On the odd order composition factors of finite linear groups

In this paper, we study the product of orders of composition factors of odd order in a composition series of a finite linear group. First we generalize a result by Manz and Wolf about the order of solvable linear groups of odd order. Then we use this result to find bounds for the product of orders of composition factors of odd order in a composition series of a finite linear group.

Commutator Length of Finitely Generated Linear Groups

The commutator length “” of a group is the least natural number such that every element of the derived subgroup of is a product of commutators. We give an upper bound for when is a -generator nilpotent-by-abelian-by-finite group. Then, we give an upper bound for the commutator length of a soluble-by-finite linear group over that depends only on and the degree of linearity. For such a group , we prove that is less than , where is the minimum number of generators of (upper) triangular subgroup of and is a quadratic polynomial in . Finally we show that if is a soluble-by-finite group of Prüffer rank then , where is a quadratic polynomial in .

The minimal degree of a faithful quasi-permutation representation of an abelian group

Let G be a finite linear group of degree n; that is, a finite group of automorphisms of an n-dimensional complex vector space (or, equivalently, a finite group of non-singular matrices of order n with complex coefficients). We shall say that G is a quasi-permutation group if the trace of every element of G is a non-negative rational integer. The reason for this terminology is that, if G is a permutation group of degree n, its elements, considered as acting on the elements of a basis of an n -dimensional complex vector space V, induce automorphisms of V forming a group isomorphic to G. The trace of the automorphism corresponding to an element x of G is equal to the number of letters left fixed by x, and so is a non-negative integer. Thus, a permutation group of degree n has a representation as a quasi-permutation group of degree n. See [5].

Linear groups analogous to permutation groups

If G is a finite linear group of degree n, that is, a finite group of automorphisms of an n-dimensional complex vector space (or, equivalently, a finite group of non-singular matrices of order n with complex coefficients), I shall say that G is a quasi-permutation group if the trace of every element of G is a non-negative rational integer. The reason for this terminology is that, if G is a permutation group of degree n, its elements, considered as acting on the elements of a basis of an n-dimensional complex vector space V, induce automorphisms of V forming a group isomorphic to G. The trace of the automorphism corresponding to an element x of G is equal to the number of letters left fixed by x, and so is a non-negative integer. Thus, a permutation group of degree n has a representation as a quasi-permutation group of degree n.