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The Feit-Thompson conjecture states: If $p<q$ are primes, then $\frac{q^p-1}{q-1}$ does not divide $\frac{p^q-1}{p-1}$.

On page xiii of these proceedings of a conference at the University of Yamanashi (Japan) that took place in October of 2017, a proof of the Feit-Thompson conjecture was announced.

Questions:

  • I heard that this would greatly simplify the Feit–Thompson theorem on odd order groups. Can someone explain the simplification to someone who only is familiar with group theory on a basic algebra textbook level?

  • What other implications does the Feit-Thompson conjecture have?

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    $\begingroup$ It would be helpful to state the conjecture: if $p<q$ are primes, then $(q^p-1)/(q-1)$ does not divide $(p^q-1)/(p-1)$. Feit and Thompson mention in their announcement "A solvability criterion for finite groups and some consequences" that this conjecture would simplify the proof of the odd order theorem by "rendering unnecessary the detailed use of generators and relations". I don't know what they mean by that. $\endgroup$
    – Neil Strickland
    Commented Sep 13, 2017 at 9:45
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    $\begingroup$ I would guess that the answer to your question "Can someone explain the simplification to someone who only is familiar with group theory on a basic algebra textbook level?" is almost certainly no. But it would be very interesting to have an explanation of the simplification that would be comprehensible to someone who was familiar with the basic structure of the proof of the odd order theorem. $\endgroup$
    – Derek Holt
    Commented Sep 13, 2017 at 10:13
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    $\begingroup$ A small amount of information is available here: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Feit–Thompson_theorem#Step_3._The_final_contradiction $\endgroup$
    – David Roberts ♦
    Commented Sep 13, 2017 at 11:35
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    $\begingroup$ @DavidRoberts's link: Feit–Thompson theorem: The final contradiction (which sounds like the name of a movie sequel). $\endgroup$
    – LSpice
    Commented Sep 19, 2017 at 19:05
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    $\begingroup$ @JoséHdz.Stgo. cec.yamanashi.ac.jp/~ring/japan/abstract2017.pdf What's the status of the conjecture today? $\endgroup$
    – Thibaut Dumont
    Commented Dec 24, 2017 at 13:19

1 Answer 1

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It is not true anymore that a proof of this conjecture would lead to significant simplifications. Peterfalvi proved in 1984 a weaker version of this conjecture, which suffices to get rid of the chapter involving generators and relations in the original paper. Bender and Glauberman reproduce this argument in their book in one of the appendices, and it takes only two or three pages. Surprisingly, although the statement is about the solvability of a certain equation in finite fields, the proof is group theoretic and not number theoretic in nature. Moreover, this statement does not follow in an obvious way from standard results in number theory such as Weil's estimates. Anyway, it is highly questionable whether replacing a short, elementary argument by a reference to a deep theorem should count as a simplification.

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