Nonsingularity of matrices associated with classes of arithmetical functions on lcm-closed sets

Let S = {x₁, … , x_n} be a set of n distinct positive integers and f be an arithmetical function. Let [f(x_i, x_j)] denote the n × n matrix having f evaluated at the greatest common divisor (x_i, x_j) of x_i and x_j as its i, j-entry and (f[x_i, x_j]) denote the n × n matrix having f evaluated at the least common multiple [x_i, x_j] of x_i and x_j as its i, j-entry. The set S is said to be lcm-closed if [x_i, x_j] ∈ S for all 1 ? i, j ? n. For an integer x > 1, let ω(x) denote the number of distinct prime factors of x. Define ω(1) = 0. In this paper, we show that if S = {x₁, … , x_n} is an lcm-closed set satisfying , and if f is a strictly increasing (resp. decreasing) completely multiplicative function, or if f is a strictly decreasing (resp. increasing) completely multiplicative function satisfying (resp. f(p) ? p) for any prime p, then the matrix [f(x_i, x_j)] (resp. (f[x_i, x_j])) defined on S is nonsingular. By using the concept of least-type multiple introduced in [S. Hong, J. Algebra 281 (2004) 1-14], we also obtain reduced formulas for det(f(x_i, x_j)) and det(f[x_i, x_j]) when f is completely multiplicative and S is lcm-closed. We also establish several results about the nonsingularity of LCM matrices and reciprocal GCD matrices.     

A complete determination of Rabinowitsch polynomials

Let m be a positive integer and fm(x) be a polynomial of the form fm(x)=x²+x−m. We call a polynomial fm(x) a Rabinowitsch polynomial if for and consecutive integers x=x₀,x₀+1,…,x₀+s−1, |fm(x)| is either 1 or prime. In this paper, we show that there are exactly 14 Rabinowitsch polynomials fm(x).     

Symmetry and specializability in the continued fraction expansions of some infinite products

Let f(x)∈Z[x]. Set f₀(x)=x and, for n?1, define fn(x)=f(fn−1(x)). We describe several infinite families of polynomials for which the infinite product

     

On the Littlewood cyclotomic polynomials

In this article, we study the cyclotomic polynomials of degree N−1 with coefficients restricted to the set {+1,−1}. By a cyclotomic polynomial we mean any monic polynomial with integer coefficients and all roots of modulus 1. By a careful analysis of the effect of Graeffe's root squaring algorithm on cyclotomic polynomials, P. Borwein and K.K. Choi gave a complete characterization of all cyclotomic polynomials with odd coefficients. They also proved that a polynomial p(x) with coefficients ±1 of even degree N−1 is cyclotomic if and only if p(x)=±Φp₁(±x)Φp₂(±xp₁)?Φpr(±xp₁p₂?pr−1), where N=p₁p₂?pr and the pi are primes, not necessarily distinct. Here is the pth cyclotomic polynomial. Based on substantial computation, they also conjectured that this characterization also holds for polynomials of odd degree with ±1 coefficients. We consider the conjecture for odd degree here. Using Ramanujan's sums, we solve the problem for some special cases. We prove that the conjecture is true for polynomials of degree α²pβ−1 with odd prime p or separable polynomials of any odd degree.     

Equitable colorings of Kronecker products of graphs

For a positive integer k, a graph G is equitably k-colorable if there is a mapping f:V(G)→{1,2,…,k} such that f(x)≠f(y) whenever xy∈E(G) and ||f⁻¹(i)|−|f⁻¹(j)||≤1 for 1≤i<j≤k. The equitable chromatic number of a graph G, denoted by χ₌(G), is the minimum k such that G is equitably k-colorable. The equitable chromatic threshold of a graph G, denoted by , is the minimum t such that G is equitably k-colorable for k≥t. The current paper studies equitable chromatic numbers of Kronecker products of graphs. In particular, we give exact values or upper bounds on χ₌(G×H) and when G and H are complete graphs, bipartite graphs, paths or cycles.     

Note on the local growth of iterated polynomials

The local behavior of the iterates of a real polynomial is investigated. The fundamental result may be stated as follows: THEOREM. Let x_i, for i=1, 2, ..., n+2, be defined recursively by x_i+1=f(x_i), where x₁ is an arbitrary real number and f is a polynomial of degree n. Let x_i+1?x_i≧1 for i=1, ..., n + 1. Then for all i, 1 ≦i≦n, and all k, 1≦k≦n+1?i, $$ - \frac{{2^{k - 1} }}{{k!}}< f\left[ {x_1 ,... + x_{i + k} } \right]< \frac{{x_{i + k + 1} - x_{i + k} + 2^{k - 1} }}{{k!}},$$ where f[x_i, ..., x_i+k] denotes the Newton difference quotient. As a consequence of this theorem, the authors obtain information on the local behavior of the solutions of certain nonlinear difference equations. There are several cases, of which the following is typical: THEOREM. Let {x_i}, i = 1, 2, 3, ..., be the solution of the nonlinear first order difference equation x_i+1=f(x_i) where x₁ is an arbitrarily assigned real number and f is the polynomial \(f(x) = \sum\limits_{j = 0}^n {a_j x^j } ,n \geqq 2\) . Let δ be positive with δ^n?1=|2^n?1/n!a_n|. Then, if n is even and a_n<0, there do not exist n + 1 consecutive increments Δx_i=x_i+1?x_i in the solution {x_i} with Δx_i≧δ. The special case in which the iterated polynomial has integer coefficients leads to a “nice” upper bound on a generalization of the van der Waerden numbers. Ap _k -sequence of length n is defined to be a strictly increasing sequence of positive integers {x ₁, ...,x _n } for which there exists a polynomial of degree at mostk with integer coefficients and satisfyingf(x _j )=x _j+1 forj=1, 2, ...,n?1. Definep _k (n) to be the least positive integer such that if {1, 2, ...,p _k (n)} is partitioned into two sets, then one of the two sets must contain ap _k -sequence of lengthn. THEOREM. p_n?2(n)≦(n!)^(n?2)!/2.     

Max-min of polynomials and exponential diophantine equations

In this paper we study the maximum-minimum value of polynomials over the integer ring Z. In particular, we prove the following: Let F(x,y) be a polynomial over Z. Then, maxx∈Z(T)miny∈Z|F(x,y)|=o(T1/2) as T→∞ if and only if there is a positive integer B such that maxx∈Zminy∈Z|F(x,y)|?B. We then apply these results to exponential diophantine equations and obtain that: Let f(x,y), g(x,y) and G(x,y) be polynomials over Q, G(x,y)∈(Q[x,y]−Q[x])∪Q, and b a positive integer. For every α in Z, there is a y in Z such that f(α,y)+g(α,y)bG(α,y)=0 if and only if for every integer α there exists an h(x)∈Q[x] such that f(x,h(x))+g(x,h(x))bG(x,h(x))≡0, and h(α)∈Z.     

Linear recurrence relations for binomial coefficients modulo a prime

We investigate when the sequence of binomial coefficients modulo a prime p, for a fixed positive integer k, satisfies a linear recurrence relation of (positive) degree h in the finite range 0?i?k. In particular, we prove that this cannot occur if 2h?k<p−h. This hypothesis can be weakened to 2h?k<p if we assume, in addition, that the characteristic polynomial of the relation does not have −1 as a root. We apply our results to recover a known bound for the number of points of a Fermat curve over a finite field.     

On almost prime k-tuples

Let k?2 and ai,bi(1?i?k) be integers such that ai>0 and _∏1?i<j?k(aibj−ajbi)≠0. Let Ω(m) denote the total number of prime factors of m. Suppose has no fixed prime divisors. Results of the form where rk is asymptotic to klogk have been obtained by using sieve methods, in particular weighted sieves. In this paper, we use another kind of weighted sieve due to Selberg to obtain improved admissible values for rk.     

On the prime power factorization of n!

In this paper, we prove two results. The first theorem uses a paper of Kim (J. Number Theory 74 (1999) 307) to show that for fixed primes p₁,…,p_k, and for fixed integers m₁,…,m_k, with , the numbers (e_p1(n),…,e_pk(n)) are uniformly distributed modulo (m₁,…,m_k), where e_p(n) is the order of the prime p in the factorization of n!. That implies one of Sander's conjectures from Sander (J. Number Theory 90 (2001) 316) for any set of odd primes. Berend (J. Number Theory 64 (1997) 13) asks to find the fastest growing function f(x) so that for large x and any given finite sequence , there exists n<x such that the congruences hold for all i?f(x). Here, p_i is the ith prime number. In our second result, we are able to show that f(x) can be taken to be at least , with some absolute constant c₁, provided that only the first odd prime numbers are involved.     

Twisted Hecke L-values and period polynomials

Let f₁,…,fd be an orthogonal basis for the space of cusp forms of even weight 2k on Γ₀(N). Let L(fi,s) and L(fi,χ,s) denote the L-function of fi and its twist by a Dirichlet character χ, respectively. In this note, we obtain a “trace formula” for the values at integers m and n with 0<m,n<2k and proper parity. In the case N=1 or N=2, the formula gives us a convenient way to evaluate precisely the value of the ratio L(f,χ,m)/L(f,n) for a Hecke eigenform f.     

Periodic decomposition of measurable integer valued functions

We study those functions that can be written as a sum of (almost everywhere) integer valued periodic measurable functions with given periods. We show that being (almost everywhere) integer valued measurable function and having a real valued periodic decomposition with the given periods is not enough. We characterize those periods for which this condition is enough. We also get that the class of bounded measurable (almost everywhere) integer valued functions does not have the so-called decomposition property. We characterize those periods a₁,…,ak for which an almost everywhere integer valued bounded measurable function f has an almost everywhere integer valued bounded measurable (a₁,…,ak)-periodic decomposition if and only if Δa₁?Δakf=0, where Δaf(x)=f(x+a)−f(x).     

On pairs of commuting derivations of the polynomial ring in one or two variables

It is well known that each pair of commuting linear operators on a finite dimensional vector space over an algebraically closed field has a common eigenvector. We prove an analogous statement for derivations of k[x] and k[x,y] over any field k of zero characteristic. In particular, if D₁ and D₂ are commuting derivations of k[x,y] and they are linearly independent over k, then either (i) they have a common polynomial eigenfunction; i.e., a nonconstant polynomial f∈k[x,y] such that D₁(f)=λf and D₂(f)=μf for some λ,μ∈k[x,y], or (ii) they are Jacobian derivations

     

On the Bateman-Horn Conjecture

Let r be a positive integer and f₁,…,f_r be distinct polynomials in Z[X]. If f₁(n),…,f_r(n) are all prime for infinitely many n, then it is necessary that the polynomials f_i are irreducible in Z[X], have positive leading coefficients, and no prime p divides all values of the product f₁(n)···f_r(n), as n runs over Z. Assuming these necessary conditions, Bateman and Horn (Math. Comput.16 (1962), 363-367) proposed a conjectural asymptotic estimate on the number of positive integers n?x such that f₁(n),…,f_r(n) are all primes. In the present paper, we apply the Hardy-Littlewood circle method to study the Bateman-Horn conjecture when r?2. We consider the Bateman-Horn conjecture for the polynomials in any partition {f₁,…,f_s}, {f_s+1,…,f_r} with a linear change of variables. Our main result is as follows: If the Bateman-Horn conjecture on such a partition and change of variables holds true with some conjectural error terms, then the Bateman-Horn conjecture for f₁,…,f_r is equivalent to a plausible error term conjecture for the minor arcs in the circle method.     

Solution-free sets for linear equations

We study the maximum size and the structure of sets of natural numbers which contain no solution of one or more linear equations. Thus, for every natural i and k?2, we find the minimum α=α(i,k) such that if the upper density of a strongly k-sum-free set is at least α, then A is contained in a maximal strongly k-sum-free set which is a union of at most i arithmetic progressions. We also determine the maximum density of sets of natural numbers without solutions to the equation x=y+az, where a is a fixed integer.     

Stable manifolds for semi-linear evolution equations and admissibility of function spaces on a half-line

Consider an evolution family U=(U(t,s))_t?s?0 on a half-line R₊ and a semi-linear integral equation . We prove the existence of stable manifolds of solutions to this equation in the case that (U(t,s))_t?s?0 has an exponential dichotomy and the nonlinear forcing term f(t,x) satisfies the non-uniform Lipschitz conditions: ‖f(t,x₁)−f(t,x₂)‖?φ(t)‖x₁−x₂‖ for φ being a real and positive function which belongs to admissible function spaces which contain wide classes of function spaces like function spaces of Lp type, the Lorentz spaces Lp,q and many other function spaces occurring in interpolation theory.     

An even-order three-point boundary value problem on time scales

We study the even-order dynamic equation (−1)ⁿx^(Δ∇)n(t)=λh(t)f(x(t)), t∈[a,c] satisfying the boundary conditions x^(Δ∇)i(a)=0 and x^(Δ∇)i(c)=βx^(Δ∇)i(b) for 0?i?n−1. The three points a,b,c are from a time scale , where 0<β(b−a)<c−a for b∈(a,c), β>0, f is a positive function, and h is a nonnegative function that is allowed to vanish on some subintervals of [a,c] of the time scale.     

Exceptional sets related to Hayman's alternative

Let E be a subset of the complex plane C consisting of a countable set of points tending to ∞ and let k?1 be an integer. We derive a spacing condition (dependent on k) on the points of E which ensures that, if f is a function meromorphic in C with sufficiently large Nevanlinna deficiency at the poles, then either f takes every complex value infinitely often, or the kth derivative f(k) takes every non-zero complex value infinitely often, in C−E. This improves a previous result of Langley.