1st Reading

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1 Journal of Algebra and Its Applications

Vol. 9, No. 2 (2010) 1–10
3
c World Scientific Publishing Company
DOI: 10.1142/s0219498810003938

5 GROUP ALGEBRAS WITH UNIT GROUPS OF

DERIVED LENGTH THREE

7 HARISH CHANDRA∗ and MEENA SAHAI†

Department of Mathematics and Astronomy
9 Lucknow University, Lucknow-226007, India
∗hcp 1985@yahoo.co.in

11 †meena sahai@hotmail.com

Received 17 May 2009

13 Accepted 18 August 2009

Communicated by D. Passman

15 Let K be a field of characteristic p = 2, 3 and let G be a finite group. Necessary and

sufficient conditions for δ3 (U (KG)) = 1, where U (KG) is the unit group of the group
17 algebra KG, are obtained.

Keywords: Group ring; unit groups.

19 Mathematics Subject Classification 2000: 16S34, 16U60

1. Introduction
21 Let KG be the group algebra of a group G over a field K of characteristic p. A
lot of work has been done on the problem of solvability of the unit group U =
23 U (KG) of KG as can be seen in [3–5, 10]. Also computation of the derived length
of U and its connection with the order and nature of the commutator subgroup
25 G
is an interesting object of study. For finite groups G and p
= 2, a complete
description of group algebras KG such that U is metabelian or centrally metabelian
1
27 or γ3 (δ (U )) = 1 is given in [11, 13, 14]. When p = 2 and G is a finite group, group
algebras KG with metabelian unit groups have been described in [6] and [9]. In [2],
29 Baginski has proved that if G is a finite p-group with cyclic commutator subgroup
of order pn (p > 2), then derived length of U is equal to log2 (pn + 1) where r
31 denotes the upper integral part of the real number r. This was extended to arbitrary
groups with cyclic commutator subgroup of order pn (p > 2) by Balogh and Li [1].
33 In this paper, we give a characterization of group algebras of finite groups G over
fields of characteristic p
= 2, 3 with solvable unit groups of derived length three.

1
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2 H. Chandra & M. Sahai

1 Our main result is as follows:

Theorem 1.1. Let K be a field of characteristic p
= 2, 3 and let G be a finite

3 nonabelian group. Then the following are equivalent:

(1) U


= 1;
5 (2) p and G satisfy one of the following conditions:
(a) p = 7, G
= C7 and γ3 (G) = 1;
7 (b) p = 5, G
= C5 and either γ3 (G) = 1 or γn (G) = G
for all n ≥ 3 with
xg = x−1 for all x ∈ G
and for all g ∈
/ CG (G
).

9 From this we deduce that with the above conditions on K and G, δ 3 (U ) = 1 if

and only if δ (3) (L(KG)) = 0. Terms and notations are standard as in [13].

11 2. Proof of the Theorem

Let KG be the group algebra of a finite nonabelian group G over a field K of
13 characteristic p
= 2 such that U


= 1. According to the well-known result of
Passman [10], U = U (KG) is solvable if and only if either G
≤ Op (G) or p = 3
15 and G/Op (G) is a two-group. So G has a normal Sylow p-subgroup P . By Schur–
Zassenhaus Theorem G = P
H where H is a p
-prime subgroup of G.
17 It follows by [14, Lemma 2.4] that H is abelian.

Lemma 2.1. Let CharK = p ≥ 7. Suppose that U


= 1. Then G = P × H where

19 P is a p-group and H is an abelian p
-group.

Proof. We know from above that G = P
H where H is an abelian p
-group.

We apply induction on the nilpotency class c of P . Suppose that c = 1. Let, if
possible, (P, h)
= 1 for some h ∈ H. Since h induces a p
-automorphism on P ,
by [7] (P, h, h) = (P, h). So on replacing G with (P, h), h, if necessary, we may
assume that P = G
= (P, h). Also the Jacobson radical J = J(KG) = ∆(P )KG.
Let x ∈ P such that (x, h)
= 1 and put α = x − 1. Then u = 1 + hα is a unit in
KG. Now

u1 = (u, h) ≡ 1 + h((x, h) − 1) (mod J 2 ).

