The winding invariant

Abstract: Every element

w

in the commutator subgroup of the free group

m a t h b b F_{2}

of rank 2 determines a closed curve in the grid

m a t h b b Z i m e s m a t h b b R c u p m a t h b b R i m e s m a t h b b Z s u b s e t e q m a t h b b R^{2}

. The winding numbers of this curve around the centers of the squares in the grid are the coefficients of a Laurent polynomial

P_{w}

in two variables. This basic definition is related to well-known ideas in combinatorial group theory. We use this invariant to study equations over

m a t h b b F_{2}

and over the free metabelian group of rank

2

. We give a number of applications of algebraic, geometric and combinatorial flavor.

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