JOURNAL OF ALGEBRA 187, 7]15 Ž1997.

ARTICLE NO. JA976354

A Note on
Lie Centrally Metabelian Group Algebras
Meena Sahai and J. B. Srivastava

Department of Mathematics, Indian Institute of Technology, Hauz Khas,

New Delhi-110016, India

Communicated by A. W. Goldie

Received August 4, 1994

Let K be a field of characteristic 3 and let G be a non-abelian group. It is

shown that the group algebra KG is Lie centrally metabelian if and only if the
commutator subgroup G9 is cyclic of order 3. In view of the results of R. K. Sharma
and J. B. Srivastava Ž1992, J. Algebra 151, 476]486., this settles completely the
characterization of Lie centrally metabelian group algebras in characteristic not
equal to 2. Q 1997 Academic Press

1. INTRODUCTION

Let K be a field and let G be a non-abelian group, finite or infinite.

Further let LŽ KG. denote the associated Lie algebra of the group algebra
KG under the Lie multiplication w u, ¨ x s u¨ y ¨ u; u, ¨ g KG. The group
algebra KG is called Lie metabelian if the associated Lie algebra LŽ KG.
is metabelian. Also, KG is Lie centrally metabelian if LŽ KG. is centrally
metabelian as a Lie algebra. Levin and Rosenberger w1x have characterized
Lie metabelian group algebras. Sharma and Srivastava w2x have shown that
when Char K / 2, 3, the group algebra KG is Lie centrally metabelian if
and only if G is abelian. Further, they have shown that if Char K s 3 and
KG is Lie centrally metabelian then the commutator subgroup G9 is a
finite 3-Engel 3-group of exponent atmost 9. The aim, in this note, is to
drastically simplify this result and give a complete characterization in
Char K s 3. Our main results are:
THEOREM A. Let G be a torsion group ha¨ ing no element of order 2 and
let K be a field with Char K s 3 such that KG is Lie centrally metabelian.
Then KG is Lie metabelian.

7
0021-8693r97 $25.00
Copyright Q 1997 by Academic Press
All rights of reproduction in any form reserved.
8 SAHAI AND SRIVASTAVA

It is shown in w1x that if Char K s 3 and G is non-abelian, then KG is

Lie metabelian if and only if the commutator subgroup G9 is central cyclic
of order 3. It was observed in w2x that KS3 is Lie centrally metabelian but
not Lie metabelian when Char K s 3. Here S3 is not nilpotent and SX3 is
cyclic of order 3 but not central. Using Theorem A and some further
computations on group commutators arising out of certain Lie identities,
we get
THEOREM B. Let K be a field with Char K s 3 and let G be a non-abelian
group. Then KG is Lie centrally metabelian if and only if the commutator
subgroup G9 is cyclic of order 3.
Our notations are standard and details are given in w2x. In particular,
w u, ¨ x s u¨ y ¨ u; u, ¨ g KG and for g, x, y g G, Ž x, y . s xy1 yy1 xy, x g s
gy1 xg.

2. BACKGROUND LEMMAS

Recall that the group algebra KG is Lie centrally metabelian if and only
if ww x, y x, w u, ¨ x, z x s 0 for all x, y, u, ¨ , z g G. The following lemma is an
immediate consequence of Lemmas 2.1Žiii., 3.1Žiii., and 3.3 from w2x.
LEMMA 2.1 w2x. If Char K s 3 and KG is Lie centrally metabelian then
for all x, y g G, we ha¨ e
Ži. w x, y x 2 w x, y, y x s 0 s w x, y, y xw x, y x 2 ;
Žii. wŽ x, y . y 1, w x, y xxŽŽ x, y . y 1. s 0;
Žiii. Ž x, y . 3 s 1.
In what follows, we shall repeatedly use for all g 1 , g 2 g G, w g 1 , g 2 x s
g 2 g 1ŽŽ g 1 , g 2 . y 1. s ŽŽ gy1 y1 .
1 , g2 y 1. g 2 g 1.
LEMMA 2.2. If Char K s 3 and KG is Lie centrally metabelian then for
all x, y g G such that Ž x, y . / 1, Ž x, y, yx . s Ž x, y . or 1 and in the latter
case Ž x, y, y . s Ž x, y . or 1.
Proof. By Lemma 2.1Žii., we have

