Let the finite group G act on finite sets X and Y, and denote by C[X],C[Y] the associated permutation representations on the spaces of complex functions on X and Y. Call their characters χX and χY.
(i) Show that the inner product ⟨χX∣χY⟩ is the number of orbits for the diagonal action of G on X×Y.
(ii) Assume that ∣X∣>1, and let S⊂C[X] be the subspace of those functions whose values sum to zero. By considering ∥χX∥2, show that S is irreducible if and only if the G-action on X is doubly transitive: this means that for any two pairs (x1,x2) and (x1′,x2′) of points in X with x1=x2 and x1′=x2′, there exists some g∈G with gx1=x1′ and gx2=x2′.
(iii) Let now G=Sn acting on the set X={1,2,…,n}. Call Y the set of 2element subsets of X, with the natural action of Sn. If n⩾4, show that C[Y] decomposes under Sn into three irreducible representations, one of which is the trivial representation and another of which is S. What happens when n=3 ?
[Hint: Consider ⟨1∣χY⟩,⟨χX∣χY⟩ and ∥χY∥2.]