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# 5 Basic methods and functions for pcp-groups

### Sections

1. Elementary methods for pcp-groups
2. Elementary properties of pcp-groups
3. Subgroups of pcp-groups
4. Polycyclic presentation sequences for subfactors
5. Factor groups of pcp-groups
6. Homomorphisms for pcp-groups
7. Changing the defining pc-presentation
8. Printing a pc-presentation
9. Converting to and from a presentation

Pcp-groups are groups in the GAP sense and hence all generic GAP methods for groups can be applied for pcp-groups. However, for a number of group theoretic questions GAP does not provide generic methods that can be applied to pcp-groups. For some of these questions there are functions provided in polycyclic.

## 5.1 Elementary methods for pcp-groups

labelmethods

In this chapter we describe some important basic functions which are available for pcp-groups. A number of higherlevel functions are outlined in later sections and chapters.

Let U, V and N are subgroups of a pcp-group.

- `U = V`

  decides if U and V are equal as sets.

- `Size(` U`)`

  returns the size of U.

- `Random(` U`)`

  returns a random element of U.

- `Index(` U`,` V`)`

  returns the index of V in U if V is a subgroup of U. The function does not check if V is a subgroup of U and if it is not, the result is not meaningful.

- ``g `in` U``

  checks if g is an element of U.

- `Elements(` U`)`

  returns a list containing all elements of U if U is finite and it returns the list [fail] otherwise.

- `ClosureGroup(` U`,` V`)`

  returns the group generated by U and V.

- `NormalClosure(` U`,` V`)`

  returns the normal closure of V under action of U.

- `HirschLength(` U`)`

  returns the Hirsch length of U.

- `CommutatorSubgroup(` U`,` V`)`

  returns the group generated by all commutators [u,v] with u in U and v in V.

- `PRump(` U`,` p`)`

  returns the subgroup U'Up of U where p is a prime number.

- `SmallGeneratingSet(` U`)`

  returns a small generating set for U.

  ## 5.2 Elementary properties of pcp-groups

- `IsSubgroup(` U`,` V`)`

  tests if V is a subgroup of U.

- `IsNormal(` U`,` V`)`

  tests if V is normal in U.

- `IsNilpotentGroup(` U`)`

  checks whether U is nilpotent.

- `IsAbelian(` U`)`

  checks whether U is abelian.

- `IsElementaryAbelian(` U`)`

  checks whether U is elementary abelian.

- `IsFreeAbelian(` U`)`

  checks whether U is free abelian.

  ## 5.3 Subgroups of pcp-groups

  A subgroup of a pcp-group G can be defined by a set of generators as described in Section pcpgroup. However, many computations with a subgroup U need an induced generating sequence or igs of U. An igs is a sequence of generators of U whose list of exponent vectors form a matrix in upper triangular form. Note that there may exist many igs of U. The first one calculated for U is stored as an attribute.

  An induced generating sequence of a subgroup of a pcp-group G is a list of elements of G. An igs is called normed, if each element in the list is normed. Moreover, it is canonical, if the exponent vector matrix is in Hermite Normal Form. The following functions can be used to compute induced generating sequence for a given subgroup U of G.

- `Igs(` U`)`
- `Igs(` gens`)`
- `IgsParallel(` gens`,` gens2`)`

  returns an induced generating sequence of the subgroup U of a pcp-group. In the second form the subgroup is given via a generating set gens. The third form computes an igs for the subgroup generated by gens carrying gens2 through as shadows. This means that each operation that is applied to the first list is also applied to the second list.

- `Ngs(` U`)`
- `Ngs(` igs`)`

  returns a normed induced generating sequence of the subgroup U of a pcp-group. The second form takes an igs as input and norms it.

- `Cgs(` U`)`
- `Cgs(` igs`)`
- `CgsParallel(` gens`,` gens2`)`

  returns a canonical generating sequence of the subgroup U of a pcp-group. In the second form the function takes an igs as input and returns a canonical generating sequence. The third version takes a generating set and computes a canonical generating sequence carrying gens2 through as shadows. This means that each operation that is applied to the first list is also applied to the second list.

  For a large number of methods for pcp-groups U we will first of all determine an igs for U. Hence it might speed up computations, if a known igs for a group U is set a priori. The following functions can be used for this purpose.

- `SubgroupByIgs(` G`,` igs`)`
- `SubgroupByIgs(` G`,` igs`,` gens`)`

  returns the subgroup of the pcp-group G generated by the elements of the induced generating sequence igs. Note that igs must be an induced generating sequence of the subgroup generated by the elements of the igs. In the second form igs is a igs for a subgroup and gens are some generators. The function returns the subgroup generated by igs and gens.

- `AddToIgs(` igs`,` gens`)`
- `AddToIgsParallel(` igs`,` gens`,` igs2`,` gens2`)`
- `AddIgsToIgs(` igs`,` igs2`)`

  sifts the elements in the list gens into igs. The second version has the same functionality and carries shadows. This means that each operation that is applied to the first list and the element gens is also applied to the second list and the lement gens2. The third version is available for efficiency reasons and assumes that the second list igs2 is not only a generating set, but an igs.

