Invariable generation of the symmetric group

DOI10.1215/00127094-0000007XzbMATH Open1475.20098arXiv1508.01870MaRDI QIDQ2012195FDOQ2012195

Sean Eberhard, Kevin Ford, Ben Green

Publication date: 28 July 2017

Published in: Duke Mathematical Journal (Search for Journal in Brave)

Abstract: We say that permutations $p{i}_1,dots,p{i}_{r}inmathcal{S}_n$ invariably generate $mathcal{S}_n$ if, no matter how one chooses conjugates $pi{\text{'}}_1,dots,pi{\text{'}}_r$ of these permutations, $pi{\text{'}}_1,dots,pi{\text{'}}_r$ generate $mathcal{S}_n$. We show that if $p{i}_1,p{i}_2,p{i}_3$ are chosen randomly from $mathcal{S}_n$ then, with probability tending to 1 as $nightarrowinfty$, they do not invariably generate $mathcal{S}_n$. By contrast it was shown recently by Pemantle, Peres and Rivin that four random elements do invariably generate $mathcal{S}_n$ with positive probability. We include a proof of this statement which, while sharing many features with their argument, is short and completely combinatorial.

Full work available at URL: https://arxiv.org/abs/1508.01870

zbMATH Keywords

symmetric groupinvariable generationrandom generators

Mathematics Subject Classification ID

Combinatorial probability (60C05) Symmetric groups (20B30) Generators, relations, and presentations of groups (20F05) Probabilistic methods in group theory (20P05) Combinatorial aspects of groups and algebras (05E16)

Cited In (15)

• The invariably generating graph of the alternating and symmetric groups
• A note on invariable generation of nonsolvable permutation groups
• Divisibility of binomial coefficients and generation of alternating groups
• On the probability of generating invariably a finite simple group
• The characteristic polynomial of a random matrix
• Random sets which invariably generate the symmetric group
• On invariable generation of alternating groups by elements of prime and prime power order
• Ewens Sampling and Invariable Generation
• Products of derangements in simple permutation groups
• Irreducible polynomials of bounded height
• Multiplicative arithmetic functions and the generalized Ewens measure
• Minimal invariable generating sets
• Invariable generation does not pass to finite index subgroups
• Invariable generation of finite classical groups
• Invariable generation of permutation and linear groups

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