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1 vote
1 answer
186 views

Existence of Finite Amicable Groups

I'm interested in exploring the concept of "amicable groups" as follows: Definition. Two finite groups $G$ and $H$ are called amicable groups if: $G$ is the direct sum of proper subgroups ...
1 vote
0 answers
189 views

The existence of solutions to linear systems of equations over the integer ring $\mathbb{Z}$

There are already detailed results on the solutions of linear equations over fields, but I'd like to inquire about any good conclusions regarding the solutions of linear equations over the integer ...
2 votes
0 answers
98 views

Estimating the cardinality of the set of conjugacy classes of subgroups in a finite group of given order

1. Let $G$ be a finite group of order $n$. I need an estimate for the number $c$ of conjugacy classes of subgroups $D\subseteq G$. Note that any subgroup of $G$ contains $1_G$, and so the set of all ...
31 votes
1 answer
2k views

Navigating $\mathbb{Z}/p\mathbb{Z}$

$\newcommand{\Z}{\mathbb{Z}}$Let's consider a silly-looking question first. Consider $\Z/p\Z$. Say I am allowed the two operations $x\mapsto x+1$ and $x\mapsto 2x$. Then, starting from $0$, I can ...
1 vote
0 answers
71 views

Bias of $a^k / q$ modulo $q$?

Let $q$ be a prime. Let $0< a < q$ be an integer so that it is primitive modulo $q$. Let $k$ be a random integer up to $q-1$. Consider $$a^k = b_k + q * c_k$$ as $k$ varies modulo $q^2$. So $b_k$...
8 votes
1 answer
489 views

Elements living in the conjugacy class and in the centralizer of an $m$-cycle in $A_m$

Let $m>1$ be an odd natural number, $x$ a $m$-cycle in $A_m$, the alternating group in $m$ letters, $C$ the conjugacy class of $x$ in $A_m$. Question: How can I describe the elements in the set $\{ ...
1 vote
1 answer
594 views

Some necessary condition for $\gcd(m,n) $ be a proper divisor of $\gcd(mk_2 +nk_1,mn) $ [closed]

Let $m,n,k_1,k_2 $ be natural numbers such that $(k_1,m)=(k_2,n)=1 $. Statement 1: $\gcd(m,n) $ is a proper divisor of $\gcd(mk_2 +nk_1,mn) $, for every $k_1,k_2$ having the above property. Statement ...
12 votes
1 answer
450 views

abelian quotients of permutation groups

Let $G$ be a subgroup of the permutation group $S_n$, and let $H$ be a normal subgroup of $G$ such that the quotient group $G/H$ is abelian. What is the best known upper estimate for the cardinality $...
16 votes
2 answers
2k views

One question on linear combinations of roots of unity

For $n \geq 1$, I want to find all solutions $x_i$ of the equation \begin{equation} \begin{array}l x_i \in \mathbb{Z}, i=0,1,2\dotsc,n-1 \\ x_i^2 = 1, i=0,1,2\dotsc,n-1 \\ \...
5 votes
1 answer
358 views

The number of polynomials on a finite group, II

This question is follow up of this MO-post. First let us recall the necessary definitions. A function $f:X\to X$ on a group $X$ is called a polynomial if there exists $n\in\mathbb N$ and elements $a_0,...
14 votes
1 answer
1k views

A nice problem by Peter Cameron on subsets of $\{1,\dots,n\}$

Recently Professor Peter Cameron posed a number theory problem which is related to graphs of groups. The problem is: Problem: Let $n$ be a positive integer. Show that there exist subsets $A_1, A_2, …,...
3 votes
2 answers
365 views

Sumsets with the property "$A+B=C$ implies $A=C-B$"

Let $(G,+)$ be an abelian group and $A$, $B$ and $C$ be finite subsets of $G$ with $A+B=C$. One may conclude that $A\subset C-B$. However, $A$ need not be equal to $C-B$. What is a necessary and ...
2 votes
1 answer
169 views

A new convolution, on function of $\mathbb F_p^n$ to $\mathbb F_p$ still zero?

Let $p$ integer prime, $f$ a function of $A=\mathbb F_p^n$ to $\mathbb F_p$, with $n\geq p+1$. Is it true that : for all $x\in A, \sum\limits_{\sigma \in S_n} s(\sigma) \times f(x_\sigma) =0$? $s$ ...
2 votes
0 answers
161 views

Monotonicity of the cycle index polynomial under restriction

The cycle index (polynomial) of the symmetric group $\mathfrak{S}_n$ is given by the formula: $$Z(\mathfrak{S}_n)(x_1,\dots,x_n)=\sum_{1j_1+2j_2+\cdots+nj_n=n}\prod_{k=1}^n\frac{x_k^{j_k}}{k^{j_k}j_k!}...
1 vote
1 answer
312 views

