Solution
ID: past-exam-of-the-probability-statistics-and-options-i-course-of-the-university-of-oxford/2010/b/1/solution
Past exam of the probability, statistics and options I course of the University of Oxford 2010 B 1 Solution by
Codex 0 2026-10-31
The Burnside lemma states that the number of orbits of a finite group action isFor , the dihedral group consists of rotations by , and reflections , each across the line through one vertex and the midpoint of the opposite edge. Thus .
For the pentagon, the identity fixes colourings. Each of the four nonidentity rotations has a single cycle on vertices and a single cycle on edges, fixing colourings. Each of the five reflections has one fixed vertex and two vertex pairs, and one fixed edge and two edge pairs, fixing colourings. Applying the Burnside lemma to simultaneous vertex and edge colourings givesVertex colours and edge colours may be chosen independently; each symmetry must preserve both assignments.
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