GLASNIK MATEMATI
ˇ
CKI
Vol. 44(64)(2009), 177 – 185
A COMPLETE CLASSIFICATION OF FINITE p-GROUPS
ALL OF WHOSE NONCYCLIC SUBGROUPS ARE NORMAL
Zdravka Bo
ˇ
zikov and Zvonimir Janko
University of Split, Croatia and University of Heidelberg, Germany
Abstract. We give a complete classification of finite p-groups all of
whose noncyclic subgroups are normal, which solves a problem s tated by
Berkovich.
1. Introduction an d preliminary results
We co nsider here only finite p-groups and our notation is standard. If in
a p-group all cyclic subgroups are normal, then all subgroups are normal and
we call such a group Dedekindian. A Dedekindian p-gro up G is either abelian
or a Hamiltonian 2 -group, i.e., G = Q × A, where Q
∼
=
Q
8
is the qua ternion
group and A is elementary abelian (Proposition 1.2 ). Here we study non-
Dedekindian p-groups all of whose noncyclic subgroups are normal. Such
groups have been considered by D.S. Passman [6, Pro position 2.9], but he
omitted 2-groups of order ≤ 2
7
. In fact here lies the main difficulty. In this
paper we refine, improve and extend the arguments of Passman so that a ll
p-groups will be included. It turns out that we get in addition five exce ptio nal
2-groups: one group of order 2
6
, three groups of order 2
5
and one group of
order 2
4
. More precisely, we prove the following res ult which gives a complete
classification of the title groups.
Theorem 1.1. Let G be a finite non-Dedekindian p-group all of whose
noncyclic subgroups are normal. Then G is one of the following groups.
(i) G is metacyclic minimal nonabelian and G is not isomorphic to Q
8
.
2000 Mathematics Subject Classification. 20D15.
Key words and phrases. Dedekindian p-groups, Hamiltonian 2-groups, minimal non-
abelian p-groups, central products.
177
178 Z. BO
ˇ
ZIKOV AND Z. JANKO
(ii) G = G
0
∗ Z, the central product of a nonabelian group G
0
of order
p
3
with a cyclic group Z, where G
0
∩ Z = Z(G
0
) and if p = 2, then
|Z| > 2.
(iii) p = 2 and G = Q × Z where Q
∼
=
Q
8
and Z is cyclic of order > 2.
(iv) G is a group of order 3
4
and maximal class with Ω
1
(G) = G
′
∼
=
E
9
.
(v) G = ha, b | a
8
= b
8
= 1, a
b
= a
−1
, a
4
= b
4
i, where |G| = 2
5
, G
′
∼
=
C
4
,
Z(G)
∼
=
C
4
, G
′
∩ Z(G)
∼
=
C
2
and Ω
2
(G) is abelian of type (4, 2).
(vi) G
∼
=
Q
16
, the generalized quaternion group of order 2
4
.
(vii) G = D
8
∗ Q
8
, an extraspecial 2-group of order 2
5
and type ” − ”.
(viii) G = ha, b, c | a
4
= b
4
= [a, b] = 1, c
2
= a
2
, a
c
= ab
2
, b
c
= ba
2
i, where
G is the minimal non-metacyclic group of order 2
5
, G is a special
2-group with G
′
= Ω
1
(G)
∼
=
E
4
.
(ix)
G = ha, b, c, d | a
4
= b
4
= [a, b] = 1, c
2
= a
2
b
2
, a
c
= a
−1
, b
c
= a
2
b
−1
,
d
2
= a
2
, a
d
= a
−1
b
2
, b
d
= b
−1
, [c, d] = 1i,
where G is a special 2- group of order 2
6
with G
′
= Ω
1
(G)
∼
=
E
4
in which
every maximal subgroup is isomorphic to the minimal non-metacyclic
group of order 2
5
(from (viii)).
Conversely, all the above groups satisfy the assumptions of the theorem.
In the proof o f our theorem we use the following known results.
Proposition 1.2 (Huppert [3, III.7.12]). Let G be a p-group all of whose
subgroups are normal in G. Then G is either abelian or a Hamiltonian 2-
group, i.e., G = Q × A, where Q
∼
=
Q
8
is the quaternion group and A is
elementary abelian.
