Two theorems about equationally Noetherian groups (Q1368050)

For a group \(G\), denote by \(G[x_1,\ldots,x_n]\) the free product of \(G\) with the free group having \(\{x_1,\ldots,x_n\}\) as generators. Let \(f=f(x_1,\ldots,x_n,g_1,\ldots,g_m)\in G[x_1,\ldots,x_n]\). Then \(v=(v_1,\ldots,v_n)\), where \(v_i\in G\), is said to be a root of \(f\) if \(f(v)=f(v_1,\ldots,v_n,g_1,\ldots,g_m)=1\). If \(S\) is a subset of \(G[x_1,\ldots,x_n]\), then \(v\) is a root of \(S\) if it is a root of every element of \(S\). The algebraic set over \(G\) defined by \(S\) is the set \(V(S)\) of all roots of \(S\). The group \(G\) is said to be equationally noetherian if for every \(S\) there is a finite subset \(S_0\) of \(G[x_1,\ldots,x_n]\) such that \(V(S)=V(S_0)\). This paper proves two results about equationally noetherian groups: 1. Let \(G\) be a group with an equationally noetherian subgroup of finite index. Then \(G\) is equationally noetherian. 2. Let \(G\) be equationally noetherian, and let \(N\) be a normal subgroup of \(G\) which is a finite union of algebraic sets over \(G\). Then \(G/N\) is also equationally noetherian. The former result answers a question of \textit{R. M. Bryant} [J. Algebra 48, 340-346 (1977; Zbl 0408.20022)]. Since the centre of a group is an algebraic set, the latter result has as a corollary that the quotient by its centre of an equationally noetherian group is also equationally noetherian, however, in the last section of this paper examples are constructed which show that the converse of this result does not hold, and also that there exist finitely generated nilpotent-by-abelian groups which are not equationally noetherian. This answers another of Bryant's questions. Finally an example is given of a direct product of finite (and hence equationally noetherian) groups which is not equationally noetherian.