[r-t] group theory questions

[Alexander Holroyd]

The _order_ of a group element is the number of times you have to apply it 
to get back to the identity.  So in change-ringing world, e.g. 23145 has 
order 3, 23154 has order 6.  An _involution_ is an element of order 2, 
e.g. 21435 or 43215.

Or you could just look at
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Involution_(mathematics)

cheers, A

On Wed, 27 Apr 2011, Matthew Frye wrote:

> You may have to elaborate on exactly what you mean by an involution, I've heard the term before, but not sure of the precise meaning.
>
>
> On 27 Apr 2011, at 01:17, Alexander Holroyd wrote:
>
>> I realize the following questions will be of interest only to a very few people, but this list still seems a good venue (I certainly don't want to exclude anyone who might be interested).
>>
>> 1. If an abstract finite group can be generated by involutions, can it be realized as a permutation group generated by place notations?
>>
>> 2. Can every finite simple group that is generated by involutions be generated by three involutions?
>>
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