Normal coverings of finite symmetric and alternating groups. (Q549247)

For a finite group \(G\neq 1\), let \(\gamma(G)\) be the smallest positive integer \(k\) with the following property: There exist proper subgroups \(H_1,\dots,H_k\) of \(G\) such that every element of \(G\) is \(G\)-conjugate to some element of \(H_1\cup\cdots\cup H_k\). Clearly \(\gamma(G)\) exists iff \(G\) is non-cyclic, and one has \(\gamma(G)\geq 2\). By \textit{R. Brandl}, \textit{D. Bubboloni} and \textit{I. Hupp} [J. Group Theory 4, No. 2, 233-239 (2001; Zbl 0979.12001)], it was shown that \(\gamma(S_n)=2\) iff \(3\leq n\leq 6\). In the paper under review, it is proved that there exist constants \(a\) and \(b\) such that \(a\varphi(n)\leq\gamma(S_n)\leq bn\). The exact values of \(\gamma(S_n)\) are determined if \(n\) is odd, and of \(\gamma(A_n)\) if \(n\) is even.