Proposition 1.3 (L. R´edei, see [2, Lemma 3.1, 3.2]). A p-group G is
minimal nonabelian if and only if d(G) = 2 (minimal number of generators of
G is 2) and |G
′
| = p. In that case Φ(G) = Z(G). A p-group G is metacyclic
and m inimal nonabelian if and only if G is minimal nonabelian and |Ω
1
(G)| ≤
p
2
in which case either G
∼
=
Q
8
or
G = ha, b | a
p
m
= b
p
n
= 1, a
b
= a
1+p
m−1
, m ≥ 2, n ≥ 1i.
Proposition 1.4 (see [4, Proposition 1.6]). Let G be a nonabelian 2-
group of order ≥ 2
4
with |Ω
2
(G)| ≤ 2
3
. Then either
G = ha, t | a
2
n
= t
2
= 1, a
t
= a
1+2
n−1
, n ≥ 3i = M
2
n+1
or
G = ha, b | a
2
m−2
= b
8
= 1, a
2
m−3
= b
4
, m ≥ 5, a
b
= a
−1
i
of order 2
m
.
Proposition 1.5. Let A be an abelian maximal subgroup in a nonabelian
p-group G and let g ∈ G − A. Then the mapping x → x
g
x
−1
(x ∈ A) is a
FINITE p-GROUPS WHOSE NONCYCLIC SUBGROUPS ARE NORMAL 179
homomorphism from A onto G
′
with kernel Z(G). This gives A/Z(G)
∼
=
G
′
and |G| = p|Z(G)||G
′
|.
Proposition 1.6 (see [4, Proposition 1.10]). Let G be a 2-group of order
≥ 2
5
such that Ω
2
(G) = ha, bi × hui, where ha, bi = Q
∼
=
Q
8
and u is an
involution. Then G is a uniquely determined group of order 2
5
. Set hzi =
Z(Q) so that a
2
= b
2
= z. There is an element y of order 8 in G − Ω
2
(G)
such that y
2
= ua, u
y
= uz, a
y
= a
−1
, and b
y
= bu.
Proposition 1.7. (Passman) Let G be a p-group all of whose noncyclic
subgroups are normal. Let H be any non-normal subgroup in G. Then H is
a max imal cyclic subgroup, |G : N
G
(H)| = p and N
G
(H)/H is either cyclic
or p = 2 and N
G
(H)/H
∼
=
Q
8
is quaternion.
Proof. By our ass umption, H is cyclic. Assume that H is not maximal
cyclic and let K > H be a maximal cyclic subgroup containing H. Let L > K
be a subgroup of G such that |L : K| = p. Since L is noncy c lic, we have
d(L) = 2 and L is normal in G. Thus |L : Φ(L)| = p
2
, Φ(L) < K and
Φ(L) = Φ(K). But Φ(L) is normal in G and H ≤ Φ(L) and so H is normal
in G, a contradiction. We have proved that H is a maximal cyclic subgroup
in G.
Set N = N
G
(H) so that {1} 6= N/H is Dedekindian. By Proposition 1.2,
N/H is either abelian or Hamiltonian. If N/H has two distinct subgroups
N
1
/H and N
2
/H of order p, then N
1
and N
2
are normal in G and N
1
∩N
2
= H
so that H is normal in G, a contradiction. Thus N/H has only one s ubgroup
of order p and so N/H is e ither cyclic or p = 2 and N/H
∼
=
Q
8
.
Set M/H = Ω
1
(N/H) so that |M : H| = p and M is normal in G. L e t
H
0
be the subgroup of H with |H/H
0
| = p. By the fir st paragr aph of the
proof, H
0
is normal in G and since M is noncyclic, M/H
0
∼
=
E
p
2
. We act
with G/N on the set of p non-normal subgroups of order p of G/H
0
which
are contained in M/H
0
, where H/H
0
is one of them. This forces |G : N| = p
and we are done.
Proposition 1.8 ([6]). Suppose that G is a 2-group all of whose cyclic
subgroups of order ≤ 4 are normal in G. Then either Ω
2
(G) ≤ Z(G) or G is
Hamiltonian.
