let $G$ be a transitive permutation group acting on $\{1, \ldots, n\}$, and let $d(G)$ be the minimal number of generators of $G$. Is it true, that for $n\rightarrow\infty$ we have $\frac{d(G)\log|G|}{...
11
votes
5
answers
2k
views
Structure of the adjoint representation of a (finite) group (Hopf algebra) ?
Every group acts on itself by conjugation $h \mapsto g h g^{-1}$. Respectively considering functions on a group we obtain a linear representation.
Question 1: what is known about this representation ...
- 24.9k
11
votes
2
answers
744
views
A criterion for finite abelian group to embed into a symmetric group
Let $G$ be a finite abelian group. Write $G\approx \mathbb{Z}/p_1^{i_1}\mathbb{Z}\times\dots \mathbb{Z}/p_m^{i_m}\mathbb{Z}$, with $m\ge 0$, $p_1,\dots,p_m$ primes (not necessarily distinct) and $i_k\...
user143954
11
votes
1
answer
550
views
Probability of words summing to $1$ in $S_n$ or $\mathrm{PGL}_2(n)$
$\DeclareMathOperator\PGL{PGL}\DeclareMathOperator\Conj{Conj}$Let $G$ be the symmetric group $S_n$ or the projective general linear group $\PGL_2(n)$.
Let $X$ be a cyclically reduced word in the ...
- 9,501
10
votes
7
answers
2k
views
Representations of products of symmetric groups
I'm writing a paper and want to cite some references to efficiently prove that over any field $k$ of characteristic zero, every irreducible representation of a product of symmetric groups, say
$$ S_{...
- 22.3k
10
votes
2
answers
1k
views
A cancellation property for permutations?
Let $S_n$ be the group of $n$-permutations. Denote the number of inversions of $\sigma\in S_n$ by $\ell(\sigma)$.
QUESTION. Assume $n>2$. Does this cancellation property hold true?
$$\sum_{\...
- 43.2k
10
votes
3
answers
734
views
Low-dimensional irreducible 2-modular representations of the symmetric group
I apologize if this question is a little too basic for MathOverflow, but it's somewhat outside of my background and I'm frustrated that the answer doesn't seem to be explicit in the literature even ...
- 1,298
10
votes
2
answers
547
views
Arbitrarily large finite irreducible matrix groups in odd dimension?
I consider a finite irreducible matrix group $\Gamma\subseteq\mathrm{GL}(\Bbb R^d)$. I am interested in the maximal size of $\Gamma$ depending on $d$. But this question makes only sense if there is an ...
- 13.6k
9
votes
2
answers
762
views
Solutions of $x^d=1$ in the symmetric group
L Moser and M Wyman, On solutions of $x^d = 1$ in symmetric groups, Canad. J. Math., 7 (1955), pages 159-168, explored asymptotic behavior of the cardinality of such permutations:
$$f_d(n):=\#\{\pi\in\...
- 43.2k
9
votes
2
answers
860
views
What is natural about the well-known bijection between conjugacy classes and irreps of a symmetric group?
Symmetric groups possess a well-known bijection between conjugacy classes and irreducible representations. More precisely, both sets are indexed by Young diagrams.
Question: To what extent is this ...
- 24.9k
9
votes
0
answers
114
views
Smith normal form of conjugacy class actions
This question was inspired by Smith Normal Form of a Cayley Graph of the Symmetric Group.
Let $\mathbb{Q}S_n$ denote the group algebra over $\mathbb{Q}$ of the
symmetric group $S_n$. Identify a ...
- 50.8k
8
votes
2
answers
464
views
Faithful projective representations of symmetric groups
This is a reference request.
Do you know where I can find the dimensions of the faithful projective representations of $S_n$ and $A_n$ for $n\ge 5$?
Thank you in advance.
- 845
8
votes
2
answers
1k
views
In general, are 'Young symmetrisers' given by Littlewood-Richardson 'Orthogonal projection Operators'?
Consider $V^{\otimes n}$ where $V$ is vector space and the representation of GL(V) acting in the usual way. Now if I consider tensor products or plethysms of irreducible spaces, this is not in general ...
