# Composing permutations in cycle notation

1. Feb 27, 2007

I'm currently going through a text about groups, and I'm having problems with composing permutations written in cycle notation, i.e. there are lots of examples and I'm expected to be able to calculate them pretty 'fast', so, is there a way to 'read out' the composition of two permutations direct from the cycle notation (I use standard function composition, which is rather slow), for example, if I have the symmetric group S3, and let's say two of its elements, (2, 3) and (1, 2, 3), how can I figure out what (2, 3) o (1, 2, 3) is? Thanks in advance.

2. Feb 27, 2007

### cristo

Staff Emeritus
Don't you just read from the right? So, (2 3)(1 2 3) is the permutation $$\left(\begin{array}{ccc}1&2&3\\3&2&1\end{array}\right)$$, since the right cycle sends 1 to 2, which in turn gets sent to 3 by the left cycle. The right cycle sends 2 to 3, which is then sent to 2 by the left cycle, and finally the right one sends 3 to 1, which remains unchanged by the left.

edit: That might be the way you say you do it. If so, I can't help, as that's the way I was taught!

Last edited: Feb 27, 2007
3. Feb 27, 2007

I *finally* got it. Thanks cristo!

4. Feb 27, 2007

### cristo

Staff Emeritus
You're welcome!

5. Mar 1, 2007

### HallsofIvy

Staff Emeritus
Apparently you already have it but I'll stick my oar in anyway!

Here's how I would do that problem:
(1 2 3) means "1 changes to 2, 2 changes to 3, and 3 changes to 1".
(2, 3) means "2 changes to 3 and 3 changes to 2".

Okay, putting them together, 1 changes to 2 and 2 changes to 3. so 1 changes to 3. 2 changes to 3 and 3 changes to 2, so 2 changes to 2. 3 changes to 1 and 1 does not change, 3 changes to 1.
1 changes to 3 and 3 changes to 1. 2 does not change. In cycle notation that is (1 3).

6. Mar 1, 2007