Using Eq. (2.4) of [1], we get

v1 = (u, x) ≡ 1 − h((x, h) − 1)(x − 1) (mod J 3 ),

u2 = (u1 , x) ≡ 1 − h((x, h) − 1)2 (mod J 3 )
and v2 = (v1 , x) ≡ 1 + h((x, h) − 1)2 (x − 1) (mod J 4 ).
Thus w = (u2 , v2 ) ≡ 1 + h2 ((x, h)h − 1)2 ((x, h) − 1)3 (mod J 6 ).

Clearly if p ≥ 7, then w is a nontrivial element in U


= 1. So (P, h) = 1.

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Group Algebras with Unit Groups of Derived Length Three 3

1 For c > 1, we may assume that H is cyclic. Consider the group G = G/P

and apply the case c = 1 to obtain (P, H) ≤ P
so that G
= P
. Let x ∈ P and
3 Q = P
, x. Then Q is normal in G and nilpotency class of Q is less than c. By
induction hypothesis (Q, H) and hence (x, H) = 1.

5 Remark 2.1. If p = 5 and (P, h) is abelian, then the above argument leads to
(x, h)h ∈ (x, h) and (x, h)5 = 1.

7 Proposition 2.1. Let CharK = p ≥ 9 and let G be a finite p-group such that
U


= 1. Then G is abelian.

Proof. If not, let G be a minimal counter example. Then every proper section of
G is abelian. So G = x, y, G
= z where z = (x, y)
= 1 is central in G and
z p = 1. Let u = 1 + x + y, then
u1 = (u, y) = 1 + u−1 x(z − 1),
u2 = (u, x) = 1 − u−1 y(z − 1)z −1 ,
and u3 = (u, y −1 ) = 1 − u−1 x(z − 1)z −1 .
Clearly (u1 , u3 ) = 1. Now

v = (u1 , u2 )
= 1 − u−1 −1 −1
1 u2 [u x, u−1 y](z − 1)2 z −1
= 1 − u−1 −1 −1
1 u2 u {[x, u−1 y] + u−1 [x, y] − [y, u−1 ]x}(z − 1)2 z −1
= 1 + u−1 −1 −2
1 u2 u {[x, y]u−1 y − [x, y] + [x, y]u−1 x}(z − 1)2 z −1
= 1 + u−1 −1 −2
1 u2 u yxu−1 (z − 1)3 z −1

and
w = (u3 , u2 )
= 1 + u−1 −1 −1
3 u2 [u x, u−1 y](z − 1)2 z −1
= 1 − u−1 −1 −2
3 u2 u yxu−1 (z − 1)3 z −2 .
Since U


= 1, so [v, w] = [u−1 −1 6 −3
1 β, u3 β](z−1) z = 0 where β = u−1
2 u
−2
yxu−1 .
6
The annihilator A of (z −1) in KG is a two-sided ideal. The above equation implies
−1 −1
that β u1 and β u3 commute in KG/A where w is the image of w ∈ KG in
KG/A. Hence
0 = [β −1 u1 , β −1 u3 ](z − 1)6
= β −1 {[u1 , β −1 ]u3 − [u3 , β −1 ]u1 }(z − 1)6
= β −1 [u1 , β −1 ](1 + z −1 )(z − 1)6 .
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4 H. Chandra & M. Sahai

This gives

0 = [u−1 x, ux−1 y −1 u2 u2 ](z − 1)7

= {u−1 [x, y]x−1 y −1 u2 u2 + u[u−1 , x−1 ]xy −1 u2 u2
+ ux−1 [u−1 x, y −1 ]u2 u2 + ux−1 y −1 u−1 [x, u2 ]u2
+ ux−1 y −1 u2 [u−1 x, u2 ]}(z − 1)7
= {uu2 (z − 1) − x−1 yu−1 xy −1 u2 u2 (z − 1)
+ ux−1 u−1 y −1 xu−1 xu2 u2 (z − 1)z −1 − ux−1 u−1 y −1 xu2 u2 (z − 1)z −1
+ uu2 (z − 1) + ux−1 y −1 u−1 yxuu2 (z − 1)
− ux−1 y −1 u2 [u−1 x, u−1 y](z − 1)z −1 }(z − 1)7
= {uu2 − x−1 yu−1 xy −1 u2 u2 + ux−1 u−1 y −1 xu−1 xu2 u2 z −1
− ux−1 u−1 y −1 xu2 u2 z −1 + uu2 + ux−1 y −1 u−1 yxuu2 + (z − 1)z −1 }(z − 1)8 .

