\(\exists\)-free groups (Q2644767)

For a group \(G\) let \(Th_{\exists}G\) denote the set of all \(\exists\)-sentences true in \(G\). If \(F_ 1\) and \(F_ 2\) are free groups of finite rank \(\geq 2\), then \(Th_{\exists}F_ 1=Th_{\exists}F_ 2\), because each of them contains the other. So one can speak about the \(\exists\)-theory \(Th_{\exists}F\) of free non-abelian groups. Call a group \(G\) \(\exists\)-free iff \(Th_{\exists}F=Th_{\exists}G\). Call a group \(G\) \(\omega\)-residually free if for every finite subset of non-unit elements of \(G\) there exists a normal subgroup \(N\) of \(G\) such that \(G/N\) is free and \(N\) has empty intersection with the given finite subset. In the paper under review it is proved that for a finitely generated group \(G\) the following conditions are equivalent: 1. \(G\) is \(\exists\)-free, 2. \(G\) is \(\omega\)-residually free, 3. \(G\) is residually free and does not contain \(F_ 2\times Z\), 4. The relation of commutativity in \(G\) is an equivalence. The analogs for \(\omega\)-free commutative rings are also proved.