Kostrikin's theorem on restricted Burnside problem
Statement
Let be a prime number and any natural number. Then, the restricted Burnside group is a finite group. In other words, the answer to the restricted Burnside problem is yes for all prime numbers.
Facts used
- Exponent p implies associated Lie ring is (p-1)-Engel Lie algebra over field of p elements
- Minimum size of generating set of associated Lie ring equals minimum size of generating set of quotient of group by nilpotent residual
- Kostrikin's theorem on Engel Lie rings
- Reduction of restricted Burnside problem to associated Lie ring
Proof
Given: A prime number , a natural number
To prove: The restricted Burnside group is a finite group
Proof: Denote by the Burnside group and by the associated Lie ring to the Burnside group.
| Step no. | Assertion/construction | Facts used | Given data used | Previous steps used | Explanation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | is a -Engel Lie ring that is also an algebra over the field of elements. | Fact (1) | Fact-direct | ||
| 2 | is finitely generated | Fact (2) | , by definition, is generated by a set of size | ||
| 3 | is nilpotent | Fact (3) | Steps (1), (2) | Step-fact combination direct | |
| 4 | is finite | Fact (4) | Step (3) | Step-fact combination direct |