Commuting probabilities of finite groups

Abstract

The commuting probability of a finite group is defined to be the probability that two randomly chosen group elements commute. Let P \subset (0,1] be the set of commuting probabilities of all finite groups. We prove that every point of P is nearly an Egyptian fraction of bounded complexity. As a corollary we deduce two conjectures of Keith Joseph from 1977: all limit points of P are rational, and P is well ordered by >. We also prove analogous theorems for bilinear maps of abelian groups.

13 pages. To appear in the Bulletin of the LMS. This is the version accepted for publication, incorporating the referee's suggestions. This version will differ from the published version