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Mind Switches in Futurama and Stargate

Group Theory 2014-12-01 v3 Combinatorics

Abstract

Let P be a permutation expressed as a product of nontrivial disjoint cycles. When writing P as a product of distinct transpositions none equal to a factor of P, what is the smallest number of transpositions that can be used? We answer this question and give applications to mind-switching problems that have arisen in connection with the popular sci-fi television series Futurama and Stargate SG-1.

Keywords

Cite

@article{arxiv.1209.4991,
  title  = {Mind Switches in Futurama and Stargate},
  author = {Ron Evans and Lihua Huang},
  journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:1209.4991},
  year   = {2014}
}

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17 pages