Bases and decomposition numbers of finite groups (Q2276998)

Let \(G\) be a finite group. Denote by \(r(G)\) the least cardinality of a subset \(A\) of \(G\) satisfying \(A^2=G\). The following result is proved: If \(G\) is a finite group then \(r(G)\leq (4/\sqrt{3})| G|^{1/2}\). A generalization of this result is also proved: If \(G\) is a finite group then for every \(0\leq a\leq 1\) there are constants \(c_1,c_2\) and subsets \(A, B\) of \(G\) such that \(AB=G\), \(| A| \leq c_1 | G|^{\alpha}\), \(| B| \leq c_2 | G|^{1-\alpha}\), and \(c_1+c_2\leq 4/\sqrt{3}\).