A generalization of the Burnside basis theorem. (Q405803)

A group \(G\) is said to have property \(\mathcal B\) if all its minimal generating sets have the same size. The authors prove that every finite \(\mathcal B\)-group is solvable. More precisely a finite group \(G\) is a \(\mathcal B\)-group if and only if one of the following holds: (1) \(G\) is a \(p\)-group; (2) \(G\) is a semidirect product of an elementary abelian \(p\)-group \(P\) and a non trivial cyclic \(q\)-group \(Q\), where \(p\) and \(q\) are distinct primes, \(Q\) acts faithfully on \(P\) and \(P\) is a direct sum of isomorphic copies of one simple \(Q\)-module. Applications include a small variation of the characterization of matroid groups given by \textit{R. Scapellato} and \textit{L. Verardi} [Boll. Unione Mat. Ital., VII. Ser., A 5, No. 2, 187-194 (1991; Zbl 0788.20019)] and a new proof of the classification given by \textit{J. McDougall-Bagnall} and \textit{M. Quick} [J. Algebra 346, No. 1, 332-339 (2011; Zbl 1247.20040)] of the finite groups all of whose subgroups have property \(\mathcal B\).