Proof. Set F = Ω
2
(G) so that exp(F ) ≤ 4 and suppose that F 6≤ Z(G)
which implies exp(F) = 4. The subgroup F is Dedekindian a nd Ω
1
(F ) ≤
Z(G). Since F 6≤ Z(G), there is an element v of order 4 in F and g ∈ G such
that v
g
= v
−1
= vz, where v
2
= z. Assume tha t o(g) ≥ 8. Let hyi be the
cyclic subgroup of order 4 in hgi so that [v, y] = 1 and hvi∩hyi ≤ hzi. We have
(vy)
g
= v
−1
y = (vy)z. If hvi ∩ hyi = hzi, then vy is a noncentral involution,
a contradiction. If hvi ∩ hyi = {1}, then o(vy) = 4 and g does not normalize
hvyi. Hence o(g) = 4 and so g ∈ F which implies that F is Hamiltonian.
180 Z. BO
ˇ
ZIKOV AND Z. JANKO
Assume that F 6= G and let l be an element of order 8 in G − F . Then
hli ∩ F = hl
2
i and if u = l
4
, then hui = F
′
= Φ(F ). Since Z(F ) = Ω
1
(F ),
there is an element f of order 4 in F such that [l
2
, f ] = u and f
2
= u so that
hl
2
, f i
∼
=
Q
8
. But l must normalize hfi and l
2
inverts hfi, a c ontradiction.
We have proved that G = F is Hamiltonian.
Proposition 1.9 (Janko [5, Theorem 2.6]). Let G be a nonabelian 2-
group all of whose minimal nonabelian subgroups are isomorphic to H
2
=
ha, b | a
4
= b
4
= 1, a
b
= a
−1
i. Assume that exp(G) = 4 and Ω
1
(G)
∼
=
E
4
.
Then G is one of t he following groups.
(a) G
∼
=
H
2
.
(b) G is the minimal non-metacyclic group of order 2
5
:
G = ha, b, c | a
4
= b
4
= [a, b] = 1, c
2
= a
2
, a
c
= ab
2
, b
c
= ba
2
i.
(c)
G = ha, b, c, d | a
4
= b
4
= [a, b] = 1, c
2
= a
2
b
2
, a
c
= a
−1
, b
c
= a
2
b
−1
,
d
2
= a
2
, a
d
= a
−1
b
2
, b
d
= b
−1
, [c, d] = 1i,
where G is a special 2-group of order 2
6
with Z(G)
∼
=
E
4
in which
every maximal subgroup is isomorphic to the minimal non-metacyclic
subgroup of order 2
5
(given in (b)).
2. Proof of Theorem 1.1
Let G be a non-Dedekindian p-group a ll of whose noncyclic subgroups are
normal. In particular, G is nonabelian. If G has no normal e le mentary abelian
subgroup of order p
2
, then G is of maximal class. It follows that G
∼
=
Q
16
(part (vi) of our theorem).
In what follows we assume that G has a normal abelian subgroup W of
typ e (p, p). Since each subgroup of G/W is normal, G/W is Dedekindian and
so G/W is either abe lian or Hamiltonian (Proposition 1.2).
Suppo se that p = 2 and there is a normal four-subgroup W such that
G/W is Hamiltonian. In that case
¯
G = G/W =
¯
Q×
¯
A, where
¯
Q is quaternion
and
¯
A is elementary abelian. By Proposition 1.7, d(G) ≤ 4 and so |
¯
A| ≤ 4
which implies 2
5
≤ |G| ≤ 2
7
.
First we consider the case |G| = 2
5
so that G = Q and G/W
∼
=
Q
8
. Set
S/W = Φ(G/W ) so that S is abelian since |G : C
G
(W )| ≤ 2. Suppose that S
is elementary abelian. If s ∈ S is such that s 6∈ Z(G), then C
G
(s)/hsi contains
the four-subgr oup S/hsi, contrary to Proposition 1.7. Hence S ≤ Z(G). Since
G is no t Dedekindian, there is g ∈ G − S such that g
2
∈ S − W and hgi is not
normal in G. But then N
G
(hgi) = hgi×W and N
G
(hgi)/hgi
∼
=
E
4
, contrary to
Proposition 1.7. We have proved that S is abelian of type (4, 2). If g ∈ G− S,
FINITE p-GROUPS WHOSE NONCYCLIC SUBGROUPS ARE NORMAL 181
then g
2
∈ S − W and so o(g) = 8. We have proved that Ω
2
(G) = S is of order
8. By P roposition 1.4,
G = ha, b | a
8
= b
8
= 1, a
4
= b
4
, a
b
= a
−1
i
since M
2
n+1
(n > 2) does not possess a factor-group is omorphic to Q
8
. We
have obtained the group stated in part (v) of our theorem.
