Symmetric group:S4

ALSO CHECK OUT: Quiz (multiple choice questions to test your understanding) |

This article is about a particular group, i.e., a group unique upto isomorphism. View specific information (such as linear representation theory, subgroup structure) about this group
View a complete list of particular groups (this is a very huge list!)[SHOW MORE]

VIEW FACTS ABOUT THIS GROUP: All factsGroup property satisfactionsSubgroup property satisfactionsGroup property dissatisfactionsSubgroup property satisfactions
VIEW DEFINITIONS USING THIS AS EXAMPLE: All terms |Group properties |Subgroup properties|
VIEW FACTS USING THIS AS EXAMPLE: All facts |Group property non-implications |Subgroup property non-implications |Group metaproperty dissatisfactionsSubgroup metaproperty dissatisfactions

Definition

The symmetric group $S_4$ or $\operatorname{Sym}(4)$, also termed the symmetric group of degree four, is defined in the following equivalent ways:

• The group of all permutations, i.e., the symmetric group on a set of size four. In particular, it is a symmetric group of prime power degree.
• The triangle group (not the von Dyck group, but its double) $\Delta(2,3,3)$. In other words, it has the presentation (where $e$ denotes the identity element):

$\langle s_1, s_2, s_3 \mid s_1^2 = s_2^2 = s_3^2 = e, (s_1s_2)^2 = (s_2s_3)^3 = (s_1s_3)^3 = e \rangle$.

In particular, it is a Coxeter group.

• The full tetrahedral group: The group of all (not necessarily orientation-preserving) symmetries of the regular tetrahedron. This is denoted as $T_h$.
• The von Dyck group with parameters $(2,3,4)$ (sometimes written in reverse order as $(4,3,2)$). In other words, it has the presentation (with $e$ denoting the identity element):

$\langle a,b,c \mid a^2 = b^3 = c^4 = abc = e \rangle$.

• The octahedral group or cube group: group of orientation-preserving symmetries of the cube (or equivalently, the octahedron). This is denoted as $O$.
• The projective general linear group of degree two over the field of three elements: $PGL(2,3)$.
• The general affine group of degree two over the field of two elements: $GA(2,2)$.
• The projective special linear group of degree two over ring:Z4, the ring $\mathbb{Z}/4\mathbb{Z}$ of the integers modulo 4: $PSL(2,\mathbb{Z}/4\mathbb{Z})$.
• The general semiaffine group of degree one over field:F4, i.e., the group $\Gamma A(1,4)$ or $A \Gamma L(1,4)$.

Equivalence of definitions

The following is a list of proofs of the equivalence of various definitions:

• Full tetrahedral group is isomorphic to S4
• Octahedral group is isomorphic to S4
• Triangle group with parameters (2,3,3) is isomorphic to S4
• von Dyck group with parameters (2,3,4) is isomorphic to S4
• PGL(2,3) is isomorphic to S4
• GA(2,2) is isomorphic to S4
• PSL(2,Z4) is isomorphic to S4

Families

Generic name for family member	Definition	Parametrization of family	Parameter value(s) for this member	Other members	Comments
symmetric group on finite set	group of all permutations on a finite set	by a nonnegative integer, denoting size of set acted on	4	click here for a list
Coxeter group	has a presentation of a particular form	Coxeter matrix describing the presentation		click here for a list	symmetric groups on finite sets are Coxeter groups
von Dyck group	$\langle a,b,c \mid a^p = b^q = c^r = abc = e \rangle$	$(p,q,r)$	(2,3,4)	click here for a list	$S_4$ is a spherical von Dyck group, i.e., it occurs as a finite subgroup of $SO(3,\R)$. In particular, this makes it a Coxeter group. Further information: Classification of finite subgroups of SO(3,R)
triangle group	$\langle s_1,s_2,s_3 \mid s_1^2 = s_2^2 = s_3^2 = (s_1s_2)^p = (s_2s_3)^q = (s_3s_1)^r = e \rangle$	$(p,q,r)$	(2,3,3)	click here for a list	$S_4$ is a spherical triangle group
projective general linear group	projective general linear group of given degree over a given field	name of field, degree	field:F3 (size three), degree two

Arithmetic functions

Want to compare and contrast arithmetic function values with other groups of the same order? Check out groups of order 24#Arithmetic functions