  ## 5.4 Polycyclic presentation sequences for subfactors

  labelpcps

  A subfactor of a pcp-group G is again a polycyclic group for which a polycyclic presentation can computed. However, to compute a polycyclic presentation for a given subfactor can be time-consuming. Hence we introduce polycyclic presentation sequences or Pcp to compute more efficiently with subfactors. (Note that a subgroup is also a subfactor and thus can be handled by a pcp)

  A pcp for a pcp-group U or a subfactor U / N can be created with one of the following functions.

- `Pcp(` U`)`
- `Pcp(` U`,` N`)`
- `Pcp(` U`,` "snf"`)`
- `Pcp(` U`,` N`,` "snf"`)`

  returns a polycyclic presentation sequence for the subgroup U or the quotient group U modulo N. If the parameter `"snf"` is present, the function can only be applied to an abelian subgroup U or abelian subfactor U/N. The pcp returned will correspond to a decomposition of the abelian group into a direct product of cyclic groups.

  A pcp is a component object which behaves similar to a list representing an igs of the subfactor in question. The basic functions to obtain the stored values of this component object are as follows. Let pcp be a pcp for a subfactor U/N of the defining pcp-group G.

- `GeneratorsOfPcp(` pcp`)`

  this returns a list of elements of U corresponding to an igs of U/N.

- `pcp [i]`

  returns the i-th element of pcp.

- `Length(` pcp`)`

  returns the number of generators in pcp.

- `RelativeOrdersOfPcp(` pcp`)`

  the relative orders of the igs in U/N.

- `DenominatorOfPcp(` pcp`)`

  returns an igs of N.

- `NumeratorOfPcp(` pcp`)`

  returns an igs of U.

- `GroupOfPcp(` pcp`)`

  returns U.

- `OneOfPcp(` pcp`)`

  returns the identity element of G.

  bigbreak The two main features of pcp are the possibility to compute exponent vectors with respect to to a pcp and to compute the group defined by the corresponding igs of U/N.

- `ExponentsByPcp(` pcp`,` g`)`

  returns the exponent vector of g with respect to the generators of pcp. This is the exponent vector of g N with respect to the igs of U/N.

- `PcpGroupByPcp(` pcp`)`

  let pcp be a Pcp of a subgroup or a factor group of a pcp-group. This function computes a new pcp-group whose defining generators correspond to the generators in pcp.

      gap>  G := DihedralPcpGroup(0);
      Pcp-group with orders [ 2, 0 ]
      gap>  pcp := Pcp(G);
      Pcp [ g1, g2 ] with orders [ 2, 0 ]
      gap>  pcp[1];
      g1
      gap>  Length(pcp);
      2
      gap>  RelativeOrdersOfPcp(pcp);
      [ 2, 0 ]
      gap>  DenominatorOfPcp(pcp);
      [  ]
      gap>  NumeratorOfPcp(pcp);
      [ g1, g2 ]
      gap>  GroupOfPcp(pcp);
      Pcp-group with orders [ 2, 0 ]
      gap> OneOfPcp(pcp);
      identity

      gap> G := ExamplesOfSomePcpGroups(5);
      Pcp-group with orders [ 2, 0, 0, 0 ]
      gap> D := DerivedSubgroup( G );
      Pcp-group with orders [ 0, 0, 0 ]
      gap>  GeneratorsOfGroup( G );
      [ g1, g2, g3, g4 ]
      gap>  GeneratorsOfGroup( D );
      [ g2^-2, g3^-2, g4^2 ]

      # an ordinary pcp for G / D
      gap> pcp1 := Pcp( G, D );
      Pcp [ g1, g2, g3, g4 ] with orders [ 2, 2, 2, 2 ]

      # a pcp for G/D in independent generators
      gap>  pcp2 := Pcp( G, D, "snf" );
      Pcp [ g2, g3, g1 ] with orders [ 2, 2, 4 ]

      gap>  g := Random( G );
      g1*g2^-4*g3*g4^2

      # compute the exponent vector of g in G/D with respect to pcp1
      gap> ExponentsByPcp( pcp1, g );
      [ 1, 0, 1, 0 ]

      # compute the exponent vector of g in G/D with respect to pcp2
      gap>  ExponentsByPcp( pcp2, g );
      [ 0, 1, 1 ]

  ## 5.5 Factor groups of pcp-groups

  Pcp's for subfactors of pcp-groups have already been described above. These are usually used within algorithms to compute with pcp-groups. However, it is also possible to explicitly construct factor groups and their corresponding natural homomorphisms.

- `NaturalHomomorphism(` G`,` N`)`

  returns the natural homomorphism G raG/N. Its image is the factor group G/N.