Since u2 ∈ 1 + ∆(G
)KG and p ≥ 9, so on multiplying the above equation by

(z − 1)p−9 , we get

(2u − x−1 yu−1 xy −1 u2 + ux−1 u−1 y −1 xu−1 xu2

−ux−1 u−1 y −1 xu2 + ux−1 y −1 u−1 yxu)

z = 0.

1 As U
⊆ 1 + (z − 1)KG, so we have (y − 1)

z = 0 or y ∈ z is central, a
contradiction.

3 It may be mentioned here that the contradiction for the minimal counterexample
can also be obtained from [2] but the above proof is independent.

5 Corollary 2.1. Let CharK = p ≥ 9 and let G be a finite group such that U


= 1.
Then G is abelian.

7 Proof. This a direct consequence of Lemma 2.1 and Proposition 2.1.

Proposition 2.2. Suppose that CharK = p = 5 or 7 and let G be a finite p-group

9 such that U


= 1. Then |G
| ≤ p.

Proof. Let G be a minimal counter example. Then |G
| = p2 and we arrive at a

11 contradiction by considering the following cases one-by-one:

Case 1: G
is central cyclic of order p2 . Let G
= z, z = (x, y), x, y ∈ G. By

13 following the proof of Proposition 2.1, we get (y − 1)
z = 0.
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Group Algebras with Unit Groups of Derived Length Three 5

1 Case 2: G
is central and elementary abelian.

There exist x, y1 , y2 ∈ G such that z1 = (x, y1 ) and z2 = (x, y2 ) form a basis for
G
[8, 15]. Let

u1 = (1 + x, y1 ) = 1 + (1 − (1 + x)−1 )(z1 − 1),

u2 = (1 + y2 , x−1 ) = 1 + (1 − (1 + y2 )−1 )(z2 − 1),
u3 = (1 + x, y2 ) = 1 + (1 − (1 + x)−1 )(z2 − 1),
u4 = (1 + y1 , x−1 ) = 1 + (1 − (1 + y1 )−1 )(z1 − 1).

Then v = (u1 , u2 ) = 1 + u−1 −1 2

1 u2 δ(z2 − 1) (z1 − 1) where δ = (1 + x)
−1
(1 +
−1 −1 −1 −1 −1 2
3 y2 ) y2 x(1 + y2 ) (1 + x) and w = (u3 , u4 ) = 1 + u3 u4 γ(z1 − 1) (z2 − 1) where
γ = (1 + x)−1 (1 + y1 )−1 y1 x(1 + y1 )−1 (1 + x)−1 .
5 Since U


= 1, so we have [v, w] = [u−1 −1 −1 −1 3 3
1 u2 δ, u3 u4 γ](z1 − 1) (z2 − 1) = 0.
−1
If B is the annihilator of (z1 − 1)3 (z2 − 1)3 in KG then δ u2 u1 and
−1
7 γ u4 u3 commute in KG/B. Here w is the image of w ∈ KG in KG/B. Thus
[δ −1 u2 u1 , γ −1 u4 u3 ](z1 − 1)3 (z2 − 1)3 = 0.
It can be easily seen that [δ, u3 ] ∈ (z2 − 1)2 KG, [γ, u1 ] ∈ (z1 − 1)2 KG, [u2 , u3 ] ∈
(z2 − 1)3 KG, [u1 , u4 ] ∈ (z1 − 1)3 KG and [u1 , u3 ] = 0. So if we multiply above
equation by (z1 − 1)p−4 (z2 − 1)p−5 , we get

{δ −1 [u2 , γ −1 ]u4 u3 u1 + δ −1 γ −1 [u2 , u4 ]u3 u1 + [δ −1 , γ −1 ]u4 u3 u2 u1

+ γ −1 [δ −1 , u4 ]u3 u2 u1 }z
1 (z2 − 1)p−2 = 0.