Basic arithmetic functions

Function	Value	Similar groups	Explanation for function value
order (number of elements, equivalently, cardinality or size of underlying set)	24	groups with same order	As $\! S_n, n = 4:$ $\! n! = 4! = 4 \cdot 3 \cdot 2 \cdot 1 = 24$ as $\! PGL(2,q), q = 3:$ $\!q^3 - q = 3^3 - 3 = 24$ As $\! GA(2,q), q = 2:$ $\! q^2 \cdot (q^2 - 1) \cdot (q^2 - q) = 2^2 \cdot (2^2 - 1)(2^2 - 2) = 4 \cdot 3 \cdot 2 = 24$ As $\! PSL(2,\mathbb{Z}_4)$, where $\mathbb{Z}_4$ is a length $l = 2$ DVR over a field of size $q = 2$: $q^{3l - 2}(q - 1)(q +1)/m$ where $m$ is the number of square roots of unity in the ring. In this case, $m = 2$ and we get $2^{3(2) - 2}(2 - 1)(2 + 1)/2 = 24$ As $\Gamma A (1,q), q = 4, q = p^r, p = 2, r = 2$: $rq(q - 1) = 2(4)(4 - 1) = 24$ As triangle group with parameters $(p,q,r) = (2,3,3)$: $\frac{4}{1/p + 1/q +1/r - 1} = \frac{4}{1/2 + 1/3 + 1/3 - 1} = \frac{4}{1/6} = 24$ As von Dyck group with parameters $(p,q,r) = (2,3,4)$: $\frac{2}{1/p + 1/q + 1/r - 1} = \frac{2}{1/2 + 1/3 + 1/4 - 1} = \frac{2}{1/12} = 24$ More information at element structure of symmetric group:S4#Order computation
exponent	12	groups with same order and exponent | groups with same exponent	As $S_n, n = 4$: $\operatorname{lcm} \{1,2,\dots,n \} = \operatorname{lcm} \{ 1,2,3,4 \} = 12$
derived length	3	groups with same order and derived length | groups with same derived length	Derived series goes through alternating group:A4 and Klein four-group of double transpositions.
nilpotency class	--		not a nilpotent group.
Frattini length	1	groups with same order and Frattini length | groups with same Frattini length	Frattini-free group: intersection of maximal subgroups is trivial.
minimum size of generating set	2	groups with same order and minimum size of generating set | groups with same minimum size of generating set	$(1,2), (1,2,3,4)$; see also symmetric group on a finite set is 2-generated
subgroup rank of a group	2	groups with same order and subgroup rank of a group | groups with same subgroup rank of a group	All proper subgroups are cyclic or have generating set of size two (D8, Klein four-group, and A4)
max-length of a group	4	groups with same order and max-length of a group | groups with same max-length of a group	Series for Sylow 2-subgroup followed by whole group, OR derived series refined at end.
composition length	4	groups with same order and composition length | groups with same composition length
chief length	3	groups with same order and chief length | groups with same chief length

Arithmetic functions of a counting nature

Function	Value	Similar groups	Explanation for function value
number of subgroups	30	groups with same order and number of subgroups | groups with same number of subgroups
number of conjugacy classes	5	groups with same order and number of conjugacy classes | groups with same number of conjugacy classes	For more information, see element structure of symmetric group:S4#Number of conjugacy classes As $S_n, n =4:$ the number of conjugacy classes is $\! p(n) = p(4) = 5$, where $p$ is the number of unordered integer partitions; see cycle type determines conjugacy class As $PGL(2,q), q = 3:$ the number of conjugacy classes is $q + 2 = 3 + 2 = 5$; see element structure of projective general linear group of degree two over a finite field and element structure of symmetric group:S4#Interpretation as projective general linear group of degree two as $GA(2,q), q = 2:$ $\! q^2 + q - 1 = 2^2 + 2 - 1 = 5$; see element structure of general affine group of degree two over a finite field and element structure of symmetric group:S4#Interpretation as general affine group of degree two As $\Gamma A(1,p^2), p = 2$: $p(p + 3)/2 = 2(2 + 3)/2 = 5$; see element structure of general semiaffine group of degree one over a finite field and element structure of symmetric group:S4#Interpretation as general semiaffine group of degree one
number of conjugacy classes of subgroups	11	groups with same order and number of conjugacy classes of subgroups | groups with same number of conjugacy classes of subgroups

Lists of numerical invariants

List	Value	Explanation/comment
conjugacy class sizes	$1,3,6,6,8$	See element structure of symmetric group:S4, element structure of symmetric groups, cycle type determines conjugacy class
order statistics	$1 \mapsto 1, 2 \mapsto 9, 3 \mapsto 8, 4 \mapsto 6$
degrees of irreducible representations	$1,1,2,3,3$	See linear representation theory of symmetric group:S4, linear representation theory of symmetric groups

Group properties

COMPARE AND CONTRAST: Want to know more about how this group compares with symmetric groups of other degrees? Read contrasting symmetric groups of various degrees.

