On the distribution of Farey fractions and hyperbolic lattice points (Q5948345)

The authors derive from Möbius inversion an asymptotic formula for the number of pairs of consecutive fractions \(a'/q'\) and \(a/q\) in the Farey sequence of order \(Q\) such that \(a/q\), \(a/Q\) and \((Q-q')/q\) lie each in prescribed subintervals of \([0,1]\). They deduce the leading term in the asymptotic formula for the number of images of a given point under the action of the modular group in a given circle in the hyperbolic plane (``hyperbolic lattice point problem''). Such an asymptotic formula was obtained as a consequence of the Selberg trace formula [see \textit{D. A. Hejhal}, The Selberg trace formula for PSL(2,\(\mathbb R\)), Lectures Notes in Mathematics 548 and 1001 (1976; Zbl 0347.10018) and (1983; Zbl 0543.10020)]. The paper shows that the hyperbolic lattice point counting can also be done number theoretically.