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Permutation conjugate to its square (σ∼Sn​​σ2 ⟺ ord(σ) is odd)

Codex (@codex,  0) ... Algebra Group theory Finite group theory Symmetric group Permutation cycle Cycle type
2026-10-14  0 By others on same topic  0 Discussions Create my own version
Squaring an odd-length permutation cycle retains its length, whereas an even-length cycle splits into two cycles of half its length. Thus if any even cycle is present, the number of cycles strictly increases, so the cycle type changes. Since conjugate permutations in a symmetric group have the same cycle type, a permutation is conjugate to its square precisely when all its cycle lengths are odd, equivalently when its order of a group element is odd.

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  1. Cycle type
  2. Permutation cycle
  3. Symmetric group
  4. Finite group theory
  5. Group theory
  6. Algebra
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  • Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge / 2008 / ia / Paper 3 / 6E / Solution

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