Finite groups with four conjugacy classes of maximal subgroups (Q6076272)

A finite group with exactly \(n\) conjugacy classes of maximal subgroups (\(n \in \mathbb{N}\)) is called an \(n\mathsf{M}\)-group. A description of \(2\mathsf{M}\)-groups was given by \textit{G. Pazderski} [Math. Nachr. 26, 307--319 (1964; Zbl 0126.05203)] (they are the groups \(G=P\rtimes \langle a \rangle\), where \(P\) and \(\langle a\rangle\) are non-trivial Sylow subgroups of \(G\) and \(\langle a \rangle\) acts irreducibly on \(P/\Phi(P)\)). The \(3\mathsf{M}\)-groups were described by the first author in [Math. USSR, Sb. 59, No. 1, 223--236 (1988; Zbl 0626.20007)]. The purpose of the article under review is to complete the classification of \(4\mathsf{M}\)-groups groups started by the first author. The objective is achieved in Theorems 1.1 and 1.3 which present a long list of cases. An interesting property of solvable \(n\mathsf{M}\)-groups is obtained in Theorem 1.2: Let \(G\) be a non-trivial solvable \(n\mathsf{M}\)-group. Then (1) \(\Phi(F(G)) \leq \Phi(G) < F(G)\) and the quotient \(G/F(G)\) is a \(k\mathsf{M}\)-group for some \(k<n\); (2) the number of prime divisors of the order of \(G\) and the Fitting length of \(G\) are at most \(n\) and both bounds are attained.