5.1: Definitions and Notation

In general, the permutations of a set \(X\) form a group \(S_X\text{.}\) If \(X\) is a finite set, we can assume \(X=\{ 1, 2, \ldots, n\}\text{.}\) In this case we write \(S_n\) instead of \(S_X\text{.}\) The following theorem says that \(S_n\) is a group. We call this group the symmetric group on \(n\) letters.

Theorem \(5.1\)

The symmetric group on \(n\) letters, \(S_n\text{,}\) is a group with \(n!\) elements, where the binary operation is the composition of maps.

Proof

The identity of \(S_n\) is just the identity map that sends \(1\) to \(1\text{,}\) \(2\) to \(2\text{,}\) \(\ldots\text{,}\) \(n\) to \(n\text{.}\) If \(f : S_n \rightarrow S_n\) is a permutation, then \(f^{-1}\) exists, since \(f\) is one-to-one and onto; hence, every permutation has an inverse. Composition of maps is associative, which makes the group operation associative. We leave the proof that \(|S_n|= n!\) as an exercise.

A subgroup of \(S_n\) is called a permutation group.

Example \(5.2\)

Consider the subgroup \(G\) of \(S_5\) consisting of the identity permutation \(I\) and the permutations

\begin{align*} \sigma & = \begin{pmatrix} 1 & 2 & 3 & 4 & 5 \\ 1 & 2 & 3 & 5 & 4 \end{pmatrix}\\ \tau & = \begin{pmatrix} 1 & 2 & 3 & 4 & 5 \\ 3 & 2 & 1 & 4 & 5 \end{pmatrix}\\ \mu & = \begin{pmatrix} 1 & 2 & 3 & 4 & 5 \\ 3 & 2 & 1 & 5 & 4 \end{pmatrix}\text{.} \end{align*}

Solution

The following table tells us how to multiply elements in the permutation group \(G\text{.}\)

\[ \begin{array}{c|cccc} \circ & I & \sigma & \tau & \mu \\ \hline I & I & \sigma & \tau & \mu \\ \sigma & \sigma & I & \mu & \tau \\ \tau & \tau & \mu & I & \sigma \\ \mu & \mu & \tau & \sigma & I \end{array} \nonumber \]

Remark \(5.3\)

Though it is natural to multiply elements in a group from left to right, functions are composed from right to left. Let \(\sigma\) and \(\tau\) be permutations on a set \(X\text{.}\) To compose \(\sigma\) and \(\tau\) as functions, we calculate \((\sigma \circ \tau)(x) = \sigma( \tau(x))\text{.}\) That is, we do \(\tau\) first, then \(\sigma\text{.}\) There are several ways to approach this inconsistency. We will adopt the convention of multiplying permutations right to left. To compute \(\sigma \tau\text{,}\) do \(\tau\) first and then \(\sigma\text{.}\) That is, by \(\sigma \tau (x)\) we mean \(\sigma( \tau( x))\text{.}\) (Another way of solving this problem would be to write functions on the right; that is, instead of writing \(\sigma(x)\text{,}\) we could write \((x)\sigma\text{.}\) We could also multiply permutations left to right to agree with the usual way of multiplying elements in a group. Certainly all of these methods have been used.

Example \(5.4\)

Permutation multiplication is not usually commutative. Let

\begin{align*} \sigma & = \begin{pmatrix} 1 & 2 & 3 & 4 \\ 4 & 1 & 2 & 3 \end{pmatrix}\\ \tau & = \begin{pmatrix} 1 & 2 & 3 & 4 \\ 2 & 1 & 4 & 3 \end{pmatrix}\text{.} \end{align*}

Solution

Then

\[ \sigma \tau = \begin{pmatrix} 1 & 2 & 3 & 4 \\ 1 & 4 & 3 & 2 \end{pmatrix}\text{,} \nonumber \]

but

\[ \tau \sigma = \begin{pmatrix} 1 & 2 & 3 & 4 \\ 3 & 2 & 1 & 4 \end{pmatrix}\text{.} \nonumber \]

Cycle Notation

The notation that we have used to represent permutations up to this point is cumbersome, to say the least. To work effectively with permutation groups, we need a more streamlined method of writing down and manipulating permutations.

