The large Davenport constant. I: Groups with a cyclic, index 2 subgroup. (Q2376542)

For a finite group \(G\) one defines the \textit{large Davenport constant} \(D(G)\) as the maximal length of a sequence of elements of \(G\) with unit product, not containing a proper subsequence with unit product, and the \textit{small Davenport constant} \(d(G)\) as the maximal length of a sequence of elements of \(G\) not containing any subsequence with unit product. One has always \(d(G)+1\leq D(G)\leq |G|\), and for \(G\) Abelian one has \(D(G)=d(G)+1\). The authors prove that if \(G\) has a cyclic subgroup of index \(2\), then \(D(G)=d(G)+|G'|\), where \(G'\) is the commutator subgroup of \(G\). Since it is known [\textit{J. E. Olson} and \textit{E. T. White}, Number Theory and Algebra; Collect. Pap. dedic. H. B. Mann, A. E. Ross, O. Taussky-Todd, 215-222 (1977; Zbl 0368.05009)] that in this case one has \(d(G)=|G|-1\) for cyclic \(G\), and \(d(G)=|G|/2\) for non-cyclic \(G\), a formula for \(D(G)\) follows.