The derived length of \(p\)-groups (Q1975150)

This paper is concerned with two questions about the derived length of a finite \(p\)-group. P.~Hall had given the inequality \(n\geq 2^k+k\) for a group of order \(p^n\) and derived length \(k+1\). This is here improved to \(n\geq 2^k+2k-2\). The second question concerns finite \(p\)-groups \(G\) that are the product of two subgroups \(A\) and \(B\), with \(|A'|=p^m\) and \(|B'|=p^n\). \textit{L.~S.~Kazarin} [Vopr. Teor. Grupp Gomologicheskoj Algebry 1982, 47-49 (1982; Zbl 0572.20011)] had shown that for the derived length \(d\) of \(G\) the inequality \(d\leq 2m+2n+2\) holds. \textit{M.~Morigi} [Rend. Semin. Mat. Univ. Padova 98, 101-105 (1997; Zbl 0899.20008)] has improved this to \(d\leq 2m+n+2\). The crucial case in Morigi's work is when \(A\) is Abelian, that is, \(m=0\). For this case the author obtains the bound \(d<2\log_2(n+2)\). It is not clear whether a bound of this type holds for the general case as well. For this the author obtains the following result: for every \(\varepsilon>0\) there is a \(C\), which depends on \(\varepsilon\), such that \(d\leq(m+1)C+\varepsilon n\).