On the number of elements of given order in a finite \(p\)-group (Q810629)

\(G\) is a finite \(p\)-group of exponent at least \(p^ k\). For a subgroup \(M\) of \(G\), \(\Omega_ k(M)\) is the subgroup generated by the solutions in \(M\) of \(x^{p^ k}=e\), \(N_ k(M)\) is the number of such solutions in \(M\), and \(N_ k=N_ k(G)\). Theorem. For \(k\) at least 2, if \(N_ k\) is not divisible by \(p^{k+p}\), then exactly one of the following is true: (a) \(G\) is regular and the order of \(\Omega_ k(G)\) is less than \(p^{k+p}\); (b) \(G\) is a 2-group of maximal class; (c) \(G\) is a 3-group of maximal class, \(k=2\), and the order of \(G\) is not \(3^ 5\); (d) \(k=2\), \(p\) is at least 5, the order of \(G\) is \(p^{p+1}\), \(G\) is of maximal class; (e) The order of \(\Omega_ k(G)\) is \(p^ p\), \(G/\Omega_ k(G)\) is cyclic of order greater than \(p\); (f) \(G\) is a 2-group with a normal Abelian subgroup \(R\) of type \((2,2)\) such that \(G/R\) is of maximal class with a cyclic subgroup \(T/R\) of index 2, \(\Omega_ 1(T)=R\), and \(N_ k\) is congruent mod \(2^{k+2}\) to \(2^{k+1}\).