0 s Ž x, y . y 1, w x, y x Ž Ž x, y . y 1 .
s Ž x, y . , yx Ž Ž x, y . y 1 . Ž Ž x, y . y 1 .
2
s Ž x, y . , yx Ž Ž x, y . y 1 .
2
s yx Ž x, y . Ž Ž x, y, yx . y 1 .  Ž x, y . q Ž x, y . q 1 4 .
 LIE CENTRALLY METABELIAN GROUP ALGEBRAS 9

This gives Ž x, y, yx . 1 q Ž x, y . q Ž x, y . 2 4 s 1 q Ž x, y . q Ž x, y . 2 . Now

Ž x, y . / 1 and by Lemma 2.1Žiii., Ž x, y . 3 s 1, so Ž x, y, yx . s Ž x, y . or 1.
Consider the case when Ž x, y, yx . s 1. Clearly then Ž x, y . and yx com-
mute and by Lemma 2.1Ži., we have

0 s w x, y, y xw x, y x
2

s yx Ž Ž x, y . y 1 . , y  yx Ž Ž x, y . y 1 . 4 2
s w yx , y x Ž Ž x, y . y 1 . Ž yx . q yx Ž x, y . , y
3 2 2
Ž Ž x, y . y 1 . Ž yx . 2
2 2
s yxy Ž x, y .  Ž x, y, y . y 1 4  1 q Ž x, y . q Ž x, y . 4 Ž yx . ,

since by Lemma 2.1Žiii., ŽŽ x, y . y 1. 3 s 0. Thus Ž x, y, y . y 14 1 q Ž x, y .

q Ž x, y . 2 4 s 0. Since Ž x, y . / 1 and Ž x, y . 3 s 1, we have either Ž x, y, y . s
1 or Ž x, y, y . s Ž x, y ., as desired.
LEMMA 2.3. If KG is Lie centrally metabelian then for all x, y, z g G,
ww x, y, y xw y, z x, y x s 0 s ww x, z xw y, z, z x, z x.
Proof. It is easy to see that
w x, y, y xw y, z x , y s w x, y x , w y, yz x , y y y w x, y x , w y, z x , y
and
w x, z xw y, z, z x , z s w y, z x , w xz, z x , z y w y, z x , w x, z x , z z.

3. PROOF OF THEOREM A
LEMMA 3.1. Let G be a torsion group ha¨ ing no element of order 2 and
let K be a field with Char K s 3 such that KG is Lie centrally metabelian.
Then G is nilpotent of class at most 2.
Proof.
Step I. For all x, y g G, we have

Ž x, y, yx . s 1 s Ž xy, yx . , Ž xy1 , yy1 . s Ž x, y . , Ž x, y, y . s 1.

This is trivial if Ž x, y . s 1. So we assume that Ž x, y . / 1. By Lemma 2.2,
either Ž x, y, yx . s Ž x, y . or Ž x, y, yx . s 1. Now if Ž x, y, yx . s Ž x, y ., then
Ž x, y . y x s Ž x, y . 2 and we have
yx
Ž x, y, Ž yx . 2 . s Ž x, y, yx . Ž x, y, yx .
3
s Ž x, y . s 1, by Lemma 2.1 Ž iii . .
10 SAHAI AND SRIVASTAVA

However, this implies Ž x, y, yx . s 1 because the order of yx is odd. Thus

we always have Ž x, y, yx . s 1.
By Lemma 2.2, either Ž x, y, y . s Ž x, y . or Ž x, y, y . s 1. If Ž x, y, y . s
Ž x, y ., then Ž x, y 2 . s Ž x, y .Ž x, y . y s Ž x, y . 2 Ž x, y, y . s 1. But the order of
y is odd, so Ž x, y . s 1, contrary to our assumption.
Thus we have proved that Ž x, y, yx . s 1 and Ž x, y, y . s 1 always. Clearly
Ž xy, yx . s Ž x, y, yx . s 1 and
y1 y1
Ž x, y . s Ž yx . xy s xy Ž yx . s Ž xy1 , yy1 . .

