All Questions
5 questions
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 ...
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 ...
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 ...
2
votes
0
answers
156
views
Special sets of involutions generating ${\rm S}_n$
For which positive integers $k$ and $r$ are there involutions $g_{n,i} \in {\rm S}_n$
$(n \in \mathbb{N}, \ i = 1, \dots, k)$ such that the following hold?:
for any $n$, the $g_{n,i}$ $(i = 1, \dots, ...
5
votes
1
answer
442
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 $f_n$...