- 349
8
votes
1
answer
400
views
Decomposition of $\mathrm{End}(V)$ as $S_n\times S_n$-module
Let $V$ be a finite-dimensional, complex vector space and set $\newcommand{\Gl}{\mathrm{Gl}}G:=\Gl(V)\times\Gl(V)$. Let $E:=\mathrm{End}(V)$ and consider its coordinate ring $\mathbb C[E]$, the space ...
- 4,902
8
votes
0
answers
236
views
Alternate proof in Fulton–Harris of representation theoretic version of Littlewood–Richardson rule
$\DeclareMathOperator\Ind{Ind}$Let $d = d_1 + d_2$ with $d_1$, $d_2$ positive integers. Let $\lambda$ be a partition of $d_1$ and $\mu$ a partition of $d_2$, so that the Young symmetrizer construction ...
- 241
8
votes
0
answers
188
views
Non-zero group determinant for symmetric group
Let $G$ be a finite group. Given complex numbers $x=\{x_g: g\in G\}$, one can define a $|G|\times |G|$ matrix $X$, with entries $X_{g,h} = x_{gh^{-1}}$.
Let's consider $G$ being the symmetric group $...
- 1,839
7
votes
1
answer
344
views
For which $n$ can $S_n$ act transitively on $n+k$ elements?
It is known that the symmetric group $S_n$ can act transitively on $n+1$ elements if and only if $n=5$.
Are there similar classifications for $S_n$ acting transitively on $n+k$ elements, where $k$ is ...
- 13.6k
7
votes
2
answers
307
views
Generating symmetric groups with small cycles
This was asked but never answered at MSE.
Let $S_n$ denote the symmetric group and let $H$ be a subgroup which contains
an $n$-cycle. If $n$ is prime, and if $H$ also contains a 2-cycle, then ...
- 1,411
6
votes
2
answers
532
views
A question about (unicity of certain cycles in a Cayley graph of a) symmetric group
Let $S=\{(1,2),(1,2,3,\ldots,n),(1,2,3,\ldots,n)^{-1}=(1,n\ldots,2)\}$ be a subset of the symmetric group $S_n$. We know that $(1,2,\ldots,n)(1,2)=(2,3,\ldots,n)$, and thus $$[(1,2,\ldots,n)(1,2)]^{n-...
- 377
6
votes
1
answer
542
views
Is there a classification of homomorphisms $S_n \to S_{n+k}$ for small $k$?
Homomorphisms $B_n \to B_{2n}$ and $B_n \to S_{2n}$ have been classified in Chen–Kordek–Margalit - Homomorphisms between braid groups and Lin - Braids and permutations respectively. I am interested in ...
- 185
6
votes
1
answer
262
views
Is there some sort of formula for $\tau(S_n)$?
Let $G$ be a finite group. Define $\tau(G)$ as the minimal number, such that $\forall X \subset G$ if $|X| > \tau(G)$, then $XXX = \langle X \rangle$.
Is there some sort of formula for $\tau(S_n)$, ...
- 2,618
6
votes
1
answer
341
views
Sum of Young symmetrisers of a given shape
Preliminaries and notation:
Let $n\in \mathbb{Z}_{>0}$ and $\lambda=(\lambda_1,\lambda_2,\dots,\lambda_s)\vdash n$ be a partition. Given a Young diagram of shape $\lambda$, we can associate it ...
- 87
5
votes
1
answer
365
views
Large subgroups of $S_n$ without large symmetric or alternating subgroups
I'm interested in determining the existence of a permutation group $G\subseteq S_n$ of the following form.
$G$ is large. Meaning that $G$ have at least $n!/2^{o(n)}$ elements. Equivalently, their ...
- 311
5
votes
1
answer
204
views
A decomposition of $w_0$ which is similar to the reduced decomposition
Some basic definitions about reduced decomposition:
In the symmetric group $S_n$, let $s_i$ denote the adjacent transposition $(i,i+1),i\in \{1,2,\cdots,n-1\}.$ Since $S_n$ is generated by adjacent ...
- 1,997
5
votes
1
answer
441
views
Minimum word length for an unusual set of generators of the symmetric group
Problem. Let $n\geq 2$ and let $T$ be the set of all permutations in $S_n$ of the form
$$t_k:=\prod_{1\leq i\leq k/2}(i,k-i) \qquad \hbox{for $k=3,4,\ldots,n+1$}.$$
Find the least integer $f_n$...
