Flexibility in generating sets of finite groups
Group Theory
2021-11-25 v1
Abstract
Let G be a finite group. It has recently been proved that every nontrivial element of G is contained in a generating set of minimal size if and only if all proper quotients of G require fewer generators than G. It is natural to ask which finite groups, in addition, have the property that any two elements of G that do not generate a cyclic group can be extended to a generating set of minimal size. This note answers the question. The only such finite groups are very specific affine groups: elementary abelian groups extended by a cyclic group acting as scalars.
Cite
@article{arxiv.2111.12534,
title = {Flexibility in generating sets of finite groups},
author = {Scott Harper},
journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:2111.12534},
year = {2021}
}
Comments
5 pages; to appear in Archiv der Mathematik