Characterization of Abelian groups with a minimal generating set

Abstract

We characterize Abelian groups with a minimal generating set: Let τ A denote the maximal torsion subgroup of A. An infinitely generated Abelian group A of cardinality κ has a minimal generating set iff at least one of the following conditions is satisfied:

1. dim(A/pA) = dim(A/qA) = κ for at least two different primes p, q.

2. dim(t A/pt A) = κ for some prime number p.

3. Σ{dim(A/(pA + B)) ∣ dim(A/(pA + B)) < κ} = κ for every finitely generated subgroup B of A.

Moreover, if the group A is uncountable, property (3) can be simplified to (3') Σ{dim(A/pA) ∣ dim(A/pA) < κ} = κ, and if the cardinality of the group A has uncountable cofinality, then A has a minimal generating set iff any of properties (1) and (2) is satisfied.