Property	Satisfied	Explanation	Comment
Abelian group	No	$(1,2)$, $(1,3)$ don't commute	$S_n$ is non-abelian, $n \ge 3$.
Nilpotent group	No	Centerless: The center is trivial	$S_n$ is non-nilpotent, $n \ge 3$.
Metacyclic group	No	No cyclic normal subgroup	$S_n$ is not metacyclic, $n \ge 4$.
Supersolvable group	No	No cyclic normal subgroup	$S_n$ is not supersolvable, $n \ge 4$.
Solvable group	Yes	Length three, derived subgroup is A4 in S4, its derived subgroup is Klein four-group	Largest $n$ for which $S_n$ is solvable.
T-group	No	Double transposition generates non-normal 2-subnormal subgroup	Only $n$ for which $S_n$ isn't a T-group.
HN-group	No	Double transposition generates subnormal non-hypernormalized subgroup	Only $n$ for which $S_n$ isn't hypernormalized.
Complete group	Yes	Centerless and every automorphism's inner	Symmetric groups are complete except the ones of degree $2,6$.
Monolithic group	Yes	Monolith is the Klein four-group of double transpositions	All symmetric groups are monolithic; $n=4$ is the only case the monolith is not the alternating group.
One-headed group	Yes	The alternating group is the unique maximal normal subgroup	True for all $n > 1$.
Group having subgroups of all orders dividing the group order	Yes	(See subgroup list)	Largest $n$ for which this is true.
Rational-representation group	Yes	Symmetric groups are rational-representation
Rational group	Yes	Symmetric groups are rational	Also see classification of rational dihedral groups
Ambivalent group	Yes	Symmetric groups are ambivalent

Endomorphisms

Further information: Endomorphism structure of symmetric group:S4

Automorphisms

Since $S_4$ is a complete group, it is isomorphic to its automorphism group, where each element of $S_4$ acts on $S_4$ by conjugation. In fact, for $n \ne 2,6$, the symmetric group $S_n$ is a complete group. Further information: Symmetric groups on finite sets are complete

Endomorphisms

$S_4$ admits five kinds of endomorphisms (that is, it admits more endomorphisms, but any endomorphism is equivalent via an automorphism to one of these four):

• The endomorphism to the trivial group
• The identity map
• Endomorphisms with kernel A4 in S4:
  • The retraction to a group of order two, given by the sign homomorphism
    • The endomorphism with kernel A4 in S4 and image the subgroup of order two generated by a double transposition
• The retraction to a symmetric group on three of the elements, with kernel being the Klein four-group comprising the identity element and the double transpositions. (Note that all such retractions are equivalent, and there are other equivalent endomorphisms obtained by composing such a retraction with an automorphism)

Elements

Further information: element structure of symmetric group:S4

Conjugacy class structure

There are five conjugacy classes, corresponding to the cycle types, because cycle type determines conjugacy class. Further, each cycle type corresponds to a partition of $4$.

