Powering-invariance does not satisfy lower central series condition in nilpotent group

From Groupprops

This article gives the statement, and possibly proof, of a subgroup property (i.e., powering-invariant subgroup) satisfying a subgroup metaproperty (i.e., lower central series condition)
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This article gives the statement and possibly, proof, of a non-implication relation between two subgroup properties. That is, it states that every subgroup satisfying the first subgroup property (i.e., powering-invariant subgroup) need not satisfy the second subgroup property (i.e., LCS-powering-invariant subgroup)
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Statement

It is possible to have a nilpotent group G, a powering-invariant subgroup H, and a positive integer k such that γk(H), the kth member of the lower central series of H, is not a powering-invariant subgroup of γk(G), the kth member of the lower central series of G.

In fact, for any k>1, we can construct an example that works for that value of k.

Proof

Proof for the derived subgroup (i.e., k=2)

Suppose G is the direct product UT(3,Q)×Z. The first direct factor here is unitriangular matrix group:UT(3,Q) and the second direct factor is the group of integers. Let H be the subgroup UT(3,Z) inside the first direct factor. Then:

  • H is a powering-invariant subgroup of G, because G is not powered over any prime.
  • H is not a powering-invariant subgroup of G: H inside G looks like Z in Q, so it is not powering-invariant.

Proof for arbitrary k

Take G=UT(k+1,Q)×Z and let H=UT(k+1,Z) inside the first direct factor. Here, UT denotes the unitriangular matrix group.