Inverse zero-sum problems for certain groups of rank three (Q2300126)

For a finite abelian group \((G,+,0)\) with exponent \(\exp(G)\), consider the Erdős-Ginzburg-Ziv-constant \(s(G)\) and the \(\eta\) -constant, denoted by \(\eta(G).\) The exact values of these constants are known only for groups of rank at most two and for a some special types other groups. \textit{Y. Fan} et al. [Integers 13, Paper A52, 8 p. (2013; Zbl 1283.11052)] and \textit{Y. Fan} et al. [J. Number Theory 131, No. 10, 1864--1874 (2011; Zbl 1284.11047)] have obtained the exact values for groups of the form \(C_{2} \oplus C_{2} \oplus C_{2n}.\) The associated inverse problems consist in determining all sequences of length \(s(G)-1\) (respectively \( \eta(G)-1\)) that have no zero-sum subsequence of length \(\exp(G)\) (respectively of length at most \(\exp(G) \) and at least 1). For \(\eta(G)\) the inverse problem has been solved for groups of rank at most two. For \(s(G)\) the inverse problem has been solved for cyclic groups, and for groups of rank at most two. \textit{W. A. Schmid} [Q. J. Math. 63, No. 2, 477--487 (2012; Zbl 1252.20026)] has obtained some partial results supporting an existing conjecture. In the current paper, for groups of the form \(C_{2} \oplus C_{2} \oplus C_{2n}\), the inverse problems associated to \(\eta(G)\) and to \(s(G)\) have been solved. Using the structure of minimal zero-sum sequences of maximal length for this type of groups, the inverse problem associated to \(\eta(G)\) is solved. \textit{W. Gao} and \textit{A. Geroldinger} [Period. Math. Hung. 38, No. 3, 179--211 (1999; Zbl 0980.11014)] and \textit{C. Reiher} [Ramanujan J. 13, No. 1--3, 333--337 (2007; Zbl 1126.11011)] had used a similar approach to solve the inverse problem for groups of rank two. To solve the problem for Erdős-Ginzburg-Ziv-constant the result for \(\eta\) constant has been used. The well-known results on the inverse problem for cyclic groups and the ideas used in the proofs of the corresponding direct results have been used to prove the results in this paper.