Divisibility properties of power LCM matrices by power GCD matrices on gcd-closed sets

Let e and n be positive integers and S={x₁,…,x_n} a set of n distinct positive integers. For x∈S, define . The n×n matrix whose (i,j)-entry is the eth power (x_i,x_j)^e of the greatest common divisor of x_i and x_j is called the eth power GCD matrix on S, denoted by (S^e). Similarly we can define the eth power LCM matrix [S^e]. Bourque and Ligh showed that (S)∣[S] holds in the ring of n×n matrices over the integers if S is factor closed. Hong showed that for any gcd-closed set S with |S|≤3, (S)∣[S]. Meanwhile Hong proved that there is a gcd-closed set S with max_x∈S{|G_S(x)|}=2 such that (S)?[S]. In this paper, we introduce a new method to study systematically the divisibility for the case max_x∈S{|G_S(x)|}≤2. We give a new proof of Hong’s conjecture and obtain necessary and sufficient conditions on the gcd-closed set S with max_x∈S{|G_S(x)|}=2 such that (S^e)|[S^e]. This partially solves an open question raised by Hong. Furthermore, we show that such factorization holds if S is a gcd-closed set such that each element is a prime power or the product of two distinct primes, and in particular if S is a gcd-closed set with every element less than 12.     

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.     

On Hong’s conjecture for power LCM matrices

A set S={x ₁,...,x _n } of n distinct positive integers is said to be gcd-closed if (x _i , x _j ) ∈ S for all 1 ⩽ i, j ⩽ n. Shaofang Hong conjectured in 2002 that for a given positive integer t there is a positive integer k(t) depending only on t, such that if n ⩽ k(t), then the power LCM matrix ([x _i , x _j ] ^t ) defined on any gcd-closed set S={x ₁,...,x _n } is nonsingular, but for n ⩾ k(t) + 1, there exists a gcd-closed set S={x ₁,...,x _n } such that the power LCM matrix ([x _i , x _j ] ^t ) on S is singular. In 1996, Hong proved k(1) = 7 and noted k(t) ⩾ 7 for all t ⩾ 2. This paper develops Hong’s method and provides a new idea to calculate the determinant of the LCM matrix on a gcd-closed set and proves that k(t) ⩾ 8 for all t ⩾ 2. We further prove that k(t) ⩾ 9 iff a special Diophantine equation, which we call the LCM equation, has no t-th power solution and conjecture that k(t) = 8 for all t ⩾ 2, namely, the LCM equation has t-th power solution for all t ⩾ 2.     

Matrices associated with arithmetical functions

Let f be an arithmetical function and S={x ₁,x ₂,…,x_n } a set of distinct positive integers. Denote by [f(x_i ,x_j }] 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. We will determine conditions on f that will guarantee the matrix [f(x_i ,x_j )] is positive definite and, in fact, has properties similar to the greatest common divisor (GCD) matrix

[(x_i ,x_j )] where f is the identity function. The set S is gcd-closed if (x_i ,x_j )∈S for 1≤ i j ≤ n. If S is gcd-closed, we calculate the determinant and (if it is invertible) the inverse of the matrix [f(x_i ,x_j )]. Among the examples of determinants of this kind are H. J. S. Smith's determinant det[(i,j)].     

Divisibility properties of power GCD matrices and power LCM matrices

Let a,b and n be positive integers and the set S={x₁,…,x_n} of n distinct positive integers be a divisor chain (i.e. there exists a permutation σ on {1,…,n} such that x_σ(1)|…|x_σ(n)). In this paper, we show that if a|b, then the ath power GCD matrix (S^a) having the ath power (x_i,x_j)^a of the greatest common divisor of x_i and x_j as its i,j-entry divides the bth power GCD matrix (S^b) in the ring M_n(Z) of n×n matrices over integers. We show also that if a?b and n?2, then the ath power GCD matrix (S^a) does not divide the bth power GCD matrix (S^b) in the ring M_n(Z). Similar results are also established for the power LCM matrices.     