As u4 ≡ 1mod (z1 − 1)KG and u2 ≡ 1mod (z2 − 1)KG, so we have

0 = [γ −1 , δ −1 ]z
1 (z2 − 1)p−2

= [(1 + x)(1 + x−1 )(1 + y1 )(1 + y1−1 ), (1 + y2 )x−1 (1 + y2−1 )(1 + x)]z
1 (z2 − 1)p−2
= {[x + x−1 , (1 + y2 )x−1 (1 + y2−1 )](2 + y1 + y1−1 )
+ (2 + x + x−1 )[y1 + y1−1 , (1 + y2 )x−1 (1 + y2−1 )]}(1 + x)z
1 (z2 − 1)p−2
= {((1 + y2 )(1 − y2−1 ) − x−1 (1 + y2 )(1 − y2−1 )x−1 )(2 + y1 + y1−1 )
+ j(2 + x + x−1 ){y2 y1 x−1 (y2−1 + 1) − (1 + y2 )x−1 y1 y2−1
− y1−1 y2 y1 x−1 (1 + y2−1 )y1−1 + y1−1 (1 + y2 )x−1 y1 y2−1 y1−1 }}(1 + x)z
1 z
2 ,

where (y1 , y2 ) = z1i z2j . This leads to

(1 − y2−1 ){(1 − x−2 )(2 + y1 + y1−1 ) + j(2 + x + x−1 )x−1 y1 (1 − y1−2 )}z
1 z
2 = 0.

9 On multiplication by y
1 we have y
1 (x − 1)(y2 − 1)z
1 z
2 = 0, a contradiction.

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6 H. Chandra & M. Sahai

1 Case 3: G
is not central in G.

In this case |G
| = p2 , so G
is abelian but noncentral.
We can choose x ∈ G, w ∈ G
such that z = (x, w)
= 1 and γ3 (G) = z = Cp
is central in G. If (x, G) ⊆ γ3 (G), then Hall–Witt identity will lead to x ∈ CG (G
).
So there exists y ∈ G such that t = (x, y) ∈ / γ3 (G) and (x, t) = z i , i
= 0. Let

u = (1 + x, w) = 1 + (1 − (1 + x)−1 )(z − 1),

v = (1 + x, y) = 1 + (1 − (1 + x)−1 )(t − 1),
u1 = (u, w) = 1 + u−1 (1 + xz)−1 (1 + x−1 )−1 (z − 1)2 , and
v1 = (v, w) = 1 + v −1 (1 + xz)−1 (1 + x−1 )−1 (z − 1)(t − 1).

Since U


= 1, so [u1 , v1 ] = 0. Hence

0 = [u−1 (1 + xz)−1 (1 + x−1 )−1 , v −1 (1 + xz)−1 (1 + x−1 )−1 (t − 1)](z − 1)3

= {[u−1 , v −1 ](1 + xz)−2 (1 + x−1 )−2 (t − 1) + u−1 [(1 + xz)−1 (1 + x−1 )−1 , v −1 ]
(1 + xz)−1 (1 + x−1 )−1 (t − 1) + v −1 u−1 (1 + xz)−1 (1 + x−1 )−1
[(1 + xz)−1 (1 + x−1 )−1 , t] + v −1 [u−1 , (1 + xz)−1 (1 + x−1 )−1
(t − 1)](1 + xz)−1 (1 + x−1 )−1 }(z − 1)3 .

