Skip to main content
Log in

Rational sets in finitely generated nilpotent groups

  • Published:
Algebra and Logic Aims and scope

Abstract

We deal with a class of rational subsets of a group, that is, the least class of its subsets which contains all finite subsets and is closed under taking union. a product of two sets, and under generating of a submonoid by a set. It is proved that the class of rational subsets of a finitely generated nilpotent group G is a Boolean algebra iff G is Abelian-by-finite. We also study the question asking under which conditions the set of solutions for equations in groups will be rational. It is shown that the set of solutions for an arbitrary equation in one variable in a finitely generated nilpotent group of class 2 is rational. And we give an example of an equation in one variable in a free nilpotent group of nilpotency class 3 and rank 2 whose set of solutions is not rational.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. R. H. Gilman, inFormal Languages and Infinite Groups, DIMACS Ser. Discr. Math. Theor. Comp. Sc., Vol. 25, Am. Math. Soc., Providence, RI (1996), pp. 27–51.

    Google Scholar 

  2. S. M. Gersten and H. Short, “Rational subgroups of biautomatic groups,”Ann. Math., II. Ser.,134, No. 1, 125–158 (1991).

    Article  MATH  MathSciNet  Google Scholar 

  3. R. C. Lyndon and P. E. Schupp,Combinatorial Group Theory, Springer, Berlin (1977).

    MATH  Google Scholar 

Download references

Authors

Additional information

Supported by RFFR grant No. 98-01-00932.

Translated fromAlgebra i Logika, Vol. 39, No. 4, pp. 379–394, July–August, 2000.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Bazhenova, G.A. Rational sets in finitely generated nilpotent groups. Algebr Logic 39, 215–223 (2000). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02681647

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02681647

Keywords

Navigation