MathCastle
Groups and FieldsMediumPermutation Groups

Permutation Groups · Medium problem

Let π=(1 2 3)(2 4 5)∈S5\pi = (1\,2\,3)(2\,4\,5) \in S_5, where these two cycles share the point 22 and so are NOT disjoint; compute the product by applying (2 4 5)(2\,4\,5) first, then (1 2 3)(1\,2\,3). Once π\pi is written as a product of disjoint cycles, how many fixed points does it have?