Words and characters in finite \(p\)-groups (Q2357520)

Given a group word \(w\) in \(k\) variables, a finite group \(G\) and \(g\in G\), denote by \(N_{w,G}\) the number on \(k\)-tuples \((g_1,\dots,g_k)\) of elements of \(G\) such that \(w(g_1,\dots,g_k)=g\). In what follows, let \(\text{cl}(G)=2\). Furthermore, let \(G_w\) be the set of values taken by \(w\) on \(G\). Then \(N_{w,G}(1)\geq |G|^{k-1}\). This inequality can be improved to \(|N_{w,G}(1)\geq |G|^k/|G_w|\). This last result is explained using the fact that the functions \(N_{w,G}\) are characters in the case under consideration. The paper is finished by the problem of studying the groups \(G\) with \(N_{w,G}(g)\geq |G|^{k-1}\) for \(g\in G_w\).