The Number of Subgroup Chains of Finite Nilpotent Groups

Abstract

In this paper, we mainly count the number of subgroup chains of a finite nilpotent group. We derive a recursive formula that reduces the counting problem to that of finite p-groups. As applications of our main result, the classification problem of distinct fuzzy subgroups of finite abelian groups is reduced to that of finite abelian p-groups. In particular, an explicit recursive formula for the number of distinct fuzzy subgroups of a finite abelian group whose Sylow subgroups are cyclic groups or elementary abelian groups is given.

Keywords

• subgroup chain
• fuzzy subgroup
• cyclic group
• elementary abelian group