On the maximal size of independent generating sets of \(\text{PSL}_2(q)\) (Q1858297)

An independent set in a group \(G\) is a set of elements such that no element in the set may be generated by the remaining elements. Let \(\mu(G)\) be the size of an independent generating set for \(G\) of maximal size. Theorem. If \(G=L_2(q)\) with \(q=p^r\), then \(\mu(G)\leq\max\{6,\pi+2\}\) where \(\pi=\pi(r)\) is the number of distinct prime divisors of \(r\).