All Questions
Tagged with gr.group-theory permutation-groups
139 questions
47
votes
1
answer
2k
views
Transitivity on $\mathbb{N}_0$ -- a 42 problem
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 $\tau_{r_1(m_1),r_2(m_2)}$ be the ...
- 19.6k
32
votes
3
answers
3k
views
Order of products of elements in symmetric groups
Let $n \in \mathbb{N}$. Is it true that for any $a, b, c \in \mathbb{N}$ satisfying
$1 < a, b, c \leq n-2$ the symmetric group ${\rm S}_n$ has elements of order $a$ and $b$
whose product has order $...
- 19.6k
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
28
votes
3
answers
2k
views
When is $S_n \times S_m$ a subgroup of $S_p$?
I asked the following question on math.stackexchange several months ago:
Let $n,m,p>1$ be such that $S_n \times S_m \hookrightarrow S_p$. Does it imply that $p \geq n+m$?
Derek Holt gave a ...
- 2,371
22
votes
4
answers
1k
views
Is there a way of canonically labelling permutation groups?
When working with large numbers of graphs, a canonical labelling routine is essential as, after the initial cost of canonically labelling each graph, it permits isomorphism checks to be replaced with ...
- 12.7k
21
votes
1
answer
622
views
If $S_\mathbb N$ is partitioned into finitely many pieces, must one piece contain a "skew copy" of every countable group?
Suppose $G$ and $H$ are groups. $C \subseteq H$ is called a skew copy of $G$ in $H$ if $C = hK$ for some $h \in H$ and some subgroup $K$ of $H$ with $K \cong G$.
Question 1: Suppose the infinite ...
- 18.5k
20
votes
6
answers
4k
views
An easy proof that $S(n)$ does not embed into $A(n+1)$?
Rotman's book An Introduction to the Theory of Groups (Fourth Edition) asks, on page 22, Exercise 2.8, to show that $S(n)$ cannot be embedded in $A(n+1)$, where $S(n)$ = the symmetric group on $n$ ...
- 317
20
votes
3
answers
940
views
What did Frobenius prove about $M_{12}$?
I am interested in this paper which I can't read because it's in German:
Frobenius, G., Über die Charaktere der mehrfach transitiven Gruppen., Berl. Ber. 1904, 558-571 (1904). ZBL35.0154.02.
A free ...
- 11.2k
17
votes
1
answer
1k
views
Does O'Nan-Scott depend on CFSG?
My question is in the title. Some context: there are two versions of the O'Nan-Scott theorem. The first, weaker version, is due to O'Nan and Scott (independently) and gives the structure of the ...
- 11.2k
17
votes
0
answers
969
views
Groups generated by 3 involutions
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
$\tau_{r_1(m_1),r_2(m_2)}$ be the ...
- 19.6k
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
1k
views
Tensor power of the natural representation of Sn
The symmetric group $S_n$ acts over $V=\mathbb{R}^n$ by permuting the canonical basis.
So it acts over $V^{\otimes p}$ with a diagonal action (acts the same over each element of the tensor product).
...
- 583
16
votes
1
answer
455
views
Escaping from a centralizer
Let $G = Sym(n)$, $n$ even. Let $H<G$ be the stabilizer of the partition $\{\{1,2\},\{3,4\},\dotsc,\{n-1,n\}\}$, or, what is the same, the centralizer of $(1\;2) \dotsc (n-1\; n)$.
By Stirling's ...
- 20.2k
15
votes
2
answers
700
views
Explicit permutation representation of the Thompson sporadic simple group?
The Thompson group Th of order $90745943887872000$ is one of the sporadic simple groups occurring in the classification of finite simple groups.
Its maximal subgroups are known (see http://brauer....
- 12.7k
14
votes
1
answer
959
views
The number of involutions in a permutation group
If $G$ is a group let $I(G)$ be the number of involutions (elements of order 2) in $G$. My question is then easily stated: does there exists a constant $C > 1$ such that for every $n \ge 1$ and ...
- 3,399
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 $...
- 1,294
12
votes
0
answers
277
views
How many steps on $S_n$ are required to span $V\wedge V$, $V = K^n$?
Let $A$ be a set of generators of $G=S_n$; assume $e\in A$,
$A=A^{-1}$. Let $V = K^n$, $K$ a field. Consider the natural
action of $G$ on $V$ (namely, $g(e_i) = e_{g(i)}$) and on $W = V\wedge V$
(...
- 20.2k
12
votes
0
answers
699
views
Solving a set of equations in a finite symmetric group
A standard way to find solutions to a finite set of equations in a finite symmetric group
${\rm S}_n$ is to take the equations as relators of a finitely presented group, to use
the low index subgroups ...
