Stably free modules over virtually free groups. (Q1759605)

Let \(F_m\) be the free group on \(m\) generators and \(G\) be a finite nilpotent group of non-square-free order. The author shows that for each \(m\geq 2\) the integral group ring \(\mathbb Z[G\times F_m]\) has infinitely many stably free modules of rank 1. A finitely generated \(A\)-module \(P\) is said to be stably free if there exist natural numbers \(n\) and \(m\) such that \(P\oplus A^n\cong A^m\). Provided that the ring \(A\) satisfies the invariant basis number property, i.e. \(A^k\cong A^r\) implies \(k=r\) [see \textit{P. M. Cohn}, Topology 5, 215-228 (1966; Zbl 0147.28802)], the rank of \(P\) is \(m-n\). Note that every integral group ring satisfies the invariant basis number property.