On the derived series of some groups. (Q546225): Difference between revisions

In the 17th edition of the Kourovka Notebook (2010; Zbl 1211.20001) R. Mikhailov posed the following problems: 17.82. Is it true that in an arbitrary finitely presented group the intersection of the derived series coincides with its commutant? 17.86. Suppose that \(\langle x_1,x_2,x_3\mid r_1,r_2,r_3\rangle \) is a presentation of the trivial group. (a) Prove that the group \(\langle x_1,x_2,x_3\mid r_1,r_2\rangle \) is torsion-free. (b) Let \(F\) be the free group on \(\{x_1,x_2,x_3\}\) and \(R_i=\langle r_i\rangle^F\). Is it true that \(F/[R_1,R_2]\) is a soluble group? Both problems are in close connection to Whitehead's asphericity conjecture which states that subcomplexes of aspherical 2-complexes are aspherical. The paper gives answers to question 17.82 and 17.86 (b). The answer is ``no'' in both cases. Explicit examples are given.