On the number of generators needed for free profinite products of finite groups

Abstract

We provide lower estimates on the minimal number of generators of the profinite completion of free products of finite groups. In particular, we show that if C_1,...,C_n are finite cyclic groups then there exists a finite group G which is generated by isomorphic copies of C_1,...,C_n and the minimal number of generators of G is n.

14 pages