On the efficiency of finite groups

Abstract

In Chapter 2 of this thesis we look at methods for finding efficient presentations of the transitive permutation groups of degree ≤ 12. Chapter 3 gives efficient presentations for certain direct products of groups including PSL(2, P)2 SL(2, p) X SL(2, 8), PSL(2, p) x C2, for prime p ≥ 5 and PSL(2, 25)3. Chapter 4 introduces a new class of inefficient groups and Chapter 5 gives a brief survey of some of the open problems relating to the efficiency of finite groups.