A permutation \(\sigma \in S_X\) is a cycle of length \(k\) if there exist elements \(a_1, a_2, \ldots, a_k \in X\) such that

\begin{align*} \sigma( a_1 ) & = a_2\\ \sigma( a_2 ) & = a_3\\ & \vdots\\ \sigma( a_k ) & = a_1 \end{align*}

and \(\sigma( x) = x\) for all other elements \(x \in X\text{.}\) We will write \((a_1, a_2, \ldots, a_k )\) to denote the cycle \(\sigma\text{.}\) Cycles are the building blocks of all permutations.

Example \(5.5\)

The permutation

\[ \sigma = \begin{pmatrix} 1 & 2 & 3 & 4 & 5 & 6 & 7\\ 6 & 3 & 5 & 1 & 4 & 2 & 7 \end{pmatrix} = (1 6 2 3 5 4 ) \nonumber \]

is a cycle of length \(6\text{,}\) whereas

\[ \tau = \begin{pmatrix} 1 & 2 & 3 & 4 & 5 & 6 \\ 1 & 4 & 2 & 3 & 5 & 6 \end{pmatrix} = (2 4 3) \nonumber \]

is a cycle of length \(3\text{.}\)

Solution

Not every permutation is a cycle. Consider the permutation

\[ \begin{pmatrix} 1 & 2 & 3 & 4 & 5 & 6 \\ 2 & 4 & 1 & 3 & 6 & 5 \end{pmatrix} = (1 2 4 3)(5 6)\text{.} \nonumber \]

This permutation actually contains a cycle of length 2 and a cycle of length \(4\text{.}\)

Example \(5.6\)

It is very easy to compute products of cycles. Suppose that

\[ \sigma = (1 3 5 2 ) \quad \text{and} \quad \tau = (2 5 6)\text{.} \nonumber \]

Solution

If we think of \(\sigma\) as

\[ 1 \mapsto 3, \qquad 3 \mapsto 5, \qquad 5 \mapsto 2, \qquad 2 \mapsto 1\text{,} \nonumber \]

and \(\tau\) as

\[ 2 \mapsto 5, \qquad 5 \mapsto 6, \qquad 6 \mapsto 2\text{,} \nonumber \]

then for \(\sigma \tau\) remembering that we apply \(\tau\) first and then \(\sigma\text{,}\) it must be the case that

\[ 1 \mapsto 3, \qquad 3 \mapsto 5, \qquad 5 \mapsto 6, \qquad 6 \mapsto 2 \mapsto 1\text{,} \nonumber \]

or \(\sigma \tau = (1 3 5 6 )\text{.}\) If \(\mu = (1634)\text{,}\) then \(\sigma \mu = (1 6 5 2)(3 4)\text{.}\)

Two cycles in \(S_X\text{,}\) \(\sigma = (a_1, a_2, \ldots, a_k )\) and \(\tau = (b_1, b_2, \ldots, b_l )\text{,}\) are disjoint if \(a_i \neq b_j\) for all \(i\) and \(j\text{.}\)

Example \(5.7\)

The cycles \((1 3 5)\) and \((2 7 )\) are disjoint; however, the cycles \((1 3 5)\) and \((3 4 7 )\) are not.

Solution

Calculating their products, we find that

\begin{align*} (1 3 5)(2 7 ) & = (1 3 5)(2 7 )\\ (1 3 5)(3 4 7 ) & = (1 3 4 7 5)\text{.} \end{align*}

The product of two cycles that are not disjoint may reduce to something less complicated; the product of disjoint cycles cannot be simplified.