Partition	Partition in grouped form	Verbal description of cycle type	Elements with the cycle type	Size of conjugacy class	Formula for size	Even or odd? If even, splits? If splits, real in alternating group?	Element order	Formula calculating element order
1 + 1 + 1 + 1	1 (4 times)	four cycles of size one each, i.e., four fixed points	$()$ -- the identity element	1	$\! \frac{4!}{(1)^4(4!)}$	even; no	1	$\operatorname{lcm}\{ 1,1,1,1 \}$
2 + 1 + 1	2 (1 time), 1 (2 times)	one transposition (cycle of size two), two fixed points	$(1,2)$, $(1,3)$, $(1,4)$, $(2,3)$, $(2,4)$, $(3,4)$	6	$\! \frac{4!}{[(2)^1(1!)][(1)^2(2!)]}$, also $\binom{4}{2}$	odd	2	$\operatorname{lcm}\{2,1,1 \}$
2 + 2	2 (2 times)	double transposition: two cycles of size two	$(1,2)(3,4)$, $(1,3)(2,4)$, $(1,4)(2,3)$	3	$\! \frac{4!}{(2)^2(2!)}$	even; no	2	$\operatorname{lcm}\{2,2 \}$
3 + 1	3 (1 time), 1 (1 time)	one 3-cycle, one fixed point	$(1,2,3)$, $(1,3,2)$, $(2,3,4)$, $(2,4,3)$, $(3,4,1)$, $(3,1,4)$, $(4,1,2)$, $(4,2,1)$	8	$\! \frac{4!}{[(3)^1(1!)][(1)^1(1!)]}$ or $\! \frac{4!}{(3)(1)}$	even; yes; no	3	$\operatorname{lcm}\{3,1 \}$
4	4 (1 time)	one 4-cycle, no fixed points	$(1,2,3,4)$, $(1,2,4,3)$, $(1,3,2,4)$, $(1,3,4,2)$, $(1,4,2,3)$, $(1,4,3,2)$	6	$\! \frac{4!}{(4)^1(1!)}$ or $\frac{4!}{4}$	odd	4	$\operatorname{lcm} \{ 4 \}$
Total (5 rows, 5 being the number of unordered integer partitions of 4)	--	--	--	24 (equals 4!, the order of the whole group)	--	odd: 12 (2 classes) even; no: 4 (2 classes) even; yes; no: 8 (1 class)	order 1: 1 (1 class) order 2: 9 (2 classes) order 3: 8 (1 class) order 4: 6 (1 class)	--

Automorphism class structure

Since $S_4$ is a complete group, all its automorphisms are inner automorphisms, and, in particular, the classification of elements up to conjugacy is the same as the classification up to automorphisms.

Subgroups

Further information: Subgroup structure of symmetric group:S4

Quick summary

Item	Value
Number of subgroups	30 Compared with $S_n, n = 1,2,3,4,5,\dots$: 1,2,6,30,156,1455,11300, 151221
Number of conjugacy classes of subgroups	11 Compared with $S_n, n = 1,2,3,4,5,\dots$: 1,2,4,11,19,56,96,296,554,1593
Number of automorphism classes of subgroups	11 Compared with $S_n, n = 1,2,3,4,5,\dots$: 1,2,4,11,19,37,96,296,554,1593
Isomorphism classes of Sylow subgroups and the corresponding Sylow numbers and fusion systems	2-Sylow: dihedral group:D8 (order 8), Sylow number is 3, fusion system is non-inner non-simple fusion system for dihedral group:D8 3-Sylow: cyclic group:Z3, Sylow number is 4, fusion system is non-inner fusion system for cyclic group:Z3
Hall subgroups	Given that the order has only two distinct prime factors, the Hall subgroups are the whole group, trivial subgroup, and Sylow subgroups
maximal subgroups	maximal subgroups have order 6 (S3 in S4), 8 (D8 in S4), and 12 (A4 in S4).
normal subgroups	There are four normal subgroups: the whole group, the trivial subgroup, A4 in S4, and normal V4 in S4.

Table classifying subgroups up to automorphisms

TABLE SORTING AND INTERPRETATION: Note that the subgroups in the table below are sorted based on the powers of the prime divisors of the order, first covering the smallest prime in ascending order of powers, then powers of the next prime, then products of powers of the first two primes, then the third prime, then products of powers of the first and third, second and third, and all three primes. The rationale is to cluster together subgroups with similar prime powers in their order. The subgroups are not sorted by the magnitude of the order. To sort that way, click the sorting button for the order column. Similarly you can sort by index or by number of subgroups of the automorphism class.

