Some remarks on \(P_ n\)-sequenceable groups (Q1325090)

Let \(n\) be an integer greater than \(1\). The group \(G\) is totally \(n\)- rewriteable, or has the property \(P_ n\), if for each \(n\)-tuple \((x_ 1,x_ 2,\dots,x_ n)\) of elements of \(G\) there exists a nontrivial permutation \(\sigma\) of \(\{1,2,\dots,n\}\) such that \(x_ 1x_ 2 \dots x_ n = x_{\sigma(1)}x_{\sigma(2)} \dots x_{\sigma(n)}\). The properties \(P_ n\) for semigroups were introduced by A. Restivo and C. Reutenauer and for groups by M. Curzio and the authors. Groups in \(P_ n\) and related problems have been studied by many authors [see for example \textit{R. D. Blyth} and \textit{D. J. S. Robinson}, Group theory, Proc. Conf. Singapore 1987, 77-85 (1989; Zbl 0663.20037) and \textit{M. Curzio, P. Longobardi, M. Maj} and \textit{D. J. S. Robinson}, Arch. Math. 44, 385-389 (1985; Zbl 0557.20025)]. Classifications and results about \(P_ n\)-groups for small \(n\) are given for instance by \textit{M. Curzio, P. Longobardi} and \textit{M. Maj} [Atti Accad. Naz. Lincei, VIII. Ser., Rend., Cl. Sci. Fis. Mat. Nat. 74, 136-142 (1983; Zbl 0528.20031)] and by \textit{P. Longobardi, M. Maj} and \textit{S. Stonehewer} [The classification of groups in which every product of four elements can be reordered (to appear)]. In this paper, following \textit{J. Nielsen} [On \(P_ n\)-sequenceable groups, Ars. Comb. (to appear)], we say that a group \(G\) is \(P_ n\)- sequenceable \((n \geq 2)\) if we can write the elements of \(G\) in a sequence \((x_ \alpha)_{\alpha \in \Lambda}\), \(\Lambda\) a well-ordered set, such that for every \(\alpha \in \Lambda\), \(\alpha + n -1 \leq \max \Lambda\) if this exists, the product \(x_ \alpha \dots x_{\alpha + n- 1}\) can be rewritten in at least one way, i.e. there exists a non-trivial permutation \(\sigma\) of \(\{0,\dots,n-1\}\) such that \[ x_ \alpha \dots x_{\alpha + n-1} = x_{\alpha + \sigma(0)} \dots x_{\alpha + \sigma(n-1)}. \] J. Nielsen proved that every finite group is \(P_ 5\)- sequenceable, and it is conjectured that in fact it is \(P_ 3\)- sequenceable. We prove that Theorem 1. Every group \(G\) is \(P_ 4\)- sequenceable. Furthermore we have Theorem 2. A countably infinite group is \(P_ 3\)-sequenceable.