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arXiv · 1103.4061

On Primitive Words I: A New Algorithm

Doron Puder
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Abstract

Let $F_k$ be the free group on $k$ generators, and let $H\le J\le \F_k$ be subgroups of finite rank. We present a new elementary algorithm to determine whether $H$ is a free factor of $J$. In particular, this algorithm can determine whether a given element $w\in F_k$ is primitive, i.e. whether it belongs to some basis of $F_k$.

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Doron Puder. 2011-09-09. On Primitive Words I: A New Algorithm. https://arxiv.org/abs/1103.4061

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