Published online by Cambridge University Press: 20 November 2018
Let S(≠1) be a subgroup of a group G. We consider the question: when are the conjugates of S “as independent as possible“? Specifically, suppose SG (the normal subgroup generated by S in G) is the free product II*S0α where and gα ranges over a subset J of G. Then J must be part of a (left) coset representative system for G mod SG. N where N is the normalizer of S in G. (For, g ∊ SGgαN implies Sg is conjugate to Sgα in SG; however, distinct non-trivial free factors of a free product are never conjugate.)
We say that SG is the free product of maximally many conjugates of S in G if SG = II*Sgα where gα ranges over a (complete) left coset representative system for G mod SGN (or equivalently, gα ranges over a double coset representative system for G mod (SG, N)); in this case we say briefly that S has the fpmmc property in G.