On the number of structure of $F_p[G]$-modules

Let $A$ be an abelian group and $G$ be a group. A short exact sequence of groups like $1\longrightarrow A\longrightarrow E\longrightarrow G\longrightarrow 1$ is called an extension. We say that $E$ is ...
1 vote
1 answer
292 views

A conjecture on covers of $\mathbb Z$ by residue classes

Let $A=\{a_s+n_s\mathbb Z\}_{s=1}^k$ be a finite system of residue classes, where $a_s$ and $n_s>0$ are integers. For a positive integer $m$, if $A$ covers each integer at least $m$ times then we ...
1 vote
1 answer
267 views

Adding $n$-tuples over groups

Consider a finite abelian group $\mathcal{G}$. Let $S_0$ be a $n$-tuple of elements of $\mathcal{G}$, and let $S_i$ be the cyclically shifted version of $S_0$ by $i$ indices to the right. So for ...
11 votes
3 answers
594 views

Is it possible to stab (every rotation of) any four element subset of $\mathbb Z_n$ with less than $n/2$ elements?

Say that $S\subset \mathbb Z_n$ is stabbed by $X\subset \mathbb Z_n$ if for every $t$ we have $(S+t)\cap X\ne \emptyset$. Is there for every $|S|=4$ an $|X|<n/2$ that stabs it? My motivation ...
2 votes
0 answers
94 views

Is it possible to stab every permutation of any four element subset of $D_n$ with less than $n/2$ elements?

Say for a permutation group $G$ over $n$ that a set $S\subset \{1,\ldots,n\}$ is G-stabbed by $X\subset \{1,\ldots,n\}$ if for every $g\in G$ we have $gS\cap X\ne \emptyset$. Is there for every $|S|...
1 vote
0 answers
127 views

Lower and upper bounds of the distance between two Frobenius numbers

I consider two sequences of numbers: $A=\{a_1,...,a_{m-1},n\}$ and $B=\{n-a_{m-1},...,n-a_1,n\}$, where $a_1 < a_2 < ... < a_{m-1} < n$ and $\gcd(A) = \gcd(B) = 1$. I investigate the ...
0 votes
1 answer
223 views

Greatest common divisor of two specified sequences of numbers (search for equality)

I consider two sequences of numbers $A=\{a_1,...,a_n\}$ and $B=\{k-a_1,...,k-a_n\}$, where $a_1 \le a_2 \le ... \le a_n \le k$. I am looking for such conditions under which: $\gcd(a_1,...,a_n) = \gcd(...
8 votes
1 answer
575 views

Unstable Integers

There is a question that has been bothering my mind for quite a while now. I will present it and my current thoughts and progress on it. Let the prime factorization of an integer $n$ be $$n = p_1^{...
2 votes
1 answer
229 views

Has the "semidirect monoid of a semiring" been considered anywhere?

Given a semiring $S$, we get a monoid $M(S)$ as follows: The underlying set of $S$ is $S^2$ The identity element is $(0,1)$ The law of composition is given by $$(a,A)(b,B) = (Ba+b,AB),$$ where $a,A,b$...
-3 votes
1 answer
961 views

Maximum element order in $S_n$ [closed]

Denote by $S_n$ the group of permutations of the set $\{1,\ldots,n\}$ with composition as binary operation. Let $m_n$ denote the maximum order that an element of $S_n$ can have. What is the smallest ...
3 votes
4 answers
654 views

A generalization of Landau's function

For a given $n > 0$ Landau's function is defined as $$g(n) := \max\{ \operatorname{lcm}(n_1, \ldots, n_k) \mid n = n_1 + \ldots + n_k \mbox{ for some $k$}\},$$ the least common multiple of all ...
3 votes
0 answers
282 views

A new combinatorial problem for finite groups

In a recent preprint arXiv:1811.10503, I proved that if $a_1,\ldots,a_n$ are distinct elements of a torsion-free additive abelian group $G$, then there is a permutation $\pi\in S_n$ such that all ...
6 votes
0 answers
226 views

A challenging problem on disjoint cosets

Motivated by my negative solutions (see this paper published in Chinese Ann. Math. 13A(1992)) to two open problems on disjoint residue calsses posed by A. P. Huhn and L. Megyesi [Discrete Math. 41(...
0 votes
1 answer
283 views

Is any abelian subgroup of a semidirect product isomorphic to a direct product of abelian subgroups? [closed]

Let $H$ and $K$ be groups and $V$ an abelian subgroup of the semidirect product $\ H\rtimes K$. Do there exist abelian subgroups $H^{\prime }\leq H$ \ and $K^{\prime }\leq K$ \ such that $V\cong H^{\...
3 votes
1 answer
314 views

Probability in $GL_2(\mathbb{Z}/p^{r}\mathbb{Z})$

My question may be not interesting or easy to answer ! but I am really not familiar with proba. Let $p$ be an odd prime number. and let $r\geq1$ an integer. choose an element $A\in\mathrm{GL}_2(\...
3 votes
1 answer
157 views

On the Upper Density of $C_2$ in finite groups

We define the upper density $\rho (G)$ of a finite group $G$ as the ratio of the number of finite groups of order $<n$ which contain a subgroup isomorphic to $G$ to the number of groups of order $&...
2 votes
2 answers
243 views

$n$-distant permutations more than not

Let $\mathfrak{S}_{2n}$ be the permutation group of the letters $[2n]=\{1,2,\dots,2n\}$. Call a permutation $\pi\in\mathfrak{S}_{2n}$ has an $n$-distant pair if there is some $j\in [2n-1]$ such that $\...
14 votes
2 answers
1k views

$n!$ divides a product: Part I

Question. The following is always an integer. Is it not? $$\frac{(2^n-1)(2^n-2)(2^n-4)(2^n-8)\cdots(2^n-2^{n-1})}{n!}.$$ John Shareshian has supplied a cute proof. I'm encouraged to ask: ...
12 votes
0 answers
558 views

Possible orders of products of 2 involutions which interchange disjoint residue classes of the integers

Definition / Question Definition: Let $r(m)$ denote the residue class $r+m\mathbb{Z}$, where $0 \leq r < m$. Given disjoint residue classes $r_1(m_1)$ and $r_2(m_2)$, let the class transposition $...
5 votes
1 answer
326 views

Generalizing Kasteleyn's formula even more?

Inspired and intrigued by this question, I decided just for fun to throw in another integer into the factors and look what happens. So for $k\in\mathbb Z$, let us define $$K_r(n,k):=\prod_{\ell_1=1}^...
4 votes
1 answer
178 views

finding $\mathcal{F}$ or classes in $\mathcal{F}$

Let $\mathcal{F}$ be the set of functions (sequences, if you like) $f:\mathbb{Z}_{\geq0}\rightarrow\mathbb{Z}$ such that (a) $f(0)$ is odd, and (b) $2^{n+1}\,\vert\,(\Delta^nf)(x)$ for all $n\geq1$ ...
1 vote
3 answers
1k views

primes dividing binomial coefficients

Dear All, I am considering maximal subgroups of odd index in Alternating and Symmetric groups, and this leeds me to some questions on binomial coefficients that I presently do not know and that I ...
18 votes
3 answers
745 views

Number of primitive $n$th roots with positive versus negative real parts

Does anyone know a reference to the following results, which I can prove, but I suspect may be known. Let $R(n)$ denote the number of primitive $n$th roots of unity with positive real part, and $L(n)$ ...
3 votes
2 answers
1k views

A problem about Determinant of sum of permutation matrices

Let $w_1$ and $w_2$ be two permutations of $\{1, \cdots , k\}$ such that for all $1\leq i \leq k$, $w_1(i)\neq w_2(i)$. Let $m$ and $n$ be two relatively prime integers. Then is there exist two ...
11 votes
3 answers
1k views

A problem on a specific integer partition

Let $n$ be a positive integer, we consider partitions of the following form : $$n = d^{2}_{1} + d^{2}_{2} + ... + d^{2}_{r}$$ such that : $d_{i}\vert n$ $1=d_{1}<d_{2} \le d_{3} \le ... \le d_{r}$...
1 vote
1 answer
240 views

Group with 2 orbits on the nonnegative integers -- description of the orbits

Definition: Let $r(m)$ denote the residue class $r+m\mathbb{Z}$, where $0 \leq r < m$. Given disjoint residue classes $r_1(m_1)$ and $r_2(m_2)$, let the class transposition $\tau_{r_1(m_1),r_2(m_2)}...
8 votes
1 answer
417 views

Cayley Graphs of Z/nZ with invertible adjacency matrices

Let $G = \mathbb Z/n\mathbb Z$ and let $\emptyset\neq S\subseteq G$. Then the Cayley digraph of $G$ with respect to $S$ has vertex set $G$ and directed edges of the form $g\rightarrow gs$ with $s\in ...
20 votes
2 answers
2k views

Sums of powers mod p

For prime $p > 7$ with $p-1=rs$, $r>1$, $s>1$, let $A=\{x^r|x \in \mathbb{Z}_p\}$ and $B = \{x^s|x \in \mathbb{Z}_p\}$. If $g$ is a primitive root mod $p$ then $A = \{0\} \cup \{g^{ir}|0 \leq ...
7 votes
1 answer
569 views

Upper bound for size of subsets of a finite group that contains a sum-full set

Problem I'm looking for an upper bound for the number $k(G)$ of a finite group $G$, defined as follow: Let $\mathcal{F}_k$ be the family of subsets of $G$ with size $k$, and we define $k(G)$ be ...
8 votes
1 answer
601 views

What does the expression count?

Let $q \geq 2$. What does the expression $(q^n-1)(q^n-q)(q^n-q^2)(q^n-q^3)\ldots(q^n-q^{n-1})/n!$ count? If $q$ is a prime power, then this is the number of bases of an $n$-dimensional vector space ...