Automorphism groups of semidirect products. (Q998812)

Let \(G=K\cdot H\) be a semidirect product with kernel \(H\). Then \(\Aut(G)=C_{\Aut(G)}(H)C_{\Aut(G)}(K)\) if and only if \(K^\theta\cap H=\{1\}\) and \([K,\theta]\leq C_G(H)\) for all \(\theta\in\Aut(G)\). This result is applied to the study of the automorphism group of a split metacyclic \(p\)-group for \(p>2\).