Number of solutions of the equation \(x^ s=e\) in the symmetric group (Q1088664)

Let \(T_ n(s)\) denote the number of solutions of \(x^ s=e\) in the symmetric group \(S_ n\) on n letters (e is the unit element). \textit{S. Chowla, I. N. Herstein} and \textit{W. R. Scott} [Norske Vid. Selsk. 25, 29- 31 (1953; Zbl 0050.256)] posed the problem of the asymptotic behaviour of \(T_ n(s)\), for fixed integer \(s\geq 2\), as \(n\to \infty\). They found the generating function exp(\(\sum_{d| s}z^ d/d)\) for \(T_ n(s)/n!\). The problem of the asymptotic behaviour of \(T_ n(s)\) was solved for \(s=2\) by \textit{S. Chowla, I. N. Herstein} and \textit{K. Moore} [Can. J. Math. 3, 328-334 (1951; Zbl 0043.259)] and for \(s=p\) (fixed prime) by \textit{L. Moser} and \textit{M. Wyman} [Can. J. Math. 7, 159-168 (1955; Zbl 0064.026); ibid. 8, 225-233 (1956; Zbl 0071.347)]. As to \(T_ n(n)\), see \textit{R. Warlimont} [Arch. Math. 30, 591-594 (1978; Zbl 0392.10040)]. \textit{A. I. Pavlov} [Mat. Sb., Nov. Ser. 112(154), 380-395 (1980; Zbl 0438.20002)] obtained the logarithmic asymptotic formula \(T_ n(s)=\exp ((1+o(1))(1-s^{-1})n\cdot \log n)\) for any fixed \(s\geq 2\), as \(n\to \infty.\) In the paper under review the author proves that the asymptotic relation \[ T_ n(s)\sim (n/e)^ n n^{-n/s} s^{-1/2} \exp (\sum_{d| s}n^{d/s}/d-(4s)^{-1}(1+(-1)^ s)) \] holds for any fixed \(s\geq 2\), as \(n\to \infty\). The same result (in another form) is proved independently by \textit{H. S. Wilf} [Bull. Am. Math. Soc., New Ser. 15, 228-232 (1986; Zbl 0613.05007)]. The asymptotic result applies without change to the number of elements of order s (in \(S_ n)\) too.