Step II. If Ž x, y . / 1, then Ž y, z . g ²Ž x, y .: for all z g G. By Lemma

2.3, ww x, y, y xw y, z x, y x s 0, and by Step I, Ž g, h. commutes with both g and
h for all g, h g G. It then follows that for all x, y, z g G, we have
0 s w x, y, y xw y, z x , y
s yx Ž Ž x, y . y 1 . , y zy Ž Ž y, z . y 1 . , y
2
s y 2 x Ž Ž x, y . y 1 . zy Ž Ž y, z . y 1 . , y

s y 2 w x, y x Ž Ž x, y . y 1 . zy Ž Ž y, z . y 1 .
2

q y 2 x Ž Ž x, y . y 1 . w z, y x y Ž Ž y, z . y 1 .
2

3
s y 3 x Ž Ž x, y . y 1 . zy Ž Ž y, z . y 1 .
2 2
y y 2 x Ž Ž x, y . y 1 . zy Ž Ž y, z . y 1 . y.
This gives ŽŽ x, y . y 1. 2 ŽŽ y, z . y 1. 2 s 0 and we have  1 q Ž x, y . q
Ž x, y . 2 . 1 q Ž y, z . q Ž y, z . 2 4 s 0. It is now clear that Ž y, z . g ²Ž x, y .: if
Ž x, y . / 1.
Step III. G is nilpotent of class at most 2. Let x, y, z g G. We wish to
prove that Ž x, y, z . s 1. This is obvious if Ž x, y . s 1. So we assume
Ž x, y . / 1. By Step II, Ž y, z . g ²Ž x, y .: and so by Step I, Ž yy1 , zy1, x . s
Ž y, z, x . s 1. Further if Ž z, x . / 1, then by Step II, ²Ž z, x .: s ²Ž x, y .: and
Ž x, y, z . s 1 because z commutes with Ž z, x . by Step I.
Next if Ž z, x . s 1, then Ž z, xy1 . s 1 and we get Ž x, y, z . s 1 by using
Hall]Witt identity
y1 z x
Ž x, y, z . y Ž yy1 , zy1 , x . Ž z, xy1 , yy1 . s 1.

Proof of Theorem A
It is enough to prove that ww x, y x, w u, ¨ xx s 0 for all x, y, u, ¨ g G. This is
obviously true if Ž x, y . s 1 or Ž u, ¨ . s 1. So we assume that Ž x, y . / 1 and
 LIE CENTRALLY METABELIAN GROUP ALGEBRAS 11

Ž u, ¨ . / 1. Also, by Lemma 3.1, Step II, Ž u, x ., Ž ¨ , x ., Ž u, y ., Ž ¨ , y . g

²Ž x, y .: and if any one of these is non-trivial, then Ž u, ¨ . g ²Ž x, y .:. Now
since by Lemma 3.1, G9 is central in G, we have

w x, y x , w u, ¨ x s yx Ž Ž x, y . y 1 . , ¨ u Ž Ž u, ¨ . y 1 .
s w yx , ¨ u x Ž Ž x, y . y 1 . Ž Ž u, ¨ . y 1 .
s ¨ uyx Ž Ž yx , ¨ u . y 1 . Ž Ž x, y . y 1 . Ž Ž u, ¨ . y 1 .
s0
because Ž yx, ¨ u. s 1 if Ž u, x . s Ž u, y . s Ž ¨ , x . s Ž ¨ , y . s 1 and otherwise
Ž yx, ¨ u. s Ž y, u.Ž y, ¨ .Ž x, u.Ž x, ¨ . g ²Ž x, y .:, Ž u, ¨ . g ²Ž x, y .: and ŽŽ x, y .
y 1. 3 s 0.
COROLLARY 3.2. If K and G are as in Theorem A and KG is Lie
centrally metabelian, then G9 is central cyclic of order 3.
Proof. This can be computed directly from the above. Also it follows by
Theorem A and characterization given in w1x.

