Permutation Groups
Learning Objectives
By the end of this module, learners should be able to:
a. define permutations and permutation groups;
b. define symmetric group; and
c. present permutations using different notations.
Abstraction
In mathematics, especially in abstract algebra, permutation groups play a central
role in understanding the structure of sets under rearrangement. A permutation is
simply a rearrangement of elements in a set. When we consider all the possible
permutations of a set and how they combine, we obtain a permutation group.
Permutation Group
A permutation of a set is a bijective (one-to-one and onto) mapping of the set to
itself. In simple term, it is a collection of ways to rearrange the element of a set, where
combining two arrangements results in another valid arrangement.
For example:
1. A permutation of the set {1, 2, 3} might be {2, 3, 1}
2. Permutation of the set {2, 4, 6, 8} can be {8, 6, 4, 2}
3. A= (2 , 3 , 1, 4 )
1 , 2 ,3 , 4
(
B= 1 ,2 , 3 , 4
3 , 2, 4 , 1 )
(
Permutation AB= 1 , 2 ,3 , 4
2 , 4 ,3 , 1 )
Try This!
(
A= 2 , 4 ,6 ,8 , 9
6 , 4 , 9 , 2 ,8 ) (
B= 2 , 4 , 6 , 8 , 9
4 , 8 ,9 , 2 , 6 )
Symmetric Group
The set of all permutation of n elements forms a group under composition, called
the symmetric group, denoted by Sn . The number of element in a symmetric group |
Sn∨¿ is n! (n factorial), which represents the total number of ways to arrange n distinct
objects.
For example: For the set {1, 2, 3}, or S3 (3! = 6 permutations)
Permutations:
{1, 2, 3} the original order
{1, 2} swap 1 and 2
{1, 3} swap 1 and 3
{2, 3} swap 2 and 3
{3, 1, 2} move 3 to the front
{3, 2, 1} reverse the entire order
Try This!
Find Sn and list all the possible set given the set of :{2, 4, 6}
Answer: {2, 4, 6} {2, 4} {2, 6} {6, 4} {6, 2, 4} {6, 4, 2}
Notation
In permutation groups, notations are used to concisely represent permutations,
which are bijective functions mapping a set to its self Common notations include two-line
notation and cycle notation.
Two-Line Notation- Lists the elements of the set in the first row and their images under
the permutation in the second row.
For example:
(
σ = 1, 2 , 3
3 ,1 , 2)
This means that the permutation are:
σ (1)=3 , σ (2)=1 ,∧σ (3)=2
Cycle Notation
This notation decomposes a permutation into disjoint cycles. A cycle is a
sequence of elements where the permutation maps each element to the next in the
sequence, and the last element in the sequence is mapped back to the first.
For example:
1. σ=(1 , 3 ,2)
This means:
1 →3
3 →2
2 →1
(
σ = 1, 3 , 2
3 ,2 , 1 )
2. σ = ( 1,3 ,12 ,, 32 ,, 44)
σ =(1 , 3 , 2)(4)
Try This!
( 41,,32,,23,,14)
Find the cycle notation and two-line notation for this set: σ =
Assessment
Choose the best answer for each question.
1. What is a permutation?
a. A group of integers
b. A subset of elements
c. A rearrangement of elements in a set
d. An arrangement in alphabetical order
2. Which of the following best describes a permutation group?
a. A collection of sets
b. A bijective function from one set to another
c. All the subsets of a set
d. The set of all permutations of a set, closed under composition
3. How many permutations are in the symmetric group S4 ?
a. 4
b. 12
c. 16
d. 24
4. In cycle notation, what does (1 3 2) mean?
a. 1 maps to 3, 3 maps to 2, and 2 maps to 1
b. 1 maps to 2, 2 maps to 3, 3 maps to 1
c. 1 maps to 3, 3 maps to 1, 2 is fixed
d. All elements are fixed
5. Which of the following is NOT a correct representation of a permutation?
a. Two-line notation
b. Cycle notation
c. Matrix form
d. Word notation
6-10. Using this set:
(
σ = (1 , 2, 3 , 4 ,5 , 6)
3 , 5 ,2 , 6 , 1 , 4 )
Find the two-line notation and cycle notation.
Answer Key
1. C.
2. D.
3. D.
4. A.
5. D.
6-10.
Two-line Notation
σ ( 1 )=3
σ ( 2 ) =5
σ ( 3 )=2
σ ( 4 ) =6
σ ( 5 ) =1
σ ( 6 )=4
Cycle Notation
σ =(1 , 3 , 2 ,5)(4 , 6)
