A method for determining the mod-$2^k$ behaviour of recursive sequences, with applications to subgroup counting

Abstract: We present a method to obtain congruences modulo powers of 2 for sequences given by recurrences of finite depth with polynomial coefficients. We apply this method to Catalan numbers, Fu\ss-Catalan numbers, and to subgroup counting functions associated with Hecke groups and their lifts. This leads to numerous new results, including many extensions of known results to higher powers of 2.