4. PROOF OF THEOREM B
LEMMA 4.1. Let G be an arbitrary non-abelian group and let K be a field
with Char K s 3 such that KG is Lie centrally metabelian. Then G9 is a finite
group of exponent 3 with G0 cyclic of order 3 if G0 / 1, Ž G9, G, G9. s 1,
and Ž G0, G . s 1.
Proof. KG is Lie centrally metabelian implies G9 is a finite 3-group.
Now KG9 is Lie centrally metabelian, so by Corollary 3.2 above, G0 is
central in G9 and is cyclic of order 3 if it is non-trivial.
Next for x, y g G9, it is easily seen that Ž xy . 2 s x 2 y 2 Ž y, x . and Ž xy . 3 s
x y y, x . 3 s x 3 y 3, since G0 is central in G9 and Ž y, x . 3 s 1 by Lemma
3 3Ž

2.1Žiii.. Again by using Lemma 2.1Žiii. and Ž xy . 3 s x 3 y 3 for all x, y g G9,

we conclude that the exponent of G9 is 3.
By the ‘‘Three Subgroup Lemma,’’ Ž G9, G, G9. s 1 implies Ž G9, G9, G .
s Ž G0, G . s 1. So it is enough to show that Ž G9, G, G9. s 1. Let y, z g G9
and g g G. We shall show that Ž y, g, z . s 1.
If y is in the centre of G9, then the identity
y1 z y
Ž y, g , z . g Ž gy1 , zy1 , y . Ž z, yy1 , gy1 . s 1
implies that Ž y, g, z . s 1.
Suppose y is not in the centre of G9. Then there exists x g G9 with
Ž x, y . / 1. Thus G0 s ²Ž x, y .: and Ž x, y . is central in G9. By Lemma 2.3,
12 SAHAI AND SRIVASTAVA

ww y, g xw x, y, y x, y x s 0, which on expansion gives

2
0 s gy Ž Ž y, g . y 1 . y 2 x Ž Ž x, y . y 1 . , y
3
s gy Ž Ž y, g . y 1 . y 3 x Ž Ž x, y . y 1 .
2
q gy Ž Ž y, g . y 1 . , y y 2 x Ž Ž x, y . y 1 . .

Since ŽŽ x, y . y 1. 3 s 0 and y 2 x commutes with Ž x, y ., we have

0 s  gy Ž y, g . , y y w y, g x y Ž Ž y, g . y 1 . 4 Ž Ž x, y . y 1 .
2

y
s  gy 2 Ž y, g . Ž Ž y, g , y . y 1 . y gy 2 Ž Ž y, g . y 1 . Ž Ž y, g . y 1 . 4
2
= Ž Ž x, y . y 1 .
s gy 2  Ž y, g . Ž Ž y, g , y . y 1 . y Ž Ž y, g . Ž y, g , y . y 1 . Ž Ž y, g . y 1 . 4
2
= Ž Ž x, y . y 1 . .

And so  1 q Ž y, g . q Ž y, g . 2 4Ž1 q Ž x, y . q Ž x, y . 2 4 s 0, since Ž y, g, y . g

G0 s ²Ž x, y .: implies

2 2
Ž y, g , y .  1 q Ž x, y . q Ž x, y . 4 s  1 q Ž x, y . q Ž x, y . 4 .

We conclude that Ž y, g . g ²Ž x, y .: s G0. But then Ž y, g, z . s 1 by the

centrality of G0 in G9 and Ž G9, G, G9. s 1, as desired.
LEMMA 4.2. If K, G, and KG are as in Lemma 4.1 and x, y g G, z g G9
with Ž x, z . / 1, then Ž y, z . g ²Ž x, z .:. Also, G9 is abelian.
Proof. Since Ž G9, G, G9. s 1, both Ž x, z . and Ž y, z . commute with z. By
Lemma 2.3, we have

0 s w x, z x yy1 , z, z , z s w x, z, z x yy1 , z, z q w x, z x yy1 , z, z, z .

