Groups of prime-power order with a small second derived quotient. (Q1406762)

The author is interested in deriving more information on finite \(p\)-groups \(G\) with \(p\) odd satisfying \(| G'/G''|=p^3\) and \(G''\neq 1\). He proves in Theorem 1.1 that for such \(p\)-groups \(G\) one must have \(| G'/\gamma_3(G)|=p\) and \(G''=\gamma_5(G)\). Theorem 1.2 shows that these \(p\)-groups are central products of two subgroups having special properties and Theorem 5.3 determines the possible structures for \(G'\). The same problem was studied for 2-groups by \textit{N. Blackburn} [Math. Proc. Camb. Philos. Soc. 101, 193-196 (1986; Zbl 0622.20011)]. The proofs in this paper make heavy use of commutator calculations and at places these are carried out using computer programs such as MAGMA or GAP.