Existential questions in (relatively) hyperbolic groups. (Q2655754): Difference between revisions

The `existential theory' of a group is the set of all sentences of first order logic, in the language of groups, that contain only existential quantifiers \(\exists\) and that evaluate to true in \(G\). Each such sentence is equivalent to the existence of a solution of the disjunction of finitely many finite systems of equations (of the form \(x_1x_2\cdots x_k=1\)) and inequations (of the form \(x_1x_2\cdots x_k\neq 1\)) with parameters in the group. Thus deciding whether a sentence in the existential theory of a group is true amounts to deciding whether a system of equations and inequations admits a solution. If an algorithm can perform this task, then the group has `decidable existential theory with parameters'. It is shown: Theorem 0.1: Let \(\Gamma\) be a torsion-free group, hyperbolic relative to a family of subgroups that have decidable existential theories with parameters. Then the existential theory with parameters of \(\Gamma\) is decidable. In particular, the existential theory with parameters of any torsion free hyperbolic group is decidable. Corollary 0.2: The existential theory with parameters of any torsion free relatively hyperbolic group with virtually Abelian parabolic subgroups is decidable.