5
votes
0
answers
200
views
Subgroups of the symmetric group and binary relations
Motivation
The following came up in my work recently. (NB this is the motivation, not the question I'm asking. You can skip to the actual question below, which is self-contained, but not self-...
- 756
5
votes
0
answers
418
views
What are the relation between Rep(G) and Rep(S_n)?
Let G be a finite group. We know it can be written as a subgroup of S_n. On the other hand, people sometimes say Rep(G) --- the category of all finite dimensional representations, are more interesting ...
- 2,040
4
votes
2
answers
485
views
Transposition Cayley graphs are planar
Consider the Cayley graph $G$ with vertex set the elements of the symmetric group $S_n$ and generating set the set of minimal transposition generators of the group $S_n$, that is the set $S=\{(12),(13)...
- 2,089
4
votes
1
answer
465
views
Is the Normal centralizer problem in P?
Notation
$\le$ is used for the subgroup relation;
$P$ means polynomial time in input size;
$\Omega = \{1,2,3,\cdots,n\}$ is a input domain;
$\mathrm{Sym}(\Omega)$ means the symmetric group on $\...
- 313
4
votes
1
answer
745
views
Decomposition into irreducible of a representation of the wreath product $S_d\wr S_n$
Let $S_d, S_n$ be the permutation groups of $d,n$ elements.
An intuitive representation of the wreath product $S_d\wr S_n$ is $V_1\otimes...\otimes V_n$, where each $V_i$ is of dimension $d$. Writing ...
- 583
4
votes
1
answer
759
views
cohomology ring of symmetric group of order $3$
Let $S_3$ be the symmetric group of order $3$. What is the cohomology ring
$$
H^*(S_3;\mathbb{Z})?$$
My attempt: I want to use mathematical induction on $n$ for $S_n$.
For $n=1$, $S_1$ is trivial. ...
- 1,990
4
votes
1
answer
214
views
A transitive action on a specific set
Let $G$ be a finite group and $\lambda\in G$, consider a set $$D^{p+*}_{G}(\lambda):=\{P\in S^{p+*}_G|P^{\lambda}=P=[P,\lambda]\}$$ where:
$S^{p+*}_{G}$ denotes the set consisting of all non-trivial $...
- 311
4
votes
0
answers
266
views
Metrics on finite groups and generalizations of central limit theorems for balls volumes (à la Diaconis-Graham)
In wonderful lectures by P. Diaconis "Group representations in probability and statistics, Chapter 6. Metrics on Groups, and Their Statistical Use" metrics on permutation groups are considered and ...
- 24.9k
3
votes
2
answers
1k
views
The number of subgroups of ${\frak S}_n$
Because of my interest in this question, I listed the subgroups of ${\frak S}_n$ for $1\le n\le4$. I found that the number of subgroups are, respectively, $1,2,6,24$. It might be a coincidence, or it ...
- 52.3k
3
votes
4
answers
610
views
Factorization in the group algebra of symmetric groups
Let $S_n$ be the symmetric group on $\{1, \ldots, n\}$. Let
\begin{align}
T=\sum_{g\in S_n} g.
\end{align}
Are there some references about the factorization of $T$?
In the case of $n=3$, we have
\...
- 6,201
3
votes
1
answer
182
views
Schur cover of alternating groups
Wilson's book "The finite simple groups" gives (in section 2.7) a description of the double cover of the alternating groups. First, one constructs a double cover $2S_n$ of the symmetric ...
- 7,527
3
votes
1
answer
143
views
Permutation representation of a finite $p$-group
In the (xi) group of the classification of groups of order $p^4$ given by W.Burnside in his book," Theory of Groups Of Finite Order". The group ($\mathbb{Z_{p^{2}}}\rtimes \mathbb{Z_{p^{}}}) ...
- 381
3
votes
0
answers
157
views
Faithful representation into $\operatorname{GL}(9,3)$
Take $T=\big(\left< (123) \right> \times \left< (456) \right> \times \left< (789) \right>\big) \rtimes \left< (147)(258)(369) \right> \leq S_9$.
Does there exist an injective ...
- 381