Large minimal invariable generating sets in the finite symmetric groups (Q6165181)

This is an article about special generating sets for finite groups. Suppose that \(G\) is a finite group, that \(k \in \mathbb{N}\) and that \(I = \{C_1, \dots, C_k\}\) is a set of conjugacy classes of \(G\). Then the set \(I\) invariably generates \(G\) if and only if for all \(x_1 \in C_1, \dots , x_k \in C_k\), it is true that \(\langle x_1,\dots, x_k\rangle = G\). Among these sets of invariably generating sets of conjugacy classes, we call those minimal that have no proper subsets that also invariably generate \(G\). The largest possible cardinality of a minimal invariable generating set of \(G\) is abbreviated by \(m_I(G)\). This is a generalisation of \(m(G)\), the largest cardinality of a minimal generating set of \(G\). The authors investigate minimal invariable generating sets for the symmetric groups, and they prove the following: If \(n \ge 2\) and \(G\) is the symmetric group \(\mathcal{S}_n\), then \(m_I(G)\) is asymptotic to \(\frac{n}{2}\) as \(n \rightarrow \infty\), and the authors actually give lower and upper bounds. As a consequence, if \(n \ge 5\), then \(m_I(G) < m(G)\).