As [u, v] ∈ (z − 1)2 KG and [u, (1 + x−1 )(1 + xz)] = 0 so on multiplying by

(z − 1)p−5 , we get

0 = {[(1 + xz)−1 (1 + x−1 )−1 , v]v −1 (1 + xz)−1 (1 + x−1 )−1 (t − 1)

− (1 + xz)−1 (1 + x−1 )−1 [(1 + xz)−1 (1 + x−1 )−1 , t]}(z − 1)p−2
= {−[x−1 + xz, t](1 + xz)−1 (1 + x−1 )−1 v −1 (1 + xz)−1 (1 + x−1 )−1 (t − 1)
+ (1 + xz)−1 [x−1 + xz, t](1 + xz)−1 (1 + x−1 )−1 }(z − 1)p−2 .

3 z = 0 or, i(x−1)

On simplifying this we get i(x2 −1){v −1 (t−1)−x−1 (1+x)}
tz
=
0, a contradiction.

5 Corollary 2.2. Let CharK = 7 and let G be a finite nonabelian group such that
U


= 1. Then G
is central cyclic of order 7.

7 Proof. Direct consequence of Lemma 2.1 and Preposition 2.2.

This leaves us with the case when CharK = 5. If G is a finite group such that
9 U


= 1. Then G = P
H where P is a finite five-group, H is an abelian 5
-group
and |P
| ≤ 5. So G
= (P, H)P
. First assume that P is abelian. By Remark 2.1 for
all x ∈ P , h ∈ H, (x, h)h ∈ (x, h) and (x, h)5 = 1.
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Group Algebras with Unit Groups of Derived Length Three 7

1 Lemma 2.2. Let CharK = 5, G a finite group such that G = P
H, where P is

an abelian five-group, H is an abelian 5
-group and U


= 1. Then |G
| = 1 or 5.

Proof. We have G
= (P, H). First let H = h be a cyclic group and G

= 1. By
replacing P with (P, h), if necessary, we may assume that P = G
= (P, h). For
x, y ∈ P , let α = x − 1 and as in [1, Lemma 2.4], let

x1 = x,
y1 = (1 + hα, h)
= 1 + (1 + hα)−1 hx((x, h) − 1) ≡ 1 + h((x, h) − 1) (mod ∆(G
)2 KG),
y1
= (1 + hα, x) ≡ 1 − h((x, h) − 1)(x − 1) (mod ∆(G
)3 KG),
z2 = (y1 , y) ≡ 1 − h((y, h) − 1)((x, h) − 1) (mod ∆(G
)3 KG)
and z2
= (y1
, y) ≡ 1 + h((y, h) − 1)((x, h) − 1)(x − 1) (mod ∆(G
)4 KG).

Then z3 = (z2 , z2
) ∈ U


= 1 and

z3 ≡ 1 + h2 ((y, h)h − 1)((x, h)h − 1)((x, h) − 1)2 ((y, h) − 1) (mod ∆(G
)6 KG).

3 As (x, h)h ∈ (x, h) for all x ∈ P , so (y, h) ∈ (x, h). Hence G
= (P, h) is a
cyclic group of order 5.
If H is not cyclic, let h1 , h2 ∈ H so that (P, h1 ) = z1  and (P, h2 ) = z2  where
z1 = (x, h1 )
= 1 and z2 = (y, h2 )
= 1 for some x, y ∈ P . If z1  ∩ z2  = 1, then
(z1 , h2 ) = (z2 , h1 ) = 1.

Put x1 = x,
y1 = (1 + h1 α, h1 ) ≡ 1 + h1 (z1 − 1) (mod ∆(G
)2 KG),
y1
= (1 + h2 α, y) ≡ 1 − h2 (z2 − 1)α (mod ∆(G
)3 KG),
z2 = (1 + y1 , x) ≡ 1 − h1 (z1 − 1)2 (mod ∆(G
)3 KG),
and z2
= (y1
, y) ≡ 1 + h2 (z2 − 1)2 α (mod ∆(G
)4 KG).

Then z3 = (z2 , z2
) ≡ 1 − [h1 (z1 − 1)2 , h2 (z2 − 1)2 α] (mod ∆(G
)6 KG)
2 3
≡ 1 + h1 h2 (z2 − 1) (z1 − 1) (mod ∆(G
)6 KG).

5 Since U


= 1, so z2 ∈ z1 . Hence G
= (P, H) = C5 .

