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Ng Yong Hao
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Generating All Permutations Without Repetition Using Two Generators

It is well known that all symmetric group can be generated using two generators

The two generators are:

  1. $(1,2)$
  2. $(1,2,3,\dots ,n)$

Question: Is there a deterministic algorithm to generate all permutations without repetition using only these two generators?
(Bonus 1: The algorithm generates the permutations in a cycle. Bonus 2: Not requiring the inverse of generator 2)
Edit: As point out by John, this is equivalent to a Hamiltonian path in the Cayley graph of $S_n$ with these two generators.

It is easy to generate all of them without repetition using $n-1$ generators, by the Steinhaus-Johnson-Trotter algorithm.
It is easy to generate all of them, with repetition, using two generators.
However I was unable to find a way to generate all without repetition and using only two generators.

As this approach seems natural, I suspect someone should have worked on it but I was unable to find any references online.

Does anyone knows the status of this problem?

Ng Yong Hao
  • 360
  • 1
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  • 12