Now w yy1 , z x s z ŽŽ z, y . y 1. yy1 , w yy1 , z, z x s z 2 ŽŽ z, y . y 1. 2 yy1 and

w yy1 , z, z, z x s z 3 ŽŽ z, y . y 1. 3 yy1 s 0. Also, w x, z, z x s z 2 x ŽŽ x, z . y 1. 2 .
Hence ŽŽ x, z . y 1. 2 ŽŽ z, y . y 1. 2 s 0 and Ž z, y . g ²Ž x, z .:.
Next, if G9 is non-abelian, then Ž x, y, z . / 1 for some x, y g G and
z g G9. Now from the above, Ž g, z . g ²Ž x, y, z .: : G0 for all g g G. By
Lemma 4.1, Ž G0, G . s 1, so G0 is central in G. But then
y1 z x
Ž x, y, z . y Ž yy1 , zy1 , x . Ž z, xy1 , yy1 . s 1
 LIE CENTRALLY METABELIAN GROUP ALGEBRAS 13

implies that Ž x, y, z . s 1, contrary to our assumption. Thus G9 must be

abelian.
LEMMA 4.3. If K, G, and KG are as in Lemma 4.1 and Ž x, g . / 1 for
some x, g g G, then Ž y, g . g ²Ž x, g .: for all y g G.
Proof. If Ž y, g . s 1, then clearly Ž y, g . g ²Ž x, g .:. So we assume that
Ž y, g . / 1.
Now for any pair of elements g 1 , g 2 g G if Ž g 1 , g 2 , g 2 . / 1, then by
Lemma 2.2, either Ž g 1 , g 2 , g 2 g 1 . s Ž g 1 , g 2 . / 1 or Ž g 1 , g 2 , g 2 . s Ž g 1 , g 2 .
/ 1. Then by Lemma 4.2, Ž g 1 , g 2 , g 3 . g ²Ž g 1 , g 2 .: for any g 3 g G and
hence Ž g 1 , g 2 , g 3 . s 1 or Ž g 1 , g 2 .. In particular, Ž g 1 , g 2 , g 2 . s 1 or Ž g 1 , g 2 .
always. We observe that if Ž g 1 , g 2 , g 2 . / 1, then Ž g 1 , g 2 . g 2 s Ž g 1 , g 2 .y1 s
y1
Ž g 1 , g 2 . g 2 . By Lemma 2.3, we have

0 s w x, g xw y, g , g x , g s w x, g , g xw y, g , g x q w x, g xw y, g , g , g x .

Case Ži.. Ž x, g, g . s 1 s Ž y, g, g .. In this case w x, g, g x s g 2 x ŽŽ x, g . y

1 , w y, g, g x s g 2 y ŽŽ y, g . y 1. 2 and w y, g, g, g x s g 3 y ŽŽ y, g . y 1. 3 s 0.
.2
y1
From the equation above, it is easy to see that ŽŽ x, g . y 1. 2 ŽŽ y, g . y y 1. 2
y1
y1
s 0 and hence Ž y, g . s Ž y, g . or Ž y, g . g ²Ž x, g .:. So Ž y, g . g
y