Lemma 2.3. Let CharK = 5 and let G be a finite group such that U


= 1. If
7 x ∈ G
such that x5 = 1 and xa ∈ x for some a ∈ G, then xa = x or x−1 .

Proof. Let xa =
x for some a ∈ G. Then (x, a) = xk , k = 1, 2, or 3 and (x, a2 ) =

k(k+2)
x . Let u = 1 + aα, v = 1 + a2 α where α = x − 1 and by [1, Eq. (2.2)],
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8 H. Chandra & M. Sahai

we have
u1 = (u, a) = 1 + u−1 ax(xk − 1) ≡ 1 + ka(x − 1) (mod ∆(G
)2 KG),
u2 = (u1 , x) ≡ 1 − k 2 a(x − 1)2 (mod ∆(G
)3 KG),
v1 = (v, a) ≡ 1 + ka2 (x − 1) (mod ∆(G
)2 KG),
v2 = (v1 , x) ≡ 1 − k 2 (k + 2)a2 (x − 1)2 (mod ∆(G
)3 KG)
and (u2 , v2 ) ≡ 1 + k 4 (k + 2)[a(x − 1)2 , a2 (x − 1)2 ] (mod ∆(G
)5 KG)
= 1 + k 4 (k + 2)a[(x − 1)2 , a]a(x − 1)2
= 1 + k 4 (k + 2)a{ax(x − 1) + (x − 1)ax}(xk − 1)a(x − 1)2
= 1 + k 4 (k + 2)a2 x{(x − 1) + (xk − 1)}(xk − 1)a(x − 1)2
2
= 1 + k 4 (k + 2)a3 xk+1 {xk+1 − 1 + x(k+1) − 1}(xk(k+1) − 1)(x − 1)2
≡ 1 + k 5 a3 (k + 1)2 (k + 2)2 x

(mod ∆(G
)5 KG).
1 Thus if k
= 3, then U



= 1.

We remark that the above lemma also follows as a consequence of [1, Theorem
3 1.1].

Proposition 2.3. Let CharK = 5, G a finite group such that G = P
H, where P
5 is a nonabelian five-group, H = h is a cyclic 5
-group and U


= 1. Then |G
| = 5.

Proof. When P is nonabelian, by applying Lemma 2.2 to the group PG
we get


7 |G
P
| = 1 or 5.


G

If | G


P
| = 1, then G = P = C5 by Proposition 2.2. Let | P
| = 5. In this case,
there exists x ∈ P such that z = (x, h) ∈ / P
and z 5 ∈ P
. Since G
⊆ P and P



is central in P , so G and hence (P, h) is abelian. By applying Lemma 2.2 to the
group L = (P, h)
h, we have L
= (P, h, h) = (P, h) = C5 = z. If (z, P )
= 1,
then there exists y ∈ P with 1
= (z, y) = t ∈ P
and (t, h) ∈ (P, h) ∩ P
= 1. Thus
t is central in G. By Lemma 2.3, (z, h) = z 3 . Let α = z − 1, u = 1 + hα, v = 1 + yα.
Then u1 = (u, h) ≡ 1 + 3h(z − 1) (mod ∆(G
)2 KG),
u2 = (u1 , z) ≡ 1 + h(z − 1)2 (mod ∆(G
)3 KG),
v1 = (v, y) ≡ 1 + y(t − 1) (mod ∆(G
)2 KG),
v2 = (v1 , z) ≡ 1 − y(t − 1)2 (mod ∆(G
)3 KG)
and (u2 , v2 ) ≡ 1 − [h(z − 1)2 , y(t − 1)2 ] (mod ∆(G
)5 KG)
≡ 1 − [h(z − 1)2 , y](t − 1)2 (mod ∆(G
)5 KG).
Let (y, h) = z l . Then
(u2 , v2 ) ≡ 1 − hy(t − 1)3 {2(z − 1) + (t − 1)} (mod ∆(G
)5 KG).
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Group Algebras with Unit Groups of Derived Length Three 9

