The complexity of the equation solvability and equivalence problems over finite groups

Abstract

We provide a polynomial time algorithm for deciding the equation solvability problem over finite groups that are semidirect products of a [Formula: see text]-group and an Abelian group. As a consequence, we obtain a polynomial time algorithm for deciding the equivalence problem over semidirect products of a finite nilpotent group and a finite Abelian group. The key ingredient of the proof is to represent group expressions using a special polycyclic presentation of these finite solvable groups.