On the efficiency of some wreath products of groups (Q1372934)

Let \(\langle X\mid R\rangle\) be a finite presentation for a group \(G\). The difference \(|R|-|X|\) is called the deficiency of the given presentation. The deficiency of \(G\), denoted by \(\text{def}(G)\), is defined to be the minimum of the deficiencies of all finite presentations of \(G\). It is well known that \(\text{def}(G)\geq d(M(G))\) for finite groups \(G\), where \(d(M(G))\) denotes the minimal number of generators of the Schur multiplier \(M(G)\) of \(G\). A finite group is said to be efficient if def\((G)=d(M(G))\). Answering a question of B. Neumann in connection with finite groups with trivial Schur multiplier R. G. Swan exhibited in 1965 the first examples of inefficient groups. The author examines the efficiency of the standard wreath product \(G\wr C_2\), where \(G\) is a finite group. In particular, it is proved that if \(G\) is a finite noncyclic group having a deficiency zero presentation on \(g\) generators such that \(d(G/G')=g\), then \(G\wr C_2\) is efficient if and only if all the invariant factors of \(G/G'\) are even.