This means that U



= 1. So (z, P ) = 1 and G
is central in P . Let 1
= t = (a, b)

for some a, b ∈ P . If (y, h)
= 1 implies (y, P ) = 1 for all y ∈ P , then take π = xa.
Otherwise take π = a = x. Then (π, g) = zt and (π, b) = t where g = hb. Again t is
central in G, (z, h) = (z, g) = z 3 and (z, g 2 ) = 1. We put α = 1 − π and u = 1 − gα.
2
Then u1 = (u, g) = 1 + g(1 + gαg + g 2 αg αg + · · ·)(zt − 1)π,
u2 = (u1 , z) = 1 + u−1 z
1 (u1 − u1 )
2
≡ 1 + 2g(1 + g 2 αg αg + · · ·)(z − 1)(zt − 1)π (mod ∆(G
)3 KG),
2
v1 = (u, z) = 1 − g(1 + gαg + g 2 αg αg + · · ·)(z 2 − 1)α
2
and v2 = (v1 , z) ≡ 1 + g(1 + g 2 αg αg + · · ·)(z − 1)2 α (mod ∆(G
)3 KG).

Thus (u2 , v2 ) ≡ 1 + 2[gβ(z − 1)(zt − 1)π, gβ(z − 1)2 α] (mod ∆(G
)5 KG),
2
1 where β = 1 + g 2 αg αg + · · ·
Now U


= 1, [π, β] ∈ (t − 1)KG and ∆(G
)9 = 0 so on multiplying the above
equation by (z − 1)(t − 1)3 , we have
2β(z − 1)gz(z 3 − 1){tπβ(z − 1)2 α − αβ(z − 1)(zt − 1)π}(z − 1)(t − 1)3 = 0.
z

This leads to β 2 α
t = 0. Since β ≡ (1 + g 2 α2 + g 4 α4 + · · ·) (mod ∆(G
)KG),
3 so on multiplying by α o(π)−3
we have π
z


t = 0. But π ∈

/ G , so we arrive at a
contradiction.

5 Corollary 2.3. Let CharK = 5 and let G be a finite nonabelian group such that
U


= 1. Then G
= C5 = x and either γ3 (G) = 1 or xg = x−1 for all g ∈
/ CG (G
).

7 Proof. We have G = P
H, where P is a finite five-group and H is an abelian

5
-group. So G
= (P, H)P
. First assume that P is abelian. By Lemma 2.2 G
=
9 (P, H) = C5 . The rest follows from Lemma 2.3. If P is nonabelian, then for the



group G = PG
, |G | = 1 or 5. Hence either G
= P
or | G


P
| = 5. If G = P , then


11 (P, H) ⊆ P = C5 which is central in P by Proposition 2.2. Also for all h ∈ H and
x, y ∈ P , (x, y)h = (x(x, h), y(y, h)) = (x, y), so in this case G
= P
= C5 is central


13 in G. If GP
= C5 , then z = (x, h) ∈ / P
for some x ∈ P, h ∈ H and z 5 ∈ P
. By
applying Proposition 2.3 to the group L = P, h, L
= (P, h)P
= P
. So z ∈ P
, a
15 contradiction.

Proof of Theorem 1.1

17 Assume that condition (1) of the Theorem 1.1 holds. Then condition (2) follows
by virtue of Corollaries 2.2 and 2.3. Conversely, suppose that condition (a) or (b) of
19 Theorem 1.1 holds. Under these conditions KG is strongly Lie solvable of derived
length at most three [12, Theorem 2.3] and hence U


= 1.

21 Corollary 2.4. Let G be a finite group and let K be a field with CharK = p
= 2, 3.
Then U


= 1 if and only if δ (3) (L(KG)) = 0.
 1st Reading
March 8, 2010 17:54 WSPC/S0219-4988 171-JAA 00393

10 H. Chandra & M. Sahai

1 Proof. If δ (3) (KG) = 0, then U


= 1. Conversely, if U


= 1 then by Theorem

1.1 and [12, Theorem 2.3] we have δ (3) (L(KG)) = 0.

3 Acknowledgments
The authors wish to thank the referee for many useful suggestions which led to a
5 better presentation of the paper.

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