A characterization of nilpotent-by-finite groups in the class of finitely generated soluble groups (Q4338215)

Let \(a\), \(b\) be elements of a group \(G\). Suppose there is a relation of the form \[ w(a,b)[a,{_nb}]^{e_0}[a,{_{n+1}b}]^{e_1}\dots[a,{_{n+m}b}]^{e_m}=1 \] where \(m\), \(n\in\mathbb{N}\), \(e_i\in\mathbb{Z}\), \(e_0\), \(e_m\neq 0\), and \(w(a,b)\in\langle a^{\langle b\rangle}\rangle'\). Let \(\Phi_\ast(a,b)\) and \(\Phi^\ast(a,b)\) denote the least such integers \(|e_0|\), \(|e_m|\) respectively. If \(a\) and \(b\) satisfy no such relation, put \(\Phi_\ast(a,b)=+\infty=\Phi^\ast(a,b)\). The following results are proved. Theorem 1. Let \(G\) be a finitely generated soluble group. Then the following are equivalent: (i) \(G\) is polycyclic; (ii) \(\Phi^\ast(a,b)=1\) for all \(a\), \(b\in G\). Theorem 2. Let \(G\) be a polycyclic group. Then the following are equivalent: (i) \(G\) is nilpotent-by-finite; (ii) \((\Phi_\ast(a,b^k))_{k>0}\) is a bounded sequence for all \(a\), \(b\in G\).