Universal factorization property of certain polycyclic groups (Q2581282)

Every abelian group \(A\) has the universal factorization property that for any group \(G\), every homomorphism \(f:G\to A\) factors into \(f=f'\nu\) where \(\nu:G\to G'=G/[G,G]\) and \(f':G'\to A\) depends only on \(f\). It is well known that this property generalizes for every nilpotent and solvable group. In the papers [J. Pure Appl. Algebra 17, No. 2--3, 197--204 (2002; Zbl 1006.20024)] and [Forum Math. 17, No. 2, 297--313 (2005)], \textit{D. L. Gonçalves} and \textit{P. Wong} claimed that if \(G\) is any finitely generated group, then this factorization property can be generalized for torsion-free strongly polycyclic groups and torsion-free virtually-polycyclic groups, and then applied their claims to Nielsen coincidence theory of maps into infra-solvmanifolds. In the paper under review the authors give a counterexample to the above claims and show that these factorization claims are valid under the assumption that \(G\) has the maximal condition, i.e. that every subgroup of \(G\) is finitely generated. The authors also prove that under the assumption of maximality of the fundamental group of the source manifolds the applications to Nielsen coincidence theory are still possible.