Proof of a conjecture of Wiegold (Q1734213)

Let \(p\) be a prime, and \(G\) a finite \(p\)-group. The breadth of an element \(x \in G\) is \(b(x)\), where \(\left| G : C_{G}(x) \right| = p^{b(x)}\) is the index of the centraliser of \(x\) in \(G\). \textit{M. R. Vaughan-Lee} has proved in [J. Algebra 32, 278--285 (1974; Zbl 0291.20023)] that if the commutator subgroup of \(G\) has order greater than \(p^{n (n-1)/2}\), then \(G\) has an element of breadth at least \(n\). Under the same assumption, the author proves that \(G\) is generated by its elements of breadth at least \(n\), thereby confirming a conjecture of \textit{J. Wiegold} [J. Aust. Math. Soc. 10, 480--484 (1969; Zbl 0185.06102)]. More generally, it is proved that under the same assumption the set of elements of breadth at least \(n\) cannot be covered by two proper subgroups when \(p\) is odd, whereas for \(p = 2\) it cannot be covered by two proper subgroups, one of which is not maximal.