Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge / 2022 / iii / Paper 104 / 2 / b

Let $N$ be the subgroup whose upper-left block is $I_2$. It is a finitely generated nilpotent subgroup of the integer upper unitriangular group $U{T}_4(\mathbb{Z})$ and is normal in $L$. The block-diagonal matrixgenerates an infinite cyclic quotient, soFinitely generated nilpotent groups are polycyclic, and an extension of polycyclic groups is polycyclic. Hence $L$ is polycyclic.

Inside $L$, retain only $t$ and the entries in positions $(1,3)$ and $(2,3)$. They form a subgroupThe characteristic polynomial of $A$ is ${\lambda }^2-5\lambda +1$, so its eigenvalues areOne has modulus greater than one, and the resulting semidirect product has exponential growth. Every finitely generated virtually nilpotent group has polynomial growth, as does each of its finitely generated subgroups. Therefore $L$ cannot be virtually nilpotent.