The Schur multiplier of \(p\)-groups with large derived subgroup. (Q992023)

In this brief article the author applies known results to bound the order of the Schur multiplier of a \(p\)-group with large derived group. In particular, suppose \(G\) is a \(p\)-group of order \(p^n\) with \(n\geq 4\) and the derived group of \(G\), denoted \(G'\), has order \(p^{n-2}\). Then the order of the Schur multiplier of \(G\), denoted \(\mathcal M(G)\), is bounded by \(|G'|\) if \(p\) is odd, and \(|G'|/2\) if \(p=2\). As a corollary the author improves a bound of \textit{M. R. Jones} [Math. Z. 127, 165-166 (1972; Zbl 0226.20016)] by showing that \(|\mathcal M(G)|\leq p^{\frac{1}{2}n(n-1)-\frac{1}{2}k(k+1)}\) where \(G\) has order \(p^n\) and \(G'\) has order \(p^k\).