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Abstract
In this paper we study the asymptotic probability that a random equation in a finitely generated free group F is solvable in F. For one-variable equations this probability is zero, but for split equations, i.e., equations of the form v(x1, . . . , xk) = g, g ∈ F, the probability is strictly between zero and one if k ≥ rank(F) ≥ 2. As a consequence the endomorphism problem in F has intermediate asymptotic density, and we obtain the first natural algebraic examples of subsets of intermediate density in free groups of rank larger than two.
Received: 2011-05-12
Published Online: 2011-11-25
Published in Print: 2011-December
© de Gruyter 2011
