Answer to a question on $A$-groups, arisen from the study of Steinitz classes

Abstract

In this short note we answer to a question of group theory from arXiv:0910.5080. In that paper the author describes the set of realizable Steinitz classes for so-called $A'$-groups of odd order, obtained iterating some direct and semidirect products. It is clear from the definition that $A'$-groups are solvable $A$-groups, but the author left as an open question whether the converse is true. In this note we prove the converse when only two prime numbers divide the order of the group, but we show it to be false in general, producing a family of counterexamples which are metabelian and with exactly three primes dividing the order. Steinitz classes which are realizable for such groups in the family are computed and verified to form a group.