²Ž x, g .:.
Case Žii.. Ž x, g, g . s 1 but Ž y, g, g . / 1. In this case w x, g, g x s
g 2 x ŽŽ x, g . y 1. 2 and with some routine computation it is not difficult to
see that w y, g, g x s g 2 y ŽŽ y, g . y 1. and w y, g, g, g x s g 3 y ŽŽ y, g . y 1..
Substituting these values in the equation just above Case Ži. and simpli-
fying by using Ž x, g, g . s 1, we get
2
0 s g 2 x Ž Ž x, g . y 1 . g 2 y Ž Ž y, g . y 1 . q gx Ž Ž x, g . y 1 . g 3 y Ž Ž y, g . y 1 .
2 y1
s gxg 3 Ž g , x . Ž Ž x, g . y 1 . Ž Ž y, g . y y 1. y
y1
q gxg 3 Ž Ž x, g . y 1 . Ž Ž y, g . y y 1. y
y1
s gxg 3 Ž x, g . Ž Ž x, g . y 1 . Ž Ž y, g . y y 1 . y,
y1
since Ž g, x .ŽŽ x, g . y 1. 2 s ŽŽ x, g . y 1. 2 . So ŽŽ x, g . y 1.ŽŽ y, g . y y 1. s 0.
As in Case Ži., we conclude that Ž y, g . g ²Ž x, g .:.
Case Žiii.. Ž x, g, g . / 1 but Ž y, g, g . s 1. In this case w x, g, g x s
g 2 x ŽŽ x, g . y 1., w y, g, g x s g 2 y ŽŽ y, g . y 1. 2 , and w y, g, g, g x s 0. So we get
2
0 s g 2 x Ž Ž x, g . y 1 . g 2 y Ž Ž y, g . y 1 .
2
s g 2 x Ž Ž x, g . y 1 . Ž Ž y, g . y 1 . g 2 y,
14 SAHAI AND SRIVASTAVA

y1
since using Ž y, g . y s Ž y, g . or Ž y, g .y1 , we have y ŽŽ y, g . y 1. 2 s ŽŽ y, g .
y 1. 2 y. So ŽŽ x, g . y 1.ŽŽ y, g . y 1. 2 s 0 and Ž y, g . g ²Ž x, g .:.
Case Živ.. Ž x, g, g . / 1, Ž y, g, g . / 1. Here Ž x, g, g . s Ž x, g . and
Ž y, g, g . s Ž y, g .. So Ž x, g 2 . s Ž x, g .Ž x, g . g s Ž x, g . 2 Ž x, g, g . s 1. This
gives w x, g, g x y g w x, g x s w x, g x g q g w x, g x s w x, g 2 x s 0, i.e., w x, g, g x s
g w x, g x s yw x, g x g. Similarly w y, g, g x s yw y, g x g. In this case consider
the equation
0 s w x, g xw x, g , g x , w y, g x
s w x, g x , w y, g x w x, g , g x q w x, g x w x, g , g x , w y, g x
s y w x, g x , w y, g x w x, g x g q w x, g x g w x, g x , w y, g x
s y w x, g x , w y, g x , w x, g x g y w x, g xw y, g , g xw x, g x
s w x, g xw y, g x g w x, g x
s y w x, g xw y, g xw x, g x g
s ygx Ž Ž x, g . y 1 . gy Ž Ž y, g . y 1 . gx Ž Ž x, g . y 1 . g
gy y1 y 1
s ygxgy Ž Ž x, g . y 1 . Ž Ž y, g . y 1 . Ž Ž x, g . x g
y 1 . gxg.

Since Ž x, g . h s Ž x, g . or Ž x, g .y1 for any h g G as Ž x, g, h. g ²Ž x, g, g .:

s ²Ž x, g .:, we conclude that Ž y, g . g ²Ž x, g .:. This completes the proof.

Proof of Theorem B
Let x, y g G such that Ž x, y . / 1. We shall show that G9 s ²Ž x, y .:.
Let u, ¨ g G such that Ž u, ¨ . / 1; if any one of the commutators
Ž u, x ., Ž u, y ., Ž ¨ , x ., Ž ¨ , y . is non-trivial then it follows that ²Ž u, ¨ .: s the
subgroup generated by that non-trivial commutator s ²Ž x, y .:. Assume
that Ž u, x . s Ž u, y . s Ž ¨ , x . s Ž ¨ , y . s 1; then Ž x, y, u. s 1. We have
Ž xu, y . s Ž x, y . u Ž u, y . s Ž x, y . and Ž xu, ¨ . s Ž x, ¨ . u Ž u, ¨ . s Ž u, ¨ .. Since
²Ž xu, y .: s ²Ž xu, ¨ .: it follows that ²Ž x, y .: s ²Ž u, ¨ .: and G9 is cyclic.
For the converse let G9 be cyclic of order 3. Let x, y, u, ¨ , z g G. We
wish to prove that ww x, y x, w u, ¨ x, z x s 0. Clearly this is true if Ž x, y . s 1 or
Ž u, ¨ . s 1. Assume that Ž x, y . / 1 and Ž u, ¨ . / 1. Then G9 s ²Ž x, y .: s
²Ž u, ¨ .:. Now

