Retractable and coretractable abelian groups (Q2112314)

The concept of retractable module was introduced by \textit{S. M. Khuri} [J. Algebra 56, 401--408 (1979; Zbl 0399.16014)]. \textit{B. Amini} et al. introduced the concept of coretractable module [J. Aust. Math. Soc. 86, No. 3, 289--304 (2009; Zbl 1208.16011)]. The author explores retractable and coretractable abelian groups as modules over the ring of integers. An abelian group \(A\) is called retractable if for each of its proper nonzero subgroup \(B\) the condition \(\mathrm{Hom}(A, B) \ne0\) is satisfied. It is proved that an arbitrary abelian group \(A\) is retractable if and only if one of the following conditions is satisfied: \begin{itemize} \item[(1)] A is a torsion group, each nonzero \(p\)-component of which is not divisible. \item[(2)] \(A\) contains a nonzero free direct summand. \end{itemize} An abelian group \(A\) is called coretractable if for each of its proper subgroup \(B\) the condition \(\mathrm{Hom}(A/B, A) \ne 0\) holds. A description of coretractable abelian groups is obtained.