A result on certain sums of element orders in finite groups

Abstract

Given a finite group $G$ of order $p^nm$, where $p$ is a prime and $p\nmid m$, we denote by $\psi_p(G)$ the sum of orders of $p$-parts of elements in $G$. In the current note, we prove that $\psi_p(G)\leq\psi_p(C_{p^nm})$, where $C_{p^nm}$ is the cyclic group of order $p^nm$, and the equality holds if and only if $G$ is $p$-nilpotent of a particular type. A generalization of this result is also presented.