The residual finiteness of positive one-relator groups

Abstract

It is proven that every positive one-relator group which satisfies the ${\mathrm{C}}^{\prime }(\frac{1}{6})$ condition has a finite index subgroup which splits as a free product of two free groups amalgamating a finitely generated malnormal subgroup. As a consequence, it is shown that every ${\mathrm{C}}^{\prime }(\frac{1}{6})$ positive one-relator group is residually finite. It is shown that positive one-relator groups are generically ${\mathrm{C}}^{\prime }(\frac{1}{6})$ and hence generically residually finite. A new method is given for recognizing malnormal subgroups of free groups. This method employs a 'small cancellation theory' for maps between graphs.