Relation Modules of Infinite Groups

Let F_n be the free group of rank n with basis x₁, x₂, ..., x_n,and let d(G) denote the minimal number of generators of thefinitely generated group G. Suppose that n d(G). There existsan exact sequence and wemay view the free abelian group as a right ZG-module by defining (rR')^g = r^g–1R' for allg G, where g^–1 is any preimage of g under , and = (g^–1)^–1 r(g^–1),the conjugate of r by g^–1. We call the relation module of G associated with the presentation(1), and say that has ambient rank n. Furthermore, we call the group F_n/R' the free abelianizedextension of G associated with (1). 1991 Mathematics SubjectClassification 20F05, 20C07.