Published online by Cambridge University Press: 18 May 2009
1. Introduction: Suppose the group G is generated by subnormal subgroups H and K, and that A, B are normal subgroups of finite index in H, Krespectively. The following question has been asked by J. C. Lennox: Under what circumstances is the subgroupJ = (A, B) subnormal in G? In particular, it is of interest to know when J has finite index in G, for, if this is the case, we may factor out by the normal core of J in G and apply Wielandt's theorem on joins of subnormal subgroups of finite groups [11] to deduce that J is subnormal in G. Here we prove the following result.