Positions of characters in finite groups and the Taketa inequality

Abstract

We define the position of an irreducible complex character of a finite group as an alternative to the degree. We then use this to define three classes of groups: PR-groups, IPR-groups and weak IPR-groups. We show that IPR-groups and weak IPR-groups are solvable and satisfy the Taketa inequality (ie, that the derived length of the group is at most the number of degrees of irreducible complex characters of the group), and we show that any M-group is a weak IPR-group. We also show that even though PR-groups need not be solvable, they cannot be perfect.