Finite groups all of whose maximal subgroups have almost odd index (Q6905564)

An integer not divisible by \(4\) is called almost odd. The authors extend classical results on groups with odd character degrees, conjugacy class sizes and maximal subgroup indices by classifying finite groups whose maximal subgroups have almost odd index.\N\NFor almost simple groups \(G\) with simple socle \(S\), Theorem 2.1 shows that every maximal subgroup has almost odd index if and only if \(G \cong A_6, S_6, A_7, \text{PSU}_3(5), \text{PSU}_3(5).2\) or \(S\) belongs to \(\text{PSL}_2(q)\) with \(q \equiv 5 \pmod{8}\) or \(G_2(q)\) with \(q = 5^{2n+1}\) (\(n \geq 0, n \neq 1\)). The proof uses the classification of finite simple groups.\N\NFor solvable groups, Theorem 1.2 shows that if \(p\) is the smallest prime dividing \(|G|\), then every maximal subgroup has index not divisible by \(p^2\) if and only if \(G\) has a normal \(p\)-complement.\N\NFor general finite groups, Theorem 1.3 describes the quotient \(G/O_{2',2}(G)\): its commutator subgroup is a direct product of simple groups from Theorem 2.1 and its Sylow \(2\)-subgroups have derived length at most \(2\).\N\NAs applications, Theorem 1.4 gives a \(2\)-nilpotency criterion: if every maximal subgroup has index not divisible by \(3\) or \(4\), then \(G\) has a normal \(2\)-complement. Theorem 1.5 shows that if \(p\) is the smallest prime dividing \(|G|\), then \(G\) has a normal \(p\)-complement if and only if for every second maximal subgroup \(H\), the index \(|G:H|\) is a power of \(p\) or is not divisible by \(p^{2}\).