Proposition \(5.8\)

Let \(\sigma\) and \(\tau\) be two disjoint cycles in \(S_X\text{.}\) Then \(\sigma \tau = \tau \sigma\text{.}\)

Proof

Let \(\sigma = (a_1, a_2, \ldots, a_k )\) and \(\tau = (b_1, b_2, \ldots, b_l )\text{.}\) We must show that \(\sigma \tau(x) = \tau \sigma(x)\) for all \(x \in X\text{.}\) If \(x\) is neither in \(\{ a_1, a_2, \ldots, a_k \}\) nor \(\{b_1, b_2, \ldots, b_l \}\text{,}\) then both \(\sigma\) and \(\tau\) fix \(x\text{.}\) That is, \(\sigma(x)=x\) and \(\tau(x)=x\text{.}\) Hence,

\[ \sigma \tau(x) = \sigma( \tau(x)) = \sigma(x) = x = \tau(x) = \tau( \sigma(x)) = \tau \sigma(x)\text{.} \nonumber \]

Do not forget that we are multiplying permutations right to left, which is the opposite of the order in which we usually multiply group elements. Now suppose that \(x \in \{ a_1, a_2, \ldots, a_k \}\text{.}\) Then \(\sigma( a_i ) = a_{(i \bmod k) + 1}\text{;}\) that is,

\begin{align*} a_1 & \mapsto a_2\\ a_2 & \mapsto a_3\\ & \vdots\\ a_{k-1} & \mapsto a_k\\ a_k & \mapsto a_1\text{.} \end{align*}

However, \(\tau(a_i) = a_i\) since \(\sigma\) and \(\tau\) are disjoint. Therefore,

\begin{align*} \sigma \tau(a_i) & = \sigma( \tau(a_i))\\ & = \sigma(a_i)\\ & = a_{(i \bmod k)+1}\\ & = \tau( a_{(i \bmod k)+1} )\\ & = \tau( \sigma(a_i) )\\ & = \tau \sigma(a_i)\text{.} \end{align*}

Similarly, if \(x \in \{b_1, b_2, \ldots, b_l \}\text{,}\) then \(\sigma\) and \(\tau\) also commute.

Theorem \(5.9\)

Every permutation in \(S_n\) can be written as the product of disjoint cycles.

Proof

We can assume that \(X = \{ 1, 2, \ldots, n \}\text{.}\) If \(\sigma \in S_n\) and we define \(X_1\) to be \(\{ \sigma(1), \sigma^2(1), \ldots \}\text{,}\) then the set \(X_1\) is finite since \(X\) is finite. Now let \(i\) be the first integer in \(X\) that is not in \(X_1\) and define \(X_2\) by \(\{ \sigma(i), \sigma^2(i), \ldots \}\text{.}\) Again, \(X_2\) is a finite set. Continuing in this manner, we can define finite disjoint sets \(X_3, X_4, \ldots\text{.}\) Since \(X\) is a finite set, we are guaranteed that this process will end and there will be only a finite number of these sets, say \(r\text{.}\) If \(\sigma_i\) is the cycle defined by

\[ \sigma_i( x ) = \begin{cases} \sigma( x ) & x \in X_i \\ x & x \notin X_i \end{cases}\text{,} \nonumber \]

then \(\sigma = \sigma_1 \sigma_2 \cdots \sigma_r\text{.}\) Since the sets \(X_1, X_2, \ldots, X_r\) are disjoint, the cycles \(\sigma_1, \sigma_2, \ldots, \sigma_r\) must also be disjoint.

Example \(5.10\)

Let

\begin{align*} \sigma & = \begin{pmatrix} 1 & 2 & 3 & 4 & 5 & 6 \\ 6 & 4 & 3 & 1 & 5 & 2 \end{pmatrix}\\ \tau & = \begin{pmatrix} 1 & 2 & 3 & 4 & 5 & 6 \\ 3 & 2 & 1 & 5 & 6 & 4 \end{pmatrix}\text{.} \end{align*}

Solution

Using cycle notation, we can write

\begin{align*} \sigma & = (1624)\\ \tau & = (13)(456)\\ \sigma \tau & = (1 3 6) ( 2 4 5)\\ \tau \sigma & = (1 4 3 )(2 5 6)\text{.} \end{align*}

Remark \(5.11\).

From this point forward we will find it convenient to use cycle notation to represent permutations. When using cycle notation, we often denote the identity permutation by \((1)\text{.}\)

Transpositions

The simplest permutation is a cycle of length \(2\text{.}\) Such cycles are called transpositions. Since

\[ (a_1, a_2, \ldots, a_n ) = (a_1 a_n ) (a_1 a_{n-1} ) \cdots ( a_1 a_3 ) (a_1 a_2 )\text{,} \nonumber \]

any cycle can be written as the product of transpositions, leading to the following proposition.

