Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge / 2017 / iii / Paper 103 / 3 / c / i

For the cycle-sum identity for Young–Jucys–Murphy elements, let $C_m$ be the sum of all $m$-cycles on $\{1,\dots ,m\}$. Multiplying such a cycle by $(jm+1)$ inserts $m+1$ immediately after $j$ in that cycle, with our composition convention. Every $(m+1)$-cycle has a unique predecessor $j$ of $m+1$, so deleting $m+1$ recovers a unique term of $C_m{X}_{m+1}$. Since $X_2=(12)$, induction givesFor $n=1$ the empty product is the identity, also the unique one-cycle.