On residual finiteness of free products of groups with amalgamated subgroup (Q1375021)

Let \(G\) be the amalgamated free product of groups \(G_\lambda\) with amalgamated subgroup \(H\). The following generalizations of a theorem of \textit{G. Baumslag} [Trans. Am. Math. Soc. 106, 193-209 (1963; Zbl 0112.25904)] are obtained. Theorem 1.1. If all the groups \(G_\lambda\) are finite and \(|G_\lambda|\) are bounded then \(G\) is residually finite with respect to conjugacy. Theorem 1.2. Suppose that \(H\) is finite and all \(G_\lambda\) are residually finite. The group \(G\) is residually finite if and only if each \(G_\lambda\) contains a normal subgroup \(U_\lambda\) of finite index such that \(U_\lambda\cap H=1\) and the indices \([G_\lambda:U_\lambda]\) are bounded. Similar generalizations of \textit{G. Higman}'s criteria for \(G\) to be a residually finite \(p\)-group [J. Algebra 1, 301-305 (1964; Zbl 0246.20015)] are obtained. As a corollary, a criterion is derived for \(G\) to be a residually finite \(p\)-group for the case in which \(G_\lambda\) are finitely generated abelian groups.