Let K=Z/pZ and let A be a subset of \GL_r(K) such that is
solvable. We reduce the study of the growth of $A$ under the group operation to
the nilpotent setting. Specifically we prove that either $A$ grows rapidly
(meaning $|A\cdot A\cdot A|\gg |A|^{1+\delta}$), or else there are groups $U_R$
and $S$, with $S/U_R$ nilpotent such that $A_k\cap S$ is large and
$U_R\subseteq A_k$, where $k$ is a bounded integer and $A_k = \{x_1 x_2...b x_k
: x_i \in A \cup A^{-1} \cup {1}}$. The implied constants depend only on the
rank $r$ of $\GL_r(K)$.
When combined with recent work by Pyber and Szab\'o, the main result of this
paper implies that it is possible to draw the same conclusions without
supposing that is solvable.Comment: 46 pages. This version includes revisions recommended by an anonymous
referee including, in particular, the statement of a new theorem, Theorem
