Mathematics – Group Theory
Scientific paper
2003-11-16
Mathematics
Group Theory
10 pages
Scientific paper
Let G be a group and S a subset of G that generates G. For each x in G define the length l_S(x) of x relative to S to be the minimal k such that x is a product of k elements of S. The supremum of the values l_S(x), x \in G, is called the width of G with respect to S. Here we focus on a free group F. The width of F relative to the set of all primitive (respectively palindromic) elements is called the primitive (respectively palindromic) width of F. We prove that for a free group F_n of finite rank n, both widths are infinite. A result of independent interest is that every primitive element of F_2 is a product of at most two palindromes.
Bardakov Valery
Shpilrain Vladimir
Tolstykh Vladimir
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