- `G/N`
- `FactorGroup(` G`,` N`)`

  returns the desired factor as pcp-group without giving the explicit homomorphism. This function is just a wrapper for `PcpGroupByPcp( Pcp( G, N ) )`.

  ## 5.6 Homomorphisms for pcp-groups

  IsPcpGHBI is a representation used to define group homomorphisms by generators and images from a pcp-group into another pcp-group. Such homomorphisms can be compared and multiplied. Moreover, we provide the following functions.

  bigbreak IsToPcpGHBI is a representation used to define group homomorphisms by generators and images from an arbitrary group into a pcp-group. Here, only very restricted functionality is provided. This is mostly used for converting other groups to pcp-groups.

- `GroupHomomorphismByImages(` G`,` H`,` gens`,` imgs`)`

  returns the homomorphism from the (pcp-) group G to the pcp-group H mapping the generators of G in the list gens to the corresponding images in the list imgs of elements of H.

- `Kernel(` hom`)`

  returns the kernel of the homomorphism hom from a pcp-group to a pcp-group.

- `Image(` hom`)`
- `Image(` hom`,` U`)`
- `Image(` hom`,` g`)`

  returns the image of the whole group, of U and of g, respectively, under the homomorphism hom.

- `PreImage(` hom`,` U`)`

  returns the complete preimage of the subgroup U under the homomorphism hom. If the domain of hom is not a pcp-group, then this function only works properly if hom is injective.

- `PreImagesRepresentative(` hom`,` g`)`

  returns a preimage of the element g under the homomorphism hom.

- `IsInjective(` hom`)`

  checks if the homomorphism hom is injective.

  ## 5.7 Changing the defining pc-presentation

- `RefinedPcpGroup(` G`)`

  returns a new pcp-group isomorphic to G whose defining polycyclic presentation is refined; that is, the corresponding polycyclic series has prime or infinite factors only. If H is the new group, then H!.bijection is the isomorphism G raH.

- `PcpGroupBySeries(` ser`)`
- `PcpGroupBySeries(` ser`, "snf" )`

  returns a new pcp-group isomorphic to the first subgroup G of the given series ser such that its defining pcp refines the given series. The series must be subnormal and H!.bijection is the isomorphism G raH. In the second form, the series must have abelian factors. The pcp of the group returned corresponds to a decomposition of each abelian factor into a direct product of cyclic groups.

      gap> G := DihedralPcpGroup(0);
      Pcp-group with orders [ 2, 0 ]
      gap>  U := Subgroup( G, [Pcp(G)[2]^1440]);
      Pcp-group with orders [ 0 ]
      gap>  F := G/U;
      Pcp-group with orders [ 2, 1440 ]
      gap> RefinedPcpGroup(F);
      Pcp-group with orders [ 2, 2, 2, 2, 2, 2, 3, 3, 5 ]

      gap> ser := [G, U, TrivialSubgroup(G)];
      [ Pcp-group with orders [ 2, 0 ],
        Pcp-group with orders [ 0 ],
        Pcp-group with orders [  ] ]
      gap>  PcpGroupBySeries(ser);
      Pcp-group with orders [ 2, 1440, 0 ]

  ## 5.8 Printing a pc-presentation

  By default, a pcp-group is printed using its relative orders only. The following methods can be used to view the pcp presentation of the group.

- `PrintPcpPresentation(` G`)`
- `PrintPcpPresentation(` pcp`)`

  prints the pcp presentation defined by the igs of G or the pcp pcp. As usual, the trivial conjugate relations are omitted from this presentation to shorten notation. Also, the relations obtained from conjugating with inverse generators are included only if the conjugating generator has infinite order. If this generator has finite order, then the conjugation relation is a consequence of the remaining relations.

- `PrintFullPresentation(` G`)`
- `PrintFullPresentation(` pcp`)`

  prints the full defining pcp presentation defined by the igs of G or the pcp pcp. Here the trivial conjugate relations are always included and also the conjugation with inverses is always included.

  ## 5.9 Converting to and from a presentation

- `IsomorphismPcpGroup(` G`)`

  returns an isomorphism from G onto a pcp-group H. There are various methods installed for this operation and some of these methods are part of the Polycyclic package, while others may be part of other packages.

  For example, Polycyclic contains methods for this function in the case that G is a finite pc-group or a finite solvable permutation group. Further, Polycyclic can convert a finitely presented group with a polycyclic presentation into a pcp group via IsomorphismPcpGroup.

  Other examples for methods for IsomorphismPcpGroup are the methods for the case that G is a crystallographic group (see Cryst) or the case that G is an almost crystallographic group (see AClib). A general method for the case that G is a rational polycyclic matrix group will be included in the Polenta package. A general method for the case that G is a polycyclic finitely presented group will be included in the IPCQ package.

- `IsomorphismPcGroup(` G`)`

  pc-groups are a representation for finite polycyclic groups. This function can convert finite pcp-groups to pc-groups.

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