On the derived length of groups with some permutational property (Q2640702)

A group G has property \(Q_ n\) if for every choice \(x_ 1,...,x_ n\in G\) there exist distinct permutations \(\sigma\), \(\tau\) in \(S_ n\) such that \[ x_{\sigma (1)}...x_{\sigma (n)}=x_{\tau (1)}...x_{\tau (n)}. \] If one can always choose \(\tau =1\), then G is said to have \(P_ n\). It is shown that groups with \(Q_ 3\) are metabelian. Moreover, the derived length of soluble groups with \(Q_ n\) (resp. \(P_ n)\) is \(\leq (n-2)^ 2(n+1)/2\) (resp. \(\leq 2n-6)\). The latter is one of the few results in this area that are valid for all n. It seems open whether the bounds given are best possible for \(n\geq 4\) (resp. \(n\geq 5)\).