Proposition \(5.12\)

Any permutation of a finite set containing at least two elements can be written as the product of transpositions

Example \(5.13\)

Consider the permutation

\[ ( 1 6 ) (2 5 3) = (1 6 )( 2 3 )( 2 5 ) = (1 6 )( 4 5 )(2 3 )( 4 5 )(2 5 )\text{.} \nonumber \]

Solution

As we can see, there is no unique way to represent permutation as the product of transpositions. For instance, we can write the identity permutation as \((1 2 )(1 2 )\text{,}\) as \((1 3 )(2 4 )(1 3 )( 2 4 )\text{,}\) and in many other ways. However, as it turns out, no permutation can be written as the product of both an even number of transpositions and an odd number of transpositions. For instance, we could represent the permutation \((1 6)\) by

\[ (2 3 )(1 6)( 2 3) \nonumber \]

or by

\[ (3 5) (1 6) (1 3) (1 6) (1 3) (3 5) (5 6)\text{,} \nonumber \]

but \((1 6)\) will always be the product of an odd number of transpositions.

Lemma \(5.14\)

If the identity is written as the product of \(r\) transpositions,

\[ I = \tau_1 \tau_2 \cdots \tau_r\text{,} \nonumber \]

then \(r\) is an even number.

Proof

We will employ induction on \(r\text{.}\) A transposition cannot be the identity; hence, \(r \gt 1\text{.}\) If \(r=2\text{,}\) then we are done. Suppose that \(r \gt 2\text{.}\) In this case the product of the last two transpositions, \(\tau_{r-1} \tau_r\text{,}\) must be one of the following cases:

\begin{align*} (a b)(a b) & = I\\ (b c)(a b) & = (a c)(b c)\\ (c d)(a b) & = (a b)(c d)\\ (a c)(a b) & = (a b)(b c)\text{,} \end{align*}

where \(a\text{,}\) \(b\text{,}\) \(c\text{,}\) and \(d\) are distinct.

The first equation simply says that a transposition is its own inverse. If this case occurs, delete \(\tau_{r-1} \tau_r\) from the product to obtain

\[ I = \tau_1 \tau_2 \cdots \tau_{r - 3} \tau_{r - 2}\text{.} \nonumber \]

By induction \(r - 2\) is even; hence, \(r\) must be even.

In each of the other three cases, we can replace \(\tau_{r - 1} \tau_r\) with the right-hand side of the corresponding equation to obtain a new product of \(r\) transpositions for the identity. In this new product the last occurrence of \(a\) will be in the next-to-the-last transposition. We can continue this process with \(\tau_{r - 2} \tau_{r - 1}\) to obtain either a product of \(r - 2\) transpositions or a new product of \(r\) transpositions where the last occurrence of \(a\) is in \(\tau_{r - 2}\text{.}\) If the identity is the product of \(r - 2\) transpositions, then again we are done, by our induction hypothesis; otherwise, we will repeat the procedure with \(\tau_{r - 3} \tau_{r - 2}\text{.}\)

At some point either we will have two adjacent, identical transpositions canceling each other out or \(a\) will be shuffled so that it will appear only in the first transposition. However, the latter case cannot occur, because the identity would not fix \(a\) in this instance. Therefore, the identity permutation must be the product of \(r-2\) transpositions and, again by our induction hypothesis, we are done.

Theorem \(5.15\)

If a permutation \(\sigma\) can be expressed as the product of an even number of transpositions, then any other product of transpositions equaling \(\sigma\) must also contain an even number of transpositions. Similarly, if \(\sigma\) can be expressed as the product of an odd number of transpositions, then any other product of transpositions equaling \(\sigma\) must also contain an odd number of transpositions.

