MHB Solving the Mystery of the Table: Explaining $g = (123)$

[Guest2]

View attachment 5399

Could someone please explain how they're getting the answers in the table, for example $g = (123)$.

 

[mathmari]

$$(123)(1)$$

$(123)$ represents the function that maps $1$ to $2$, $2$ to $3$ and $3$ to $1$.
$(1)$ represents the identity function, i.e. the function that maps $1$ to $1$, $2$ to $2$ and $3$ to $3$.

So to compute $(123)(1)$ we do the following:

From the right cycle we have that $1$ is mapped to $1$, and at the first cycle $1$ is mapped to $2$, therefore we get that $1$ is mapped to $2$.
From the right cycle we have that $2$ is mapped to $2$, and at the first cycle $2$ is mapped to $3$, therefore we get that $2$ is mapped to $3$.
From the right cycle we have that $3$ is mapped to $3$, and at the first cycle $3$ is mapped to $1$, therefore we get that $3$ is mapped to $1$.

So, we get $(123)(1)=(123)$.
$$(123)(12)$$

$(123)$ represents the function that maps $1$ to $2$, $2$ to $3$ and $3$ to $1$.
$(12)$ represents the function that maps $1$ to $2$, $2$ to $1$ and $3$ to $3$.

So to compute $(123)(12)$ we do the following:

From the right cycle we have that $1$ is mapped to $2$, and at the first cycle $2$ is mapped to $3$, therefore we get that $1$ is mapped to $3$.
From the right cycle we have that $2$ is mapped to $1$, and at the first cycle $1$ is mapped to $2$, therefore we get that $2$ is mapped to $2$.
From the right cycle we have that $3$ is mapped to $3$, and at the first cycle $3$ is mapped to $1$, therefore we get that $3$ is mapped to $1$.

So, we get $(123)(12)=(13)$.

 

[Guest2]

$$(123)(1)$$

$(123)$ represents the function that maps $1$ to $2$, $2$ to $3$ and $3$ to $1$.
$(1)$ represents the identity function, i.e. the function that maps $1$ to $1$, $2$ to $2$ and $3$ to $3$.

So to compute $(123)(1)$ we do the following:

From the right cycle we have that $1$ is mapped to $1$, and at the first cycle $1$ is mapped to $2$, therefore we get that $1$ is mapped to $2$.
From the right cycle we have that $2$ is mapped to $2$, and at the first cycle $2$ is mapped to $3$, therefore we get that $2$ is mapped to $3$.
From the right cycle we have that $3$ is mapped to $3$, and at the first cycle $3$ is mapped to $1$, therefore we get that $3$ is mapped to $1$.

So, we get $(123)(1)=(123)$.
$$(123)(12)$$

$(123)$ represents the function that maps $1$ to $2$, $2$ to $3$ and $3$ to $1$.
$(12)$ represents the function that maps $1$ to $2$, $2$ to $1$ and $3$ to $3$.

So to compute $(123)(12)$ we do the following:

From the right cycle we have that $1$ is mapped to $2$, and at the first cycle $2$ is mapped to $3$, therefore we get that $1$ is mapped to $3$.
From the right cycle we have that $2$ is mapped to $1$, and at the first cycle $1$ is mapped to $2$, therefore we get that $2$ is mapped to $2$.
From the right cycle we have that $3$ is mapped to $3$, and at the first cycle $3$ is mapped to $1$, therefore we get that $3$ is mapped to $1$.

So, we get $(123)(12)=(13)$.

Wonderful explanations, thanks!

 

[Deveno]

$$(123)(1)$$

$(123)$ represents the function that maps $1$ to $2$, $2$ to $3$ and $3$ to $1$.
$(1)$ represents the identity function, i.e. the function that maps $1$ to $1$, $2$ to $2$ and $3$ to $3$.

So to compute $(123)(1)$ we do the following:

From the right cycle we have that $1$ is mapped to $1$, and at the first cycle $1$ is mapped to $2$, therefore we get that $1$ is mapped to $2$.
From the right cycle we have that $2$ is mapped to $2$, and at the first cycle $2$ is mapped to $3$, therefore we get that $2$ is mapped to $3$.
From the right cycle we have that $3$ is mapped to $3$, and at the first cycle $3$ is mapped to $1$, therefore we get that $3$ is mapped to $1$.

So, we get $(123)(1)=(123)$.

$$(123)(12)$$

$(123)$ represents the function that maps $1$ to $2$, $2$ to $3$ and $3$ to $1$.
$(12)$ represents the function that maps $1$ to $2$, $2$ to $1$ and $3$ to $3$.

So to compute $(123)(12)$ we do the following:

From the right cycle we have that $1$ is mapped to $2$, and at the first cycle $2$ is mapped to $3$, therefore we get that $1$ is mapped to $3$.
From the right cycle we have that $2$ is mapped to $1$, and at the first cycle $1$ is mapped to $2$, therefore we get that $2$ is mapped to $2$.
From the right cycle we have that $3$ is mapped to $3$, and at the first cycle $3$ is mapped to $1$, therefore we get that $3$ is mapped to $1$.

So, we get $(123)(12)=(13)$.

Spoken like a pro.