Published online by Cambridge University Press: 08 October 2014
Let $G$ be a finite group, let ${\it\pi}(G)$ be the set of prime divisors of $|G|$ and let ${\rm\Gamma}(G)$ be the prime graph of $G$. This graph has vertex set ${\it\pi}(G)$, and two vertices $r$ and $s$ are adjacent if and only if $G$ contains an element of order $rs$. Many properties of these graphs have been studied in recent years, with a particular focus on the prime graphs of finite simple groups. In this note, we determine the pairs $(G,H)$, where $G$ is simple and $H$ is a proper subgroup of $G$ such that ${\rm\Gamma}(G)={\rm\Gamma}(H)$.