A finite presentation of the mapping class group of a punctured surface (Q5950609)

The mapping class group, \(M_{g,n}\) is the group of isotopy classes of orientation preserving homeomorphisms on a surface \(\Sigma_{g,n}\), where \(\Sigma_{g,n}\) is a compact surface of genus \(g\) with \(n\) boundary components. Here \(g\geq 1\). The main result of this paper gives a finite presentation for \(M_{g,n}\) when \((g,n)\neq (1,0)\). The generators for the presentation are Dehn twists along a simple set of curves on \(\Sigma_{g,n}\). Work of Wajnryb is used to prove the case when \(n=1\) and the proof of the main theorem proceeds by induction on \(n\) for \(n\geq 2\).