In mathematics, the longest element of a Coxeter group is the unique element of maximal length in a finite Coxeter group with respect to the chosen generating set consisting of simple reflections. It is often denoted by w0.[1][2]
A Coxeter group has a longest element if and only if it is finite; "only if" is because the size of the group is bounded by the number of words of length less than or equal to the maximum.
The longest element is an involution (has order 2: ), by uniqueness of maximal length (the inverse of an element has the same length as the element).[3]
The longest element is the central element −1 except for (), for n odd, and for p odd, when it is −1 multiplied by the order 2 automorphism of the Coxeter diagram.[4]
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