Alternating Group is Simple except on 4 Letters/Lemma 3

Theorem
Let $n$ be an integer such that $n \ge 5$.

Let $A_n$ denote the alternating group on $n$ letters.

Let $\rho \in S_n$ be an arbitrary $3$-cycle.

Let $i, j, k \in$ $\mathbb{N}_n$ be such that $\rho = (i, j, k)$.

Then there exists an even permutation $\sigma \in A_n$ such that $\sigma(1) = i$, $\sigma(2) = j$ and $\sigma(3) = k$.

Proof
Let $\rho \in S_n$ be an arbitrary 3-cycle.

Let $i, j, k \in \N_n$ be such that $\rho = \tuple {i, j, k}$.

Our goal is to show that there exists an even permutation $\sigma \in A_n$ such that $\sigma(1) = i$, $\sigma(2) = j$ and $\sigma(3) = k$.

We will proceed by cases.

We have that $\card {\{1,2,3\} \cap \{i, j, k\}}$ is either $0$, $1$, $2$ or $3$.


 * Case $1$: $\card {\{1,2,3\} \cap \{i, j, k\}} = 0$ (this case is only possible when $n \ge 6$).

The permutation $\sigma = \tuple {1, i, 2, j}\tuple {3, k}$ is even and has the desired property.


 * Case $2$: $\card {\{1,2,3\} \cap \{i, j, k\}} = 1$.

Without loss of generality, suppose that $ \{1,2,3\} \cap \{i, j, k\} = \{1\} $.

We have two further sub-cases: $i = 1$ or $i \ne 1$.

If $i = 1$, then the permutation $\sigma = \tuple {2, j}\tuple {3, k}$ is even and has the desired property.

Now suppose $i \ne 1$.

Assume, without loss of generality, that $j = 1$.

Then, the permutation $\sigma = \tuple {1, i, 3, k, 2}$ is even and has the desired property.


 * Case $3$: $\card {\{1,2,3\} \cap \{i, j, k\}} = 2$.

Assume, without loss of generality, that $\{1,2,3\} \cap \{i, j, k\} = \{1, 2\}$.

We have three further sub-cases: either $i = 1 \land j = 2$, or $(i = 1 \land j \ne 2) \lor (i \ne 1 \land j = 2)$, or $i \ne 1 \land j \ne 2$.

(In other words, if $\sigma$ exists, it either fixes 2, 1, or 0 letters of those in $\{1, 2, 3\}$.)

Suppose $i = 1 \land j = 2$.

Since $n \ge 5$, there exists an element $l \in \N_n \setminus \{1, 2, 3, k\}$.

Then, the permutation $\sigma = \tuple {3, k, l}$ is even and has the desired property.

Now suppose $(i = 1 \land j \ne 2) \lor (i \ne 1 \land j = 2)$.

Without loss of generality, assume $(i = 1 \land j \ne 2)$.

This implies $k = 2$.

Then, the permutation $\sigma = \tuple {2, j, 3}$ is even and has the desired property.

Now suppose $i \ne 1 \land j \ne 2$.

If $i = 2$ and $j = 1$, then the permutation $\sigma = \tuple {1, 2}\tuple {3, k}$ is even and has the desired property.

Otherwise, without loss of generality, assume $i = 2$ and $k = 1$.

Since $n \ge 5$, there exists an element $l \in \N_n \setminus \{1, 2, 3, k\}$.

Then, the permutation $\sigma = \tuple {1, 2, j, l, 3}$ is even and has the desired property.


 * Case $4$: $\card {\{1,2,3\} \cap \{i, j, k\}} = 3$.

That is, $\{i, j, k\} = \{1, 2, 3\}$.

We have that any (not necessarily even) permutation $\sigma$ has the desired property if and only if it can be written as a disjoint product $\sigma = \alpha\beta$, where $\alpha$ is the permutation:
 * $ \begin{pmatrix} 1 & 2 & 3 & 4 & \cdots & n \\ i & j & k & 4 & \cdots & n \\ \end{pmatrix}$

If $\alpha$ fixes all letters (is the identity), take $\beta$ to be the identity; then $\sigma$ will be even.

If $\alpha$ fixes one letter, $\alpha$ will be a transposition, so take $\beta$ to be another (disjoint) transposition (we can do this because $n \ge 5$); then $\sigma$ will be even.

If $\alpha$ fixes no letters, $\alpha$ will be a 3-cycle, so take $\beta$ to be the identity; then $\sigma$ will be even.

In all cases, we found an even permutation $\sigma$ with the desired property.

Also, $\rho$ was arbitrary.

Hence a $\sigma$ as described above always exists for any 3-cycle.