A Cohen-Lyndon theorem for free products of locally indicable groups (Q1088777)

The authors prove the following Theorem: Let \(A,B\) be locally indicable groups, and let \(R\in A*B\) be a cyclically reduced word of length at least 2. Then the normal closure \(R^{A*B}\) of \(R\) in \(A*B\) is freely generated by a set \(\{u^{-1}Ru:u\in U\}\), where \(U\) is a left transversal for \(R^{A*B}\cdot C\) in \(A*B\) and \(C\) denotes the centralizer of \(R\) in \(A*B\). This result is analogous to, and in some way a generalization of, a result of \textit{D. E. Cohen} and \textit{R. C. Lyndon} [Trans. Am. Math. Soc. 108, 526-537 (1963; Zbl 0115.25103)] who proved that the normal closure of a single element in a free group is freely generated by a suitable collection of conjugates of that element. The methods of proof here are elementary and purely group-theoretical.