- 19.6k
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
$...
- 19.6k
11
votes
1
answer
248
views
How many steps are required for double transitivity?
Let $A$ be a set of generators of $S_n$, or of a doubly transitive
subgroup of $S_n$. Assume $e\in A$, $A=A^{-1}$. What is the least $k$
such that $A^k$ is doubly transitive as a set? That is, what is ...
- 20.2k
11
votes
1
answer
289
views
Permutation groups having a regular cyclic subgroup and a conjectured algebra of characters
Let $G$ be a transitive permutation group of degree $d$ having a cyclic regular subgroup $K = \langle k \rangle \cong C_d$. Let $\pi(g) = |\mathrm{Fix}(g)|$ be the permutation character of $G$ and let
...
- 11.2k
10
votes
1
answer
585
views
Maximal subgroups of a certain finite 2-group
The following came up in a problem on reconstruction of digraphs. I determined enough about the answer to satisfy the application completely, but still I am curious to know what the complete solution ...
- 37.7k
10
votes
0
answers
194
views
Permutation groups with diameter $O(n \log n)$
I suspect that many permutation puzzles can be solved in $O(n \log n)$ moves, which has led me to the following question/conjecture:
Suppose that
1. $P_i$ for $i<k=O(1)$ are permutations on an $n$ ...
- 7,525
9
votes
1
answer
578
views
Generalization of Frobenius groups
Frobenius group is a transitive permutation group on a finite set, such that no non-trivial element fixes more than one point and some non-trivial element fixes a point.
In other words, if in a ...
- 323
9
votes
2
answers
329
views
Can $1\ne H\cap H^g\lhd H$ happen if $G$ is a primitive permutation group with stabiliser $H$?
Assume everything is finite.
Let $G$ be a primitive permutation group with point stabiliser $G_\alpha$ for some $\alpha$. For $\beta\ne\alpha$, by an arc stabiliser we mean $G_{\alpha\beta}=G_\alpha\...
- 379
9
votes
2
answers
814
views
Regular elementary abelian subgroups of primitive permutation groups
A finite group $B$ is said to be a B-group if every primitive permutation group having a regular (transitive) subgroup isomorphic to B is $2$-transitive.
Schur proved that a cyclic group of ...
- 11.2k
9
votes
1
answer
460
views
Connections between linear representations and permutation representations
A finite group $\Gamma$ might be represented by a linear transformation
$$\rho : \Gamma\to\mathrm{GL}(\Bbb R^d),$$
or by permutations
$$\phi :\Gamma\to\mathrm{Sym}(n).$$
Of course, latter ones can ...
- 13.6k
9
votes
2
answers
432
views
Vertex-primitive graphs with two vertices having almost the same neighbourhood
Hypothesis: Let $\Gamma$ be a vertex-primitive graph with two vertices $u$ and $v$ such that $$|N(u) \cap N(v)|=|N(v)|-1$$
Question: Is it true that $\Gamma$ must either be a complete graph or have ...
- 3,291
9
votes
1
answer
226
views
Is $\beta\mathbb N$ a unique compactification with the smallest possible permutation group?
For a compactification $c\mathbb N$ of $\mathbb N$ let $\mathcal H(c\mathbb N,\mathbb N)$ be the group of homeomorphisms $h:c\mathbb N\to c\mathbb N$ such that $h(x)=x$ for all $x\in c\mathbb N\...
- 41.8k
9
votes
1
answer
499
views
Question about doubly transitive groups with an n-cycle
Let $G$ be a doubly transitive subgroup of $S_n$ which contains an $n$-cycle, and let $G_{12}$ be the subgroup of $G$ consisting of all elements $g\in G$ for which $g(1)=1$ and $g(2)=2$. Then $G_{12}$...
- 6,397
8
votes
3
answers
693
views
partly obscured Rubik's cube
I just came back from a beach which features a large Rubik's cube (2m high). The base of the cube is not visible and the top is not coloured. The four vertical sides are each divided $3\times 3$ into ...
- 37.7k
8
votes
1
answer
1k
views
Symplectic groups $Sp_{2m}(2)$ as $2$-transitive permutation (i.e. Galois) groups
I am looking for information about the symplectic groups $Sp_{2m}(2)$ as permutation group acting on quadratic forms.
Consider the block matrices
$$e=\begin{pmatrix}0&1\\0&0\end{pmatrix}, \...
- 1,269
8
votes
1
answer
674
views
Center of one-point stabilizer in 2-transitive groups
In this MO question it was mentioned that the following fact seems to be true:
If $G$ is doubly transitive on $X$ and the one-point stabilizer $G_x$ has a
non-trivial center, then $G$ is of ...
