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TheoremStatement: AI-adaptedProof: AI-adaptedprecheck passaudited 2026-08-26
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For each n≥1 there are exactly two extraspecial groups of order 21+2n

Statement

For each n≥1 there are exactly two extraspecial groups of order 21+2n up to isomorphism. Writing t(G) for the number of solutions of x2=1 in G, one of them has t=22n+2n and the other has t=22n−2n, and an extraspecial group of that order is determined up to isomorphism by which of the two values it takes.

Facts & Assumptions

Given: An integer n≥1 and an extraspecial group P of order 21+2n with Z(P)=⟨z⟩.

[F1]

Subgroups G1,…,Gr of G form an internal central product when they generate G and [Gi,Gj]=1 for i≠j (Internal central products of a finite family of subgroups).

[F2]

For groups G,H with central subgroups Z1≤Z(G), Z2≤Z(H) and an isomorphism α:Z1→Z2, the central product G∘αH is the quotient of G×H by N={(z,α(z)−1):z∈Z1} (The central product G∘αH of two groups along an isomorphism of central subgroups).

[F3]

Z(G):={z∈G:zg=gz for every g∈G} (The center Z(G) of a group).

[L1]

There are n≥1 subgroups P1,…,Pn of P, each nonabelian of order p3 with Z(Pi)=Z(P), which form an internal central product of P; such a family is admissible, ∣P∣=p1+2n, and peeling one member leaves an extraspecial group of order p1+2(n−1) with the induced admissible family (Every extraspecial p-group is an internal central product of nonabelian subgroups of order p3).

[L2]

For every prime p there are exactly two nonabelian groups of order p3 up to isomorphism; at p=2 they are Dih⁡(C4) and Q8 (For each prime there are exactly two nonabelian groups of order p3 up to isomorphism).

[L3]

Dih⁡(C4) and Q8 are extraspecial of order eight, with exactly six and exactly two solutions of x2=1 (Dih⁡(C4) and Q8 are extraspecial of order 8, with six and two solutions of x2=1 respectively).

[L4]

Q8∘Q8 is an internal central product of two subgroups isomorphic to Dih⁡(C4) meeting in its centre (Q8∘Q8≅Dih⁡(C4)∘Dih⁡(C4)).

[L5]

For extraspecial 2-groups, t(P1∘αP2)=(t(P1)t(P2)+(∣P1∣−t(P1))(∣P2∣−t(P2)))/2 (A product formula for the number of square roots of the identity in a central product of extraspecial 2-groups).

[L6]

Subgroups form an internal central product of G if and only if the multiplication map from their direct product is a surjective homomorphism; for two factors G≅G1∘id⁡G2 along the identity of G1∩G2 (Internal central products are the images of external ones).

[L7]

A central product of two extraspecial p-groups identified along their centres is extraspecial of order ∣E1∣∣E2∣/p (A central product of extraspecial p-groups identified along their centres is extraspecial).

[L8]

A finite p-group P is extraspecial when it is nonabelian and Z(P)=P′=Φ(P) is elementary abelian of order p (Special and extraspecial p-groups).

[L9]

For a finite group G and H≤G, ∣G∣=[G:H] ∣H∣ (Lagrange's theorem: ∣G∣=[G:H]∣H∣ for every subgroup H of a finite group G).

Proof

technique · induction
1.1L2L3L8base

At n=1 an extraspecial group of order eight is nonabelian, hence isomorphic to Dih⁡(C4) or to Q8; these have t=6=22+21 and t=2=22−21, so there are exactly two and the value of t tells them apart.

1.2ih

Assume, for every m with 1≤m<n: both values 22m+2m and 22m−2m are realised; every extraspecial group of order 21+2m has an admissible family with at most one quaternion member; if that number is k then t=22m+(−1)k2m; and two such groups with equal t are isomorphic.

1.3F2algebra

If ϕ:G→G′ and ψ:H→H′ are isomorphisms carrying the identified central subgroups to the identified central subgroups compatibly with the identifying isomorphisms, then ϕ×ψ carries N onto N′ and induces an isomorphism G∘αH→G′∘α′H′; when all four identified subgroups have order two the compatibility is automatic, since a group of order two has only one automorphism.

1.4F1L1L2

Let P be extraspecial of order 21+2n with n≥2 and take an admissible family P1,…,Pn; each member is nonabelian of order eight, hence isomorphic to Dih⁡(C4) or to Q8.

2.1F1F3F4L4L6step 1.3step 1.4

If two members Pi,Pj are isomorphic to Q8, then R=⟨Pi,Pj⟩ is an internal central product of them, so R≅Q8∘Q8 and R is an internal central product of two subgroups isomorphic to Dih⁡(C4) with the same centre Z(P); replacing Pi,Pj by those two subgroups leaves an admissible family with two fewer quaternion members. Repeating, P has an admissible family with k∈{0,1} quaternion members.

3.1F1L1L6L9step 2.1

Fix such a family. Since n≥2 and k≤1, some member P1 is isomorphic to Dih⁡(C4); peeling it leaves C=⟨P2,…,Pn⟩, extraspecial of order 21+2(n−1) with an admissible family of n−1 members of which k are quaternion, and P≅P1∘id⁡C along the identity of Z(P).

4.1L5L9step 1.2step 3.1

By the induction hypothesis t(C)=22(n−1)+(−1)k2n−1, and t(P1)=6=22+2; the counting formula then gives t(P)=22n+(−1)k2n.

5.1F3step 1.2step 1.3step 3.1step 4.1

If P and P′ are extraspecial of order 21+2n with t(P)=t(P′), their normalised families have the same k by step 4.1, so peeling a dihedral member from each gives C and C′ extraspecial of order 21+2(n−1) with equal t, hence isomorphic by the induction hypothesis, by an isomorphism carrying Z(C)=Z(P) onto Z(C′)=Z(P′); the peeled members are isomorphic too, so P≅P′.

6.1L5L7step 1.1step 1.2step 4.1step 5.1discharge-induction∎

Both values are realised: if C is extraspecial of order 21+2(n−1) then Dih⁡(C4)∘C is extraspecial of order 21+2n with t=22n+(−1)k2n where t(C)=22(n−1)+(−1)k2n−1, so the two groups supplied by the induction hypothesis produce one group of each value. With step 5.1 this gives exactly two isomorphism classes at order 21+2n and completes the induction.

Remarks

The quaternion factors are not an invariant of the group, only their parity is: two of them can always be traded for two dihedral factors, and it is exactly that trade which leaves the count t unchanged, since the two signs multiply.

The count t is an isomorphism invariant because an isomorphism carries solutions of x2=1 to solutions of x2=1; that is what makes the two classes provably distinct rather than merely differently presented.

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