On \(p\)-groups with a maximal elementary abelian normal subgroup of rank \(k\) (Q6203802)

Let \(G\) be a finite \(p\)-group and \(d(G)\) the size of minimal set of generators \(G\). The \(p\)-rank \(r(G)\) of \(G\) is defined as \(r(G)=\max \{d(A) \mid A \leq G, A \text{ abelian } \}\). Following an idea of \textit{B. Sambale} [Arch. Math. 103, No. 1, 11--20 (2014; Zbl 1335.20020)], the authors obtain bounds for the number of generators of a \(2\)-group \(G\) in terms of \(r(G)=k\), which were previously known only for \(p > 2\). They also prove a theorem that is new even for odd primes. Namely, they show that if \(G\) has a maximal elementary abelian normal subgroup of rank \(k\), then for any abelian subgroup \(A \leq G\), the Frattini subgroup \(\Phi(A)\) can be generated by \(2k\) elements (\(3k\) when \(p = 2\)).