P-complete

Conjugate Subgroups (CS)

Category: Algebra

Input

Let $S$ be a finite set and $F$ be the free group generated by $S$. Let $\overline{S} = \{s, s^{-1} \mid s \in S\}$, where $s^{-1}$ denotes the inverse of $s$. Let $\overline{S}^\ast$ denote the set of all finite words over $\overline{S}$. Let $U = \{u_1, \ldots, u_m\}$, $V = \{v_1, \ldots, v_p\} \subseteq \overline{S}^\ast$, where $m = p \in \N$.

Problem

Is there a $x \in \overline{S}^\ast$ such that $x^{-1} \langle U \rangle x = \langle V \rangle$?

Status

$\P$-complete (Avenhaus and Madlener [1]).

Remarks

A polynomial time algorithm for the problem is given in [1]. The reduction to show hardness is from Equivalence of Right Cosets, see IC.

The problem of determining whether $x^{-1} \langle U \rangle x$ is a subgroup of $\langle V \rangle$ is also $\P$-complete [1].

References

  1. J. Avenhaus and K. Madlener (1984). On the complexity of intersection and conjugacy in free groups.
  2. Greenlaw, R., Hoover, H. J., and Ruzzo, W. L. (1995). Limits to Parallel Computation: P-Completeness Theory. Oxford University Press. Problem A.8.17.