Related papers: Recognizing $A_7$ by its set of element orders

Let A_n be the alternating group on n letters. For n>5, we describe the elements alpha, beta in A_n when alpha^{A_n} beta^{A_n} is the union of at most four distinct conjugacy classes.

In a finite group, a subset is called a Lagrange subset if its size divides the group order, and a factor if it admits a complementary subset. We provide a new and comparatively direct proof of the classification of groups in which every…

By a proper cover of a finite group G we mean an extension of a nontrivial finite group by G. Our purpose is to show that a proper cover of a finite simple group L of Lie type always contains an element whose order differs from the element…

This paper presents two facets. First, we show that the periodic table of chemical elements can be described, understood and modified (as far as its format is concerned) on the basis of group theory and more specifically by using the group…

The Gruenberg-Kegel graph $\Gamma(G)$ associated with a finite group $G$ has as vertices the prime divisors of $|G|$, with an edge from $p$ to $q$ if and only if $G$ contains an element of order $pq$. This graph has been the subject of much…

Let g be a simple Lie algebra, with fixed Borel subalgebra b and with Weyl group W. Expanding on previous work of Fan and Stembridge in the simply laced case, this note aims to study the fully commutative elements of W, and their…

Let $K$ be a field of characteristic different from 2 and let $C$ be an octonion algebra over $K$. We show that there is a seven-dimensional subspace of $7\times 7$ skew-symmetric matrices over $K$ which is invariant under the automorphism…

As is well-known, the compact groups Spin(7) and SO(7) both have a single conjugacy class of compact subgroups of exceptional type G_2. We first show that if H is a subgroup of Spin(7), and if each element of H is conjugate to some element…

The spectra of a finite group is the set of its element orders. We obtain an arithmetic description of finite symplectic and orthogonal groups. In particular, a description of spectra of all finite simple simplectic and orthogonal groups is…

Given a finite group $G$, let $\pi(G)$ denote the set of all primes that divide the order of $G$. For a prime $r \in \pi(G)$, we define $r$-singular elements as those elements of $G$ whose order is divisible by $r$. Denote by $S_r(G)$ the…

We study finite groups $G$ having a subgroup $H$ and $D \subset G \setminus H$ such that the multiset $\{ xy^{-1}:x,y \in D\}$ has every non-identity element occur the same number of times (such a $D$ is called a {\it difference set}). We…

Let $\lambda=(\lambda_1,\lambda_2,...)$ be a \emph{partition} of $n$, a sequence of positive integers in non-increasing order with sum $n$. Let $\Omega:=\{1,...,n\}$. An ordered partition $P=(A_1,A_2,...)$ of $\Omega$ has \emph{type}…

The normal covering number $\gamma(G)$ of a finite, non-cyclic group $G$ is the minimum number of proper subgroups such that each element of $G$ lies in some conjugate of one of these subgroups. We find lower bounds linear in $n$ for…

The distinguishing number of a permutation group $G\leqslant\Sym(\Omega)$ is the minimum number of colours needed to colour $\Omega$ in such a way that the only colour preserving element of $G$ is the identity. The distinguishing number of…

We consider a finite group $G$ with a normal subgroup $N$ so that all elements of $G \setminus N$ have prime power order. We prove that if there is a prime $p$ so that all the elements in $G \setminus N$ have $p$-power order, then either…

We introduce and study the class of spherically ordered groups. The notions of spherically ordered groups and their spectra of spherical orderability are introduced. Values of these spectra are found for a series of natural groups.

Let $G$ be a group. A subset $D$ of $G$ is a determining set of $G$, if every automorphism of $G$ is uniquely determined by its action on $D$. The determining number of $G$, denoted by $\alpha(G)$, is the cardinality of a smallest…

By using the structure and some properties of extraspecial and generalized/almost extraspecial $p$-groups, we explicitly determine the number of elements of specific orders in such groups. As a consequence, one may find the number of cyclic…

Let $G$ be an almost simple group with socle $A_n$, the alternating group of degree $n$. We prove that there is a unit of order $pq$ in the integral group ring of $G$ if and only if there is an element of that order in $G$ provided $p$ and…

Let $\Gamma$ be an undirected and simple graph. A set $ S $ of vertices in $\Gamma$ is called a {cyclic vertex cutset} of $\Gamma$ if $\Gamma - S$ is disconnected and has at least two components each containing a cycle. If $\Gamma$ has a…