Published online by Cambridge University Press: 18 May 2009
Let Г(1) denote the homogeneous modular group of 2 × 2 matrices with integral entries and determinant 1. Let (1) be the inhomogeneous modular group of 2 × 2 integral matrices of determinant 1 in which a matrix is identified with its negative.
(N), the principal congruence subgroup of level N, is the subgroup of
(1) consisting of all T ∈
(1) for which T ≡ ± I (mod N), where N is a positive integer and I is the identity matrix. A subgroup
of
(1) is said to be a congruence group of level N if
contains
(N) and N is the least such integer. Similarly, we denote by Г(N) the principal congruence subgroup of level N of Г(1), consisting of those T∈(1) for which T ≡ I (mod N), and we say that a sub group
of Г(1) is a congruence group of level N if
contains Г (N) and N is minimal with respect to this property. In a recent paper [9] Rankin considered lattice subgroups of a free congruence subgroup
of rank n of
(1). By a lattice subgroup of
we mean a subgroup of
which contains the commutator group
. In particular, he showed that, if
is a congruence group of level N and if
is a lattice congruence subgroup of
of level qr, where r is the largest divisor of qr prime to N, then N divides q and r divides 12. He then posed the problem of finding an upper bound for the factor q. It is the purpose of this paper to find such an upper bound for q. We also consider bounds for the factor r.