Automorphism class of subgroups	Representative	Isomorphism class	Order of subgroups	Index of subgroups	Number of conjugacy classes (=1 iff automorph-conjugate subgroup)	Size of each conjugacy class (=1 iff normal subgroup)	Number of subgroups (=1 iff characteristic subgroup)	Isomorphism class of quotient (if exists)	Subnormal depth (if subnormal)	Note
trivial subgroup	$\{ () \}$	trivial group	1	24	1	1	1	symmetric group:S4	1
S2 in S4	$\{ (), (1,2) \}$	cyclic group:Z2	2	12	1	6	6	--	--
subgroup generated by double transposition in S4	$\{ (), (1,2)(3,4) \}$	cyclic group:Z2	2	12	1	3	3	--	2
Z4 in S4	$\langle (1,2,3,4) \rangle$	cyclic group:Z4	4	6	1	3	3	--	--
normal Klein four-subgroup of S4	$\{ (), (1,2)(3,4),$ $(1,3)(2,4), (1,4)(2,3) \}$	Klein four-group	4	6	1	1	1	symmetric group:S3	1	2-core
non-normal Klein four-subgroups of S4	$\langle (1,2), (3,4) \rangle$	Klein four-group	4	6	1	3	3	--	--
D8 in S4	$\langle (1,2,3,4), (1,3) \rangle$	dihedral group:D8	8	3	1	3	3	--	--	2-Sylow, fusion system is non-inner non-simple fusion system for dihedral group:D8
A3 in S4	$\{ (), (1,2,3), (1,3,2) \}$	cyclic group:Z3	3	8	1	4	4	--	--	3-Sylow, fusion system is non-inner fusion system for cyclic group:Z3
S3 in S4	$\langle (1,2,3), (1,2) \rangle$	symmetric group:S3	6	4	1	4	4	--	--
A4 in S4	$\langle (1,2,3), (1,2)(3,4) \rangle$	alternating group:A4	12	2	1	1	1	cyclic group:Z2	1
whole group	$\langle (1,2,3,4), (1,2) \rangle$	symmetric group:S4	24	1	1	1	1	trivial group	0
Total (11 rows)	--	--	--	--	11	--	30	--	--	--

Subgroup-defining functions

Subgroup-defining function	Subgroup type in list	Isomorphism class	Comment
Center	trivial subgroup	trivial group	The group is centerless
Derived subgroup	A4 in S4	alternating group:A4
Frattini subgroup	trivial subgroup	trivial group	The normal cores of the maximal subgroups of orders $6$ and $8$ intersect trivially.
Socle	normal Klein four-subgroup of symmetric group:S4	Klein four-group	This subgroup is the unique minimal normal subgroup, i.e., the monolith, and the group is monolithic.

Linear representation theory

Further information: Linear representation theory of symmetric group:S4

Summary

Item	Value
Degrees of irreducible representations over a splitting field	1,1,2,3,3 maximum: 3, lcm: 6, number: 5, sum of squares: 24, quasirandom degree: 1
Schur index values of irreducible representations	1,1,1,1,1 maximum: 1, lcm: 1
Smallest ring of realization for all irreducible representations (characteristic zero)	$\mathbb{Z}$ Same as ring generated by character values
Smallest field of realization for all irreducible representations, i.e., minimal splitting field (characteristic zero)	$\mathbb{Q}$ (hence it is a rational representation group) Same as field generated by character values
Condition for being a splitting field for this group	Any field of characteristic not two or three is a splitting field.
minimal splitting field in characteristic $p \ne 0,2,3$	prime field $\mathbb{F}_p$
Smallest size splitting field	Field:F5, i.e., the field with five elements.

Character table

Representation/Conjugacy class representative and size	$()$ (identity element) (size 1)	$(1,2)(3,4)$ (size 3)	$(1,2)$ (size 6)	$(1,2,3,4)$ (size 6)	$(1,2,3)$ (size 8)
Trivial representation	1	1	1	1	1
Sign representation	1	1	-1	-1	1
Irreducible representation of degree two with kernel of order four	2	2	0	0	-1
Standard representation	3	-1	1	-1	0
Product of standard and sign representations	3	-1	-1	1	0

Supergroups

Further information: supergroups of symmetric group:S4

The symmetric group $S_4$ is contained in higher symmetric groups, most notably the symmetric group on five elements $S_5$.

Extensions

These include $GL(2,3)$ whose inner automorphism group is $S_4$ (specifically $S_4$ is the quotient of $GL(2,3)$ by its scalar matrices).

GAP implementation

Group ID

This finite group has order 24 and has ID 12 among the groups of order 24 in GAP's SmallGroup library. For context, there are 15 groups of order 24. It can thus be defined using GAP's SmallGroup function as:

SmallGroup(24,12)

For instance, we can use the following assignment in GAP to create the group and name it $G$:

gap> G := SmallGroup(24,12);

Conversely, to check whether a given group $G$ is in fact the group we want, we can use GAP's IdGroup function:

IdGroup(G) = [24,12]

or just do:

IdGroup(G)

to have GAP output the group ID, that we can then compare to what we want.

Short descriptions

Description	Functions used	Group storage format (verification command)	Memory usage
SymmetricGroup(4)	SymmetricGroup	permutation group (IsPermGroup)	189
PGL(2,3)	PGL	permutation group (IsPermGroup)	2023