w x, y x , w u, ¨ x s yx Ž Ž x, y . y 1 . , ¨ u Ž Ž u, ¨ . y 1 .
s yx¨ u Ž x, y . , Ž u, ¨ . q yx Ž x, y . , ¨ u Ž Ž u, ¨ . y 1 .
y ¨ u Ž u, ¨ . , yx Ž Ž x, y . y 1 .
q w yx , ¨ u x Ž Ž x, y . y 1 . Ž Ž u, ¨ . y 1 . .
 LIE CENTRALLY METABELIAN GROUP ALGEBRAS 15

Now the first term and the last term are 0 because G9 is cyclic of order 3.
Therefore,

w x, y x , w u, ¨ x s yx¨ u Ž x, y . Ž Ž x, y, ¨ u . y 1 . Ž Ž u, ¨ . y 1 .
y ¨ uyx Ž u, ¨ . Ž Ž u, ¨ , yx . y 1 . Ž Ž x, y . y 1 . .

Clearly ww x, y x, w u, ¨ xx s 0 if Ž x, y, ¨ u. s Ž u, ¨ , yx . s 1. Also if Ž x, y, ¨ u.
/ 1 and Ž u, ¨ , yx . / 1, then Ž x, y, ¨ u. s Ž x, y . and Ž u, ¨ , yx . s Ž u, ¨ ..
Writing Ž x, y . s Ž x, y . y 1 q 1 and Ž u, ¨ . s Ž u, ¨ . y 1 q 1 and using the
fact that DŽ G9. 3 s Ž0., we get

w x, y x , w u, ¨ x s w yx , ¨ u x Ž Ž x, y . y 1 . Ž Ž u, ¨ . y 1 .
s ¨ uyx Ž Ž yx , ¨ u . y 1 . Ž Ž x, y . y 1 . Ž Ž u, ¨ . y 1 .
s 0.
Finally, assume that Ž x, y, ¨ u. / 1 but Ž u, ¨ , yx . s 1. As before,
Ž x, y, ¨ u. s Ž x, y . and writing Ž x, y . s Ž x, y . y 1 q 1, we get

w x, y x , w u, ¨ x s yx¨ u Ž Ž x, y . y 1 . Ž Ž u, ¨ . y 1 . .
w x, y x , w u, ¨ x , z s w yx¨ u, z x Ž Ž x, y . y 1 . Ž Ž u, ¨ . y 1 .
q yx¨ u Ž Ž x, y . y 1 . Ž Ž u, ¨ . y 1 . , z
s zyx¨ u Ž Ž yx¨ u, z . y 1 . Ž Ž x, y . y 1 . Ž Ž u, ¨ . y 1 .
q yx¨ u Ž Ž x, y . y 1 . Ž Ž u, ¨ . y 1 . , z
s 0,
because DŽ G9. 3 s Ž0., Ž u, ¨ . s Ž x, y . or Ž x, y . 2 , and ŽŽ x, y . y 1. 2 s Ž x, y . 2
q Ž x, y . q 1 is central in KG. The other case, when Ž x, y, ¨ u. s 1 but
Ž u, ¨ , yx . / 1, can be handled similarly. Thus KG is Lie centrally
metabelian.

REFERENCES

1. F. Levin and G. Rosenberger, ‘‘Lie Metabelian Group Rings,’’ Preprint No. 60, Ruhr-
¨ Bochum, December 1985.
Universitat,
2. R. K. Sharma and J. B. Srivastava, Lie centrally metabelian group rings, J. Algebra 151
Ž1992., 476]486.