Why is $(12)(34).3 = 4?$

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Source Page No $1$.

Suppose that $G = S_4$, the group of permutations on the set $S = \{1, 2, 3, 4\}$. We illustrate the action of $G$ on $S$ as in the following examples:

$$(12)(34).3 = 4.$$

My confusion: why is $$(12)(34).3 = 4?$$

My thinking: Here $(12)(34).(3)=\begin{pmatrix} 1&2&3&4 \\2 &1&4&3 \end{pmatrix}(3)=(12)(34)$

Maybe I'm wrong.

Here $3$ is only one cycle. How can we apply the product of permutation?

Note: I know the rule of product of permutation for example I can calculate $(1324)(243)=142$

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Yes,

$$\begin{align} (12)(34).3&=(12)(34)3\\ &=4. \end{align}$$

This can be seen by splitting $(12)(34)$ into its two components: $f:=(12)$ and $g:=(34)$. Then

$$3\xrightarrow{g}4\xrightarrow{f}4.$$


Your confusion is in thinking $3$ is a one-cycle; rather, it is an argument of the function $f\circ g=(12)(34)$.


By the way,

$$(1324)(243)=(1342).$$