This thesis is concerned with a topic in combinatorial group theory and, in particular, with a study of some groups with finite presentations. After preliminary definitions and theorems we describe the Todd-Coxeter coset enumeration algorithm and the modified Todd-Coxeter algorithm which shows that, given a finitely generated subgroup H of finite index in a finitely presented group G, we can find a presentation for H. We then give elementary examples illustrating the algorithms and include a discussion on the computer programmes that are to be used. In the main part of the thesis we investigate two classes of cyclically presented groups. Supposewhere w1 = w is a word in a1,a2,...,an, and wi+1 is obtained from wi by applying the permutation (1 2 ... n) to the suffices of the a's. The first class we investigate are the groups that is the groups G(l,m,n) are groups of type G2 (w). Secondly we investigate the Fibonacci-type groups H(r,n,k,s,h) obtained when, for some integers r,s,h > 1, k > O, the word w is given by Fibonacci groups being the special case given by k = s = h = 1. For both classes we begin by giving some homomorphisms and isomorphisms that may be obtained. We show, using the Todd-Coxeter algorithm when appropriate, that the six groups G(2,2,3), G(2,2,-3), G(-l,-l,4), G(2,3,-2), G(-2,2,-1) and G(-2,3,l) are finite non-metacyclic groups of deficiency zero, having orders 215.33, 28.33, 29.3.5, 23.33.7, 23.3.5.11 amd 23.36 respectively. We also show that the groups G(1-n, 6, n) where n = 1 mod 5 give an infinite series of non-metacyclic groups. We consider the structure of the non-metacyclic groups H(3,6,1,1,1) and H(3,6,5,l,2) both of order 1512, showing that neither is isomorphic to G(2, 3, -2) another non-metacyclic group of order 1512. In a paper on the Fibonacci groups D.L. Johnson, J.W. Wamsley and D. Wright pose two questions relating to the Fibonacci groups for the case r = 1 mod n, namely to find 2-generator 2-relation presentations for them and also their orders. We answer these questions and generalise the results to the class H(r,n,k,s,1) where it is shown that H(r,n,k,s,1) is metacyclic if (i) r = s mod n, (ii) (r,n) = 1, (iii) (r + k - 1, n) - 1, and a 2-generator 2-relation presentation is found for these groups. Further if (iv) (r,s) = 1, then we show that H(r,n,k,s,1) is a finite metacyclic group of order rn - sn. A possible generalisation to the groups H(r,n,k,s,h) is considered. Finally the metacyclic groups H(r,4,1,2,1), r odd are discussed.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:bl.uk/oai:ethos.bl.uk:741820 |
| Date | January 1975 |
| Creators | Campbell, Colin Matthew |
| Publisher | University of St Andrews |
| Source Sets | Ethos UK |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Electronic Thesis or Dissertation |
| Source | http://hdl.handle.net/10023/13508 |
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