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Published online by Cambridge University Press: 20 November 2018
Let $\mathbf{A}$ be a $k$-element algebra whose chief factor size is $c$. We show that if $\mathbf{B}$ is in the variety generated by $\mathbf{A}$, then any abelian chief factor of $\mathbf{B}$ that is not strongly abelian has size at most ${{c}^{k-1}}$. This solves Problem 5 of The Structure of Finite Algebras, by D. Hobby and R. McKenzie. We refine this bound to $c$ in the situation where the variety generated by $\mathbf{A}$ omits type 1. As a generalization, we bound the size of multitraces of types 1, 2, and 3 by extending coordinatization theory. Finally, we exhibit some examples of bad behavior, even in varieties satisfying a congruence identity.