Two remarks on the first-order theories of Baumslag-Solitar groups (Q1937744)

This short paper contains two remarks on Baumslag-Solitar groups and their first-order theories. Recall that the Baumslag-Solitar group \(BS(m, n)\) is given by \(\langle a, b\mid a^{-1}b^{m}a = a^{n}\rangle\). It is observed that any finitely generated group elementary equivalent to \(BS(1,n)\) is actually isomorphic to \(BS(1, n)\). It is also proved that \(BS(m, n)\) and \(BS(k, \ell)\) have the same first-order theory if and only if there is \(\varepsilon = \pm 1\) such that (\(m = \varepsilon k\) and \(n = \varepsilon \ell\)) or (\(m = \varepsilon \ell\) and \(n = \varepsilon k\)). (Actually considering the \textit{existential} theory is sufficient for this equivalence to hold.) This generalizes the classification of Baumslag-Solitar groups up to isomorphism obtained by \textit{D. I. Moldavanskij} [Ukr. Math. J. 43, No. 12, 1569--1571 (1991); translation from Ukr. Mat. Zh. 43, No. 12, 1684--1686 (1991; Zbl 0782.20027)].