Generation of a finite group with Hall maximal subgroups by a pair of conjugate elements

Abstract

For a finite group G, the set of all prime divisors of |G| is denoted by π(G). P. Shumyatsky introduced the following conjecture, which was included in the “Kourovka Notebook” as Question 17.125: a finite group G always contains a pair of conjugate elements a and b such that π(G) = π(〈a, b〉). Denote by \(\mathfrak{Y}\) the class of all finite groups G such that π(H) ≠ π(G) for every maximal subgroup H in G. Shumyatsky’s conjecture is equivalent to the following conjecture: every group from \(\mathfrak{Y}\) is generated by two conjugate elements. Let \(\mathfrak{V}\) be the class of all finite groups in which every maximal subgroup is a Hall subgroup. It is clear that \(\mathfrak{V} \subseteq \mathfrak{Y}\). We prove that every group from \(\mathfrak{V}\) is generated by two conjugate elements. Thus, Shumyatsky’s conjecture is partially supported. In addition, we study some properties of a smallest order counterexample to Shumyatsky’s conjecture.