Questions tagged [gr.group-theory]
Questions about the branch of algebra that deals with groups.
1,090 questions
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Reference request: Recent progress on the conjugacy problem for torsion-free one-relator groups?
I am aware that the Spelling Theorem of B. B. Newman implies that one-relator groups with torsion are hyperbolic, and thus have a solvable conjugacy problem. My understanding is that for one-relator ...
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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 ...
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When is a Baumslag-Solitar group linear?
The Baumslag-Solitar group $BS(m,n)$ is given by the group presentation
$BS(m,n)=(a,b|ba^{m}b^{-1}=a^{n})$. When does it embed into a linear group? Thanks!
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Twist of a group Hopf-algebra
Let $G$ be a finite group with identity element $e$, and $C[G]$ the ring of complex-valued functions on $G$, with pointwise addition and multiplication. Then $C[G]$ is naturally a Hopf algebra, with ...
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Which lattices have more than one minimal periodic coloring?
The lattice $\mathbb{Z}^n$ has an essentially unique (up to permutation) minimal periodic coloring for all $n$, namely the "checkerboard" 2-coloring. Here a coloring of a lattice $L$ is a coloring of ...
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Maximality of normalizer of $p$-Sylow groups in the symmetric group $S_{p}$
Consider the symmetric group $S_{p}$ where $p$ is a prime, then its $p$-Sylow subgroups are isomorphic to the cyclic group $C_{p}$. And it is clear that the normalizer of this cyclic group in the ...
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Where can I find analogues of combinatorial central limit theorems for other groups
The statement of Hoeffding's combinatorial central limit theorem is as follows: given for each $n$, an $n \times n$ matrix $A = (a_{ij})$, one can consider the random diagonal sum:
$$\displaystyle f(\...
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Does every set have a rigid self-map?
The question was asked on Mathematics Stackexchange
but has remained unanswered so far.
A self-map is a map $f:X\to X$ from a set $X$ to itself. There is an obvious notion of morphism, and thus of ...
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A group whose automorphism group is cyclic
Is there an Abelian group $A$ which is not locally cyclic whose automorphism group is cyclic ?
This question was first posted here.
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When is the semidirect product of an elementary abelian group and a cyclic group generated by two elements?
I am trying to characterize when a semi-direct product of the form $(Z/pZ)^n \rtimes (Z/qZ)$ is isomorphic to a group generated by two elements. Here $p$ and $q$ are distinct odd primes.
I would be ...
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A flatness result of Fiedorwicz for amalgamated free products of monoids in connection with classifying spaces of monoids
In Lemma 5.2(a) of Z. Fiedorowicz, Classifying Spaces of Topological Monoids and Categories American Journal of Mathematics Vol. 106, No. 2 (Apr., 1984), pp. 301-350 the author proves the following.
...
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For which kinds of group $G$, can we identify a square element efficiently?
For a group $(G,\star)$, an element $x\in G$ is said to be square if there is $y\in G$ such that $x=y\star y$.
My question is: For which kinds of group $G$, can we decide whether $x\in G$ is a ...
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Generalizing the Notion of Nilpotent/Abelian/Cyclic Numbers
Let us call a number $n\in\mathbb{N}$ nilpotent if
$$n=p_1^{e_1}\cdots p_m^{e_m}$$
with $p_i^k\not\equiv 1\mod p_j$ for $i,j\in\{1,\ldots,m\}$ and $1\leqslant k\leqslant e_i$.
A cute theorem says the ...
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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 ...
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Affine manifolds
An affine manifold is a topological manifold which admits a system of charts such that the coordinate changes are (restrictions of) affine transformations. Let $M$ be a compact affine manifold. Let $G$...
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Is there an analogue of Mostow-Palais equivariant embedding theorem for noncompact groups
Let $M$ be a (Hausdorff) smooth compact manifold and $G$ a Lie group acting smoothly on $M$. If $G$ is compact then, by Mostow-Palais theorem, there exists an equivariant smooth embedding $M\to {\...
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algorithm to compute the integral orthogonal group
Suppose I have an indefinite quadratic form over the integers, and I want to compute its orthogonal group. Is there an algorithm, or at least a heuristic? If yes, is there any implementation anywhere?
