## Generalizations of the nonabelian group of order pq

If p < q are primes then there is a nonabelian group of order pq iff q = 1 mod p, in which case the group is unique. If p = 2 we obtain the dihedral group of order 2q, which generalizes first to the dihedral group of order 2n and then even further to the "generalized dihedral group" where the cyclic group of order n is replaced with any abelian group.

What if p > 2? Is there a natural generalization of the groups of order pq to a family of groups of order pn? Maybe more than one possible generalization? Is it maybe even meaningful to talk about the "generalized p-hedral group"?

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To define the generalized dihedral group , don't you need to start with an abelian group? – Dan Ramras Jun 27 2010 at 1:54
Sorry, yes, you're right. I've corrected the mistake above. – Robin Saunders Jun 27 2010 at 2:01
The group of order $pq$ is the semidirect product of $Z/p$ with $Z/q$ via the homomorphism $Z/p \to Aut(Z/q)$. The latter homomorphism also makes sense if $p,q$ are integers such that $Aut(Z/q)$ has an element of order $p$. – Martin Brandenburg Jun 28 2010 at 10:44
Thanks, Martin. So if I have a general group G such that Aut(G) has an element a of order n and define the semidirect product of Z/nZ with G via the homomorphism Z/nZ \to <a>, I suppose this is in some sense a "generalized n-hedral group". I wonder, under what conditions is such a semidirect product unique? – Robin Saunders Jun 28 2010 at 19:31

## 1 Answer

The nonabelian group of order $pq$ is given by generators $a$, $b$, with relations $a^p=1$, $b^q=1$, $a^{-1}ba=b^r$, where $r$ is chosen so $r^p$ is 1 mod $q$. If there is an element $r$ of order $p$ mod $n$, then there is a nonabelian group of order $pn$ with generators $a$, $b$, and relations $a^p=1$, $b^n=1$, $a^{-1}ba=b^r$.

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You can even let p be composite, and choose r mod n to have order dividing p. The groups with G' cyclic of order coprime to G/G' are given a nice description in Hall's Theory of Groups, Th 9.4.3, one of which is exactly your description. In general, he might be interested in metacyclic groups, which in the finite case have a fairly similar description (King and Liebeck have some nice parameterizations of the metacyclic p-groups). – Jack Schmidt Jun 27 2010 at 3:11