On the non-existence of sharply transitive sets of permutations in certain finite permutation groups. (Q2275883)

By a simple combinatorial trick, the authors establish the following results: the Mathieu group \(M_{22}\) of degree 22 has no sharply transitive subset, and for \(n\equiv 2,3\pmod 4\) the alternating group \(A_n\) has no sharply 2-transitive subset. In particular, \(M_{23}\) has no sharply 2-transitive subset. This fact provides an easier proof for the following theorem of the authors [Innov. Incidence Geom. 6-7(2007-2008), 291-294 (2008; Zbl 1172.51007)]: the group of projectivities of every finite non-Desarguesian projective plane is the alternating or symmetric group.