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Number of Permutations?
Edit: This is a modest rephrasing of the question as originally stated below the fold: for $n \geq 3$, let $\sigma \in S_n$ be a fixed-point-free permutation. How many fixed-point-free permutations $\...
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Naturally occuring groups with cardinality greater than the reals.
In group theory, the single most important piece of information about a group is its cardinality, which is of course either finite, countably infinite, or uncountably infinite. Usually, however, ...
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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$ ...
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How can you order a free group?
A left order on a (discrete) group $G$ is a total order on $G$ satisfying $\forall g,h,k \in G: g < h \implies kg < kh$. A right order is defined symmetrically, and a biorder is an order that is ...
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A generalisation of the theorem of Maschke
The theorem of Maschke tells us that every representation of a finite group is the direct sum of irreducible representation. More precisely:
Let $G$ be a finite group, $K$ a field whose ...
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First-order axiomatization of free groups
Is there a way to axiomatize [non-abelian] free groups in first-order logic using the language of groups (which contains the binary operation symbol $\cdot$, and the constant symbol $e$)?
Is there ...
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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\...
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Non-abelian divisible groups
I recently stumbled over the example in
http://ysharifi.wordpress.com/2010/03/09/a-uniquely-divisible-non-abelian-group/
of a non-abelian group $G$ with the property that for all natural numbers $n$ ...
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Is the class of commutative generalized Euclidean rings stable under quotient and localization?
Let $R$ be an associative ring with identity and let $E_n(R)$ be the subgroup of $GL_n(R)$ generated by matrices obtained from the identity matrix by replacing an off-diagonal entry by some $r∈R$. Let ...
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Which finite solvable groups have solvable automorphism groups?
Is it possible to give a reasonable description of those finite solvable groups $G$ such that $A = {\rm Aut}(G)$ is also solvable?
The central case to deal with is that in which $G$ is a $p$-group of ...
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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'...
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Group extensions and actions on categories
Let G and H be two groups. There is a one-to-one correspondence between:
(i) an (isomorphism class of) extension of G by H, i.e. an exact sequence of group morphisms $1\to H\to E\to G\to 1$;
(ii) an ...
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Reference for the fact that $SL_n(O_K)$ surjects onto $SL_n(O_K/I)$ for any ideal I
Let $\mathcal{O}_K$ be the ring of integers in an algebraic number field $K$ and let $I \subset \mathcal{O}_K$ be a nonzero proper ideal. It is not hard to see that the map $\text{SL}_n(\mathcal{O}_K)...
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Counting isomorphism classes via extensions
Given a group $Q$ and an abelian group $C$, I want to determine the number $I(Q,C)$ of isomorphism classes of all groups $G$ having a central subgroup $C'$ isomorphic to $C$ such that the quotient $G/...
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Ore's Conjecture for perfect groups
We know that Ore's Conjecture is a theorem now. Does anyone know a counterexample to Ore's conjecture for perfect groups? I believe there should be one, but I dont have a counterexample. Thanks.
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When is the profinite completion a pro-$p$ group?
My research area is mainly pro-$p$ groups and profinite groups. However, in the last few year I became also interested in discrete groups. Therefore, it seems to me a natural problem to look for ...
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Reference for Ring Structure on Group Cohomology
As a graded $\mathbb{Z}$-module, the structure of the group cohomology $H^{*}(\mathbb{Z}/n\mathbb{Z};\mathbb{Z})$ is extremely well-known. Yet, I am having difficulty finding a reference concerning ...
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Do doubly-transitive actions give rise to irreducible representations for infinite groups?
Let $G$ be a group acting doubly-transitively on a set $X$. Then the vector space $V_X$ of functions $f\colon X\to\mathbb C$ with finite support such that $\sum_{x\in X}f(x)=0$ carries an action of $G$...
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Where was it first stated that there are no 4-transitive finite groups other than symmetric, alternating and Mathieu groups?
It seems to be well-known that the six-transitive finite groups are the symmetric and alternating groups, and the only other four-transitive finite groups are the Mathieu groups (the statement can be ...