Divisibility of determinants of power GCD matrices and power LCM matrices on finitely many quasi-coprime divisor chains

Let a, n ? 1 be integers and S = {x₁, … , x_n} be a set of n distinct positive integers. The matrix having the ath power (x_i, x_j)^a of the greatest common divisor of x_i and x_j as its i, j-entry is called ath power greatest common divisor (GCD) matrix defined on S, denoted by (S^a). Similarly we can define the ath power LCM matrix [S^a]. We say that the set S consists of finitely many quasi-coprime divisor chains if we can partition S as S = S₁ ∪ ? ∪ S_k, where k ? 1 is an integer and all S_i (1 ? i ? k) are divisor chains such that (max(S_i), max(S_j)) = gcd(S) for 1 ? i ≠ j ? k. In this paper, we first obtain formulae of determinants of power GCD matrices (S^a) and power LCM matrices [S^a] on the set S consisting of finitely many quasi-coprime divisor chains with gcd(S) ∈ S. Using these results, we then show that det(S^a)∣det(S^b), det[S^a]∣det[S^b] and det(S^a)∣det[S^b] if a∣b and S consists of finitely many quasi-coprime divisor chains with gcd(S) ∈ S. But such factorizations fail to be true if such divisor chains are not quasi-coprime.     

Divisibility of matrices associated with multiplicative functions

Let S={x₁,…,x_n} be a set of n distinct positive integers. For x,y∈S and y<x, we say the y is a greatest-type divisor of x in S if y∣x and it can be deduced that z=y from y∣z,z∣x,z<x and z∈S. For x∈S, let G_S(x) denote the set of all greatest-type divisors of x in S. For any arithmetic function f, 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 let (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. In this paper, we assume that S is a gcd-closed set and . We show that if f is a multiplicative function such that (f∗μ)(d)∈Z whenever and f(a)|f(b) whenever a|b and a,b∈S and (f(x_i,x_j)) is nonsingular, then the matrix (f(x_i,x_j)) divides the matrix (f[x_i,x_j]) in the ring M_n(Z) of n×n matrices over the integers. As a consequence, we show that (f(x_i,x_j)) divides (f[x_i,x_j]) in the ring M_n(Z) if (f∗μ)(d)∈Z whenever and f is a completely multiplicative function such that (f(x_i,x_j)) is nonsingular. This confirms a conjecture of Hong raised in 2004.     

On the divisibility of power LCM matrices by power GCD matrices

Let S = {x ₁, ..., x _n } be a set of n distinct positive integers and e ⩾ 1 an integer. Denote the n × n power GCD (resp. power LCM) matrix on S having the e-th power of the greatest common divisor (x _i , x _j ) (resp. the e-th power of the least common multiple [x _i , x _j ]) as the (i, j)-entry of the matrix by ((x _i , x _j ) ^e ) (resp. ([x _i , x _j ] ^e )). We call the set S an odd gcd closed (resp. odd lcm closed) set if every element in S is an odd number and (x _i , x _j ) ∈ S (resp. [x _i , x _j ] ∈ S) for all 1 ⩽ i, j ⩽ n. In studying the divisibility of the power LCM and power GCD matrices, Hong conjectured in 2004 that for any integer e ⩾ 1, the n × n power GCD matrix ((x _i , x _j ) ^e ) defined on an odd-gcd-closed (resp. odd-lcm-closed) set S divides the n × n power LCM matrix ([x _i , x _j ] ^e ) defined on S in the ring M _n (ℤ) of n × n matrices over integers. In this paper, we use Hong’s method developed in his previous papers [J. Algebra 218 (1999) 216–228; 281 (2004) 1–14, Acta Arith. 111 (2004), 165–177 and J. Number Theory 113 (2005), 1–9] to investigate Hong’s conjectures. We show that the conjectures of Hong are true for n ⩽ 3 but they are both not true for n ⩾ 4. Research is partially supported by Program for New Century Excellent Talents in University, by SRF for ROCS, SEM, China and by the Lady Davis Fellowship at the Technion, Israel Research is partially supported by a UGC (HK) grant 2160210 (2003/05).     

Integers divisible by sums of powers of their prime factors

For each positive integer j, let βj(n):=_∑p|npj. Given a fixed positive integer k, we show that there are infinitely many positive integers n having at least two distinct prime factors and such that βj(n)|n for each j∈{1,2,…,k}.     

Using Stepanov's method for exponential sums involving rational functions

For any additive character ψ and multiplicative character χ on a finite field F_q, and rational functions f,g in F_q(x), we show that the elementary Stepanov-Schmidt method can be used to obtain the corresponding Weil bound for the sum ∑_x∈Fq?Sχ(g(x))ψ(f(x)) where S is the set of the poles of f and g. We also determine precisely the number of characteristic values ω_i of modulus q^1/2 and the number of modulus 1.     