Now we consider the case |G| > 2
5
. We have G = QA, Q ∩ A = W ,
Q and A are normal in G, Q/W
∼
=
Q
8
, and A/W is elementary abelian of
order 2 or 4. In particular, exp(G) ≤ 8. Suppose that u is an involution in
G with u 6∈ Z(G). By Proposition 1.7, |G : C
G
(u)| = 2 and C
G
(u)/hui is
either cyclic of order ≤ 8 or C
G
(u)/hui
∼
=
Q
8
. In any case, |G| ≤ 2
5
which
is a contradiction. We have shown that Ω
1
(G) ≤ Z(G) and so W ≤ Z(G).
Assume that E = Ω
1
(G) is of order ≥ 8. Since G is not Dedekindian, G
possesses a cyclic subgroup Z o f composite order which is not normal in G.
Set hzi = Z ∩ E so that z is a central involution. Let e, f ∈ E − hzi such
that he, f, zi
∼
=
E
8
. In this case S
1
= hZ, ei and S
2
= hZ, fi are normal in G.
But S
1
∩ S
2
= Z and so Z is normal in G, a contradiction. It follows that
Ω
1
(G) = W ≤ Z(G). Set T /W = Φ(Q/W ) so that T is abelian of type (4, 2).
For e ach x ∈ Q −T , x
2
∈ T − W and so o(x) = 8 and Ω
2
(Q) = T is of order 8.
By Proposition 1.4, Q is a metacyclic group isomor phic to the g roup of part
(v) of our theorem and so Z(Q)
∼
=
C
4
, contrary to the fact that W ≤ Z(G).
In what follows we may assume that G has a normal abelian subgroup
W of type (p, p) and for each such W , G/W is abelian. This gives that
G
′
≤ W and so G
′
is elementary a belian of order p or p
2
. Also, G has no
abelian subgroup of type (p, p, p). Indeed, if E is an abelian subgroup of type
(p, p, p), then considering maximal subgroups of E, we know that they are
normal in G and each of them contains G
′
which would imply G
′
= {1}.
(i) Assume that Z(G) is cyclic. Set Z = Ω
1
(Z(G)) so that |Z| = p and let
J be another subgroup of order p. Then J is not normal in G and W = Z × J
is a normal ab elian subgroup of type (p, p). If N = N
G
(J), then |G : N | = p
and N/J 6= {1 } is either cyclic or p = 2 and N/J
∼
=
Q
8
(Proposition 1.7).
First suppose that N/J
∼
=
Q
8
so that |G| = 2
5
. We have W = Z(N)
and since G/N acts faithfully on W , we get Z = Z(G). If X/J is a max imal
subgroup o f N/J, then X/J
∼
=
C
4
and so X is abelian. Hence N ha s at least
three abelian maximal subgroups which implies |N
′
| = 2 and N
′
< W so
that N
′
= Z = Z(G). Let n ∈ N − W so that n
2
∈ W − J. Suppose that
n
2
6∈ Z so that hn
2
i is not no rmal in G. By Proposition 1.7, hn
2
i must be a
maximal cyclic subgroup in G, which is not the case. Thus, n
2
∈ Z and so
Φ(N) = N
′
= Z. Let Q
∗
= ha, bi be a maximal subgroup of N which does not
contain J = hui so that Q
∗
∼
=
Q
8
and N = J × Q
∗
. Suppose that there is an
element x ∈ G − N such that o(x) ≤ 4. Then x
2
∈ W and D = hW, xi
∼
=
D
8
.
There is i ∈ D − N such that i is a noncentral involution. By Proposition 1.7,
|G : C
G
(i)| = 2 and the fact that [i, J] 6= {1} gives that C
N
(i) covers N/J so