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Elements of finite order of $\mathrm{PGL}(n,\mathbb{Q})$
For some research work, I need to know the classification of elements of finite order of $\mathrm{PGL}(n,\mathbb{Q})$, up to conjugation.
Since I essentially need $n\le 4$, I think that I can show it ...
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n! divides a product: Part II
This is a follow up on another MO question.
Question. For $n\geq2$, the following is always an integer. Is it not?
$$\frac{(2^n-2)(2^{n-1}-2)\cdots(2^3-2)(2^2-2)}{n!}.$$
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What is the quotient group $D^*/{F^*(1+P_D)}$ for a quaternion division algebra $D$ over a local field $F$?
Let $F$ be the non-archimedean local field $\mathbb{Q}_p$ for some prime $p$ and $D$ be a quaternion division algebra over $F$. Let $\mathcal{O}_D$ and $\mathcal{P}_D$ denote the ring of integers of $...
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Presentations of PSL(2, Z/p^n)
As is well known, the group $PSL(2,\mathbb Z)$ is isomorphic to the free product $C_2 \ast C_3$ of cyclic groups of order $2$ and $3$. Call the generators of the cyclic groups $S$ and $T$.
Problem: ...
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Does every non-amenable group contain a 2-generated non-amenable subgroup?
It is known that there are non-amenable groups not containing $F_2$, the free group on two generators; for example, Olshanskii's group. But does every non-amenable group contain a 2-generated non-...
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Lifting units from modulus n to modulus mn.
Background
In his beautifully short answer to a previous question of mine, Robin Chapman asserted the following.
Let $m,n,r$ be natural numbers with $r$ coprime to $n$. Then there is $r' \equiv r ...
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What classes of groups can arise as "symmetry groups of terms"?
Let $\mathfrak{A}$ be an algebra (in the sense of universal algebra). To each term $t(x_1,...,x_n)$ in the language of $\mathfrak{A}$ in which each variable actually appears we can assign a group $G_\...
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Is there a one relator group with property (T)?
Is there a one-relator group with property (T)?
That is, is there an $n > 2$, and some $x \in F_n$ (the free group on $n$ generators) such that the quotient of $F_n$ by the normal subgroup ...
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Questions on the group $\mathrm{GL}(H)$
$\DeclareMathOperator\GL{GL}\DeclareMathOperator\U{U}$Let $H$ be an infinite dimensional complex Hilbert space. Consider the group $\GL(H)$ of bounded invertible operators on $H$.
Question 1. I've ...
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Formula for the Frobenius-Schur indicator of a finite group?
Let $G$ be a finite group and let $k$ be an algebraically closed field of characteristic $p \neq 2$.
Let $V$ be a finite-dimensional irreducible $kG$-module. If $V \cong V^*$, then $V$ admits a ...
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Can $E_8$ be enlarged?
Is there any finite 8-dimensional point group which contains the $E_8$ Coxeter group as a subgroup other than $E_8$ itself?
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Extensions of an infinite product of copies of Z by Z
The question is simple:
Let $P$ be an infinite direct product of copies of $\mathbb Z$. Do there exist any nontrivial extensions
$$0 \to \mathbb Z \to E \to P \to 0$$
in the category of commutative ...
- 4,015
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Characterization of the family of simple groups PSL(2,q) by tensor multiplicity
Let $G$ be a finite group and $(\chi_i)$ its irreducible characters. Then $\forall i,j,k, \exists!n_{i,j}^k \in \mathbb{N}_{\ge 0}$ such that $$\chi_i \chi_j = \sum_k n_{i,j}^k \chi_k.$$
Let the ...
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Is every automorphism of $\mathrm{Aut}^+(F_2)$ induced by conjugation inside $\mathrm{Aut}(F_2)$?
$\DeclareMathOperator\Aut{Aut}\DeclareMathOperator\Inn{Inn}\DeclareMathOperator\GL{GL}\DeclareMathOperator\SL{SL}$Let $F_2$ be a free group of rank 2. There is a surjection $\Aut(F_2)\rightarrow \GL(2,...
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