Proof

Suppose that

\[ \sigma = \sigma_1 \sigma_2 \cdots \sigma_m = \tau_1 \tau_2 \cdots \tau_n\text{,} \nonumber \]

where \(m\) is even. We must show that \(n\) is also an even number. The inverse of \(\sigma\) is \(\sigma_m \cdots \sigma_1\text{.}\) Since

\[ I = \sigma \sigma_m \cdots \sigma_1 = \tau_1 \cdots \tau_n \sigma_m \cdots \sigma_1\text{,} \nonumber \]

\(n\) must be even by Lemma 5.14. The proof for the case in which \(\sigma\) can be expressed as an odd number of transpositions is left as an exercise.

In light of Theorem \(5.15\), we define a permutation to be even if it can be expressed as an even number of transpositions and odd if it can be expressed as an odd number of transpositions.

The Alternating Groups

One of the most important subgroups of \(S_n\) is the set of all even permutations, \(A_n\text{.}\) The group \(A_n\) is called the alternating group on \(n\) letters.

Theorem \(5.16\)

The set \(A_n\) is a subgroup of \(S_n\text{.}\)

Proof

Since the product of two even permutations must also be an even permutation, \(A_n\) is closed. The identity is an even permutation and therefore is in \(A_n\text{.}\) If \(\sigma\) is an even permutation, then

\[ \sigma = \sigma_1 \sigma_2 \cdots \sigma_r\text{,} \nonumber \]

where \(\sigma_i\) is a transposition and \(r\) is even. Since the inverse of any transposition is itself,

\[ \sigma^{-1} = \sigma_r \sigma_{r-1} \cdots \sigma_1 \nonumber \]

is also in \(A_n\text{.}\)

Proposition \(5.17\)

The number of even permutations in \(S_n\text{,}\) \(n \geq 2\text{,}\) is equal to the number of odd permutations; hence, the order of \(A_n\) is \(n!/2\text{.}\)

Proof

Let \(A_n\) be the set of even permutations in \(S_n\) and \(B_n\) be the set of odd permutations. If we can show that there is a bijection between these sets, they must contain the same number of elements. Fix a transposition \(\sigma\) in \(S_n\text{.}\) Since \(n \geq 2\text{,}\) such a \(\sigma\) exists. Define

\[ \lambda_{\sigma} : A_n \rightarrow B_n \nonumber \]

by

\[ \lambda_{\sigma} ( \tau ) = \sigma \tau \text{.} \nonumber \]

Suppose that \(\lambda_{\sigma} ( \tau ) = \lambda_{\sigma} ( \mu )\text{.}\) Then \(\sigma \tau = \sigma \mu\) and so

\[ \tau = \sigma^{-1} \sigma \tau = \sigma^{-1} \sigma \mu = \mu\text{.} \nonumber \]

Therefore, \(\lambda_{\sigma}\) is one-to-one. We will leave the proof that \(\lambda_{\sigma}\) is surjective to the reader.

Example \(5.18\)

The group \(A_4\) is the subgroup of \(S_4\) consisting of even permutations. There are twelve elements in \(A_4\text{:}\)

\begin{align*} & (1) && (12)(34) && (13)(24) && (14)(23)\\ & (123) && (132) && (124) && (142)\\ & (134) && (143) && (234) && (243)\text{.} \end{align*}

Solution

One of the end-of-chapter exercises will be to write down all the subgroups of \(A_4\text{.}\) You will find that there is no subgroup of order 6. Does this surprise you?

Historical Note

Lagrange first thought of permutations as functions from a set to itself, but it was Cauchy who developed the basic theorems and notation for permutations. He was the first to use cycle notation. Augustin-Louis Cauchy (1789–1857) was born in Paris at the height of the French Revolution. His family soon left Paris for the village of Arcueil to escape the Reign of Terror. One of the family's neighbors there was Pierre-Simon Laplace (1749–1827), who encouraged him to seek a career in mathematics. Cauchy began his career as a mathematician by solving a problem in geometry given to him by Lagrange. Cauchy wrote over 800 papers on such diverse topics as differential equations, finite groups, applied mathematics, and complex analysis. He was one of the mathematicians responsible for making calculus rigorous. Perhaps more theorems and concepts in mathematics have the name Cauchy attached to them than that of any other mathematician.