- 3,078
8
votes
2
answers
586
views
How hard is it to compute the diameter and the growth function of a finite permutation group of small degree?
Let $G \leq {\rm S}_n$ be a finite permutation group, and let
$S = \{g_1, \dots, g_k\}$ be a generating set for $G$ which is closed
under inversion and which does not contain the identity.
The growth ...
- 19.6k
8
votes
1
answer
209
views
Asymptotic number of permutation representations of a given group
Let $G$ be a finitely generated group.
I am trying to count the number of permutation representations on $n$ elements, i.e. homomorphisms from $G$ to the symmetric group $S_n$.
Equivalently this is ...
- 974
7
votes
6
answers
1k
views
Transitive permutation groups which all of their proper subgroups are intransitive
Let $G$ be a transitive permutation group on a finite set $\Omega$. It is clear
that if $G$ is regular, then every proper subgroup of $G$ is intransitive. Is
there any other class of groups with this ...
- 792
7
votes
2
answers
422
views
Automorphism group of a special commuting graph
Suppose $S_6$ is the symmetric group on six letters and let $X$ denote the conjugacy class containing $(12)(34)$. Define a graph $\Gamma$ with vertex set $X$ and edges precisely the 2-element subsets ...
- 81
7
votes
1
answer
460
views
Does every transitive permutation group contain a permutation whose cycle lengths have a common divisor?
Let $H$ be a transitive subgroup of $\mathfrak{S}_n$, $n \geq 2$.
Using Jordan's lemma ($H$ is not a union of conjugate proper subgroups), we see that $H$ contains a permutation without fixed points.
...
- 413
7
votes
2
answers
547
views
Classification of generously transitive groups
A permutation group $G \lt S_n$ is called generously transitive, if for each $i,j$ there exists a permutation that interchanges them. Is there a reasonable classification of such (finite) groups?
- 972
7
votes
1
answer
728
views
number of maximal subgroups of the symmetric group
What is the asymptotics of the number of the maximal subgroups of $S_n$ (as a function of $n$)? This must be written down somewhere...
EDIT I am actually more interested in the number of conjugacy ...
- 96.4k
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
1
answer
237
views
Permutation groups generated by finitely many point stabilisers
Assume that $G\leq\operatorname{Sym}(X)$ is a permutation group generated by all its point stabilisers, i.e. $G=\langle G_x \mid x\in X\rangle$. There is no cardinality restriction on $X$. Furthermore,...
- 327
7
votes
1
answer
578
views
Wreath product $S_k\wr S_n$ inside $S_{kn}$
I want to understand wreath products a little better.
Currently, my intuition about them is as follows. Take $nk$ disks, pile them in order forming $n$ piles of $k$ disks (one pile contains disks {1,...
- 1,549
7
votes
1
answer
224
views
Generating set of permutation group such that generators do not "contain" other group elements
Let $(G, X)$ be a permutation group with domain $X$. Let $O=\{o_1,\dots,o_m\}$ be the set of orbits of $G$. I am interested in generating sets $S$ with the following property:
Let $g\in S$ be a ...
- 5,792
7
votes
1
answer
215
views
Automorphism group of a putative strongly regular graph
The smallest feasible parameters for which no strongly regular graph is known to exist are $(69,48,32,36)$, as per Brouwer's table. What is known on the automorphism group of such a graph?
- 221
7
votes
0
answers
115
views
Extensions of oligomorphic groups
Recall that a permutation group $G\le\mathfrak{S}(\mathbb N)$ is oligomorphic if, for any positive integer $k$, the induced $G$-action on $k$-tuples of distinct elements of $\mathbb N$ has only ...
- 321
7
votes
0
answers
302
views
Does this class of groups contain finitely generated infinite periodic groups?
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
$\tau_{r_1(m_1),r_2(m_2)}$ be the ...
- 19.6k
6
votes
2
answers
623
views
Two groups acting on a set.
Suppose we are given a set S of points on which two different groups G and G' (given by sets of generating permutations) act. Is there an efficient algorithm for finding generators the largest pair ...
- 397
6
votes
1
answer
2k
views
Are there infinitely many insipid numbers?
A number $n$ is called insipid if the groups having a core-free maximal subgroup of index $n$ are exactly $A_n$ and $S_n$. There is an OEIS enter for these numbers: A102842. There are exactly $486$ ...
6
votes
1
answer
462
views
Primitive, non-2-transitive groups with very large orbitals?
Let $G$ be a transitive permutation group on a set $X$ with $n$ elements. Assume that $G$ is primitive, i.e., $G$ preserves no non-trivial partition of $X$. Assume as well that $G$ is not $2$-...
- 20.2k