The Andrews-Curtis conjecture
The Andrews-Curtis conjecture
Problem statement
andrews_curtis_conjecture
The Andrews-Curtis conjecture.
Every normally generating n-tuple in the free group of rank n is
Andrews-Curtis equivalent to the standard tuple of free generators.
Lean 4
Formal statement
Lean 4/-
Copyright 2026 The Formal Conjectures Authors.
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you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
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-/
import FormalConjecturesUtil
/-!
# The Andrews-Curtis conjecture
The conjecture says that every normally generating `n`-tuple in the free group
on `n` generators is Andrews-Curtis equivalent to the standard free basis.
References:
* [Wikipedia, Andrews-Curtis conjecture](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Andrews%E2%80%93Curtis_conjecture)
* [A. D. Myasnikov, A. G. Myasnikov and V. Shpilrain,
*On the Andrews-Curtis equivalence*](https://arxiv.org/abs/math/0302080)
-/
namespace AndrewsCurtis
/-- An `n`-tuple of relators in the free group on `n` generators. -/
abbrev RelatorTuple (n : ℕ) := Fin n → FreeGroup (Fin n)
/-- The standard relator tuple, consisting of the free generators themselves. -/
def standardRelators (n : ℕ) : RelatorTuple n :=
fun i ↦ FreeGroup.of i
/--
The elementary Andrews-Curtis moves: inversion or multiplication of relators,
interchange of two relators, and conjugation of one relator by an arbitrary word.
-/
inductive Move {n : ℕ} : RelatorTuple n → RelatorTuple n → Prop
| invert (r : RelatorTuple n) (i : Fin n) :
Move r (Function.update r i (r i)⁻¹)
| multiply (r : RelatorTuple n) (i j : Fin n) (hij : i ≠ j) :
Move r (Function.update r i (r i * r j))
| swap (r : RelatorTuple n) (i j : Fin n) :
Move r (fun k ↦ r (Equiv.swap i j k))
| conjugate (r : RelatorTuple n) (i : Fin n) (w : FreeGroup (Fin n)) :
Move r (Function.update r i (w * r i * w⁻¹))
/-- Andrews-Curtis equivalence is the equivalence relation generated by elementary moves. -/
def Equivalent {n : ℕ} : RelatorTuple n → RelatorTuple n → Prop :=
Relation.EqvGen Move
/--
A relator tuple normally generates the free group when the normal closure of its
range is the whole free group. Equivalently, the associated balanced presentation
presents the trivial group.
-/
def NormallyGenerates {n : ℕ} (r : RelatorTuple n) : Prop :=
Subgroup.normalClosure (Set.range r) = ⊤
/--
**The Andrews-Curtis conjecture.**
Every normally generating `n`-tuple in the free group of rank `n` is
Andrews-Curtis equivalent to the standard tuple of free generators.
-/
@[category research open, AMS 20]
theorem andrews_curtis_conjecture (n : ℕ) (r : RelatorTuple n)
(hr : NormallyGenerates r) :
Equivalent r (standardRelators n) := by
sorry
end AndrewsCurtis
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Background
Source snapshot inspected on 10 September 2026. Subsequent research status and the accuracy of source formalizations have not been independently certified.
Fixed commit b82b08faa9006484021c12005ab41287fb2ffb69. This file contains 1 source-labeled research-open declarations. Other declarations in the attached file can be definitions, solved results or tests. The file is preserved as source material; it has not been compiled or proved by this import.
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