Definition:Disjoint Permutations

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Definition

Let $S_n$ denote the symmetric group on $n$ letters.

Let $\pi, \rho \in S_n$ both be permutations on $S_n$.


Then $\pi$ and $\rho$ are disjoint if and only if:

$(1): \quad i \notin \Fix \pi \implies i \in \Fix \rho$
$(2): \quad i \notin \Fix \rho \implies i \in \Fix \pi$

That is, each element moved by $\pi$ is fixed by $\rho$ and (equivalently) each element moved by $\rho$ is fixed by $\pi$.

That is, if and only if their supports are disjoint sets.


We may say that:

$\pi$ is disjoint from $\rho$
$\rho$ is disjoint from $\pi$
$\pi$ and $\rho$ are (mutually) disjoint.


Note of course that it is perfectly possible for $i \in \Fix \pi$ and also $i \in \Fix \rho$, that is, there may well be elements fixed by more than one of a pair of disjoint permutations.


Also see

  • Results about disjoint permutations can be found here.


Sources