The chromatic number of 5-valent circulants

A circulant C(n;S) with connection set S={a₁,a₂,…,a_m} is the graph with vertex set Z_n, the cyclic group of order n, and edge set E={{i,j}:|i−j|∈S}. The chromatic number of connected circulants of degree at most four has been previously determined completely by Heuberger [C. Heuberger, On planarity and colorability of circulant graphs, Discrete Math. 268 (2003) 153-169]. In this paper, we determine completely the chromatic number of connected circulants C(n;a,b,n/2) of degree 5. The methods used are essentially extensions of Heuberger’s method but the formulae developed are much more complex.     

Characterization of the absence of a spectral gapfor a class of periodic Jacobi operators

Let q ∈ {2, 3} and let 0 = s₀ < s₁ < … < s_q = T be integers. For m, n ∈ Z, we put ¯m,n = {j ∈ Z| m? j ? n}. We set l_j = s_j − s_j−1 for j ∈ 1, q. Given (p₁,, p_q) ∈ R^q, let b: Z → R be a periodic function of period T such that b(·) = p_j on s_j−1 + 1, s_j for each j ∈ 1, q. We study the spectral gaps of the Jacobi operator (Ju)(n) = u(n + 1) + u(n − 1) + b(n)u(n) acting on l²(Z). By [λ_2j , λ_2j−1] we denote the jth band of the spectrum of J counted from above for j ∈ 1, T. Suppose that p_m ≠ p_n for m ≠ n. We prove that the statements (i) and (ii) below are equivalent for λ ∈ R and i ∈ 1, T − 1.     

Solving polynomial optimization problems via the truncated tangency variety and sums of squares

Let f,g_i,i=1,…,l,h_j,j=1,…,m, be polynomials on Rⁿ and S?{x∈Rⁿ∣g_i(x)=0,i=1,…,l,h_j(x)≥0,j=1,…,m}. This paper proposes a method for finding the global infimum of the polynomial f on the semialgebraic set S via sum of squares relaxation over its truncated tangency variety, even in the case where the polynomial f does not attain its infimum on S. Under a constraint qualification condition, it is demonstrated that: (i) The infimum of f on S and on its truncated tangency variety coincide; and (ii) A sums of squares certificate for nonnegativity of f on its truncated tangency variety. These facts imply that we can find a natural sequence of semidefinite programs whose optimal values converge, monotonically increasing to the infimum of f on S.     

Divisibility among power GCD matrices and among power LCM matrices on three coprime divisor chains

Let h be a positive integer and S?=?{x ₁,?…?,?x _h } be a set of h distinct positive integers. We say that the set S is a divisor chain if x _σ(1) ∣?…?∣ x _σ(h) for a permutation σ of {1,?…?,?h}. If the set S can be partitioned as S?=?S ₁?∪?S ₂?∪?S ₃, where S ₁, S ₂ and S ₃ are divisor chains and each element of S _i is coprime to each element of S _j for all 1?≤?i?<?j?≤?3, then we say that the set S consists of three coprime divisor chains. The matrix having the ath power (x _i , x _j ) ^a of the greatest common divisor of x _i and x _j as its i, j-entry is called the ath power greatest common divison (GCD) matrix on S, denoted by (S ^?a ). The ath power least common multiple (LCM) matrix [S ^?a ] can be defined similarly. In this article, let a and b be positive integers and let S consist of three coprime divisor chains with 1?∈?S. We show that if a?∣?b, then the ath power GCD matrix (S ^?a ) (resp., the ath power LCM matrix [S ^?a ]) divides the bth power GCD matrix (S ^?b ) (resp., the bth power LCM matrix [S ^?b ]) in the ring M _h (Z) of h?×?h matrices over integers. We also show that the ath power GCD matrix (S ^?a ) divides the bth power LCM matrix [S ^?b ] in the ring M _h (Z) if a?∣?b. However, if a???b, then such factorizations are not true. Our results extend Hong's and Tan's theorems and also provide further evidences to the conjectures of Hong raised in 2008.     

Rose window graphs underlying rotary maps

Given natural numbers n≥3 and 1≤a,r≤n−1, the rose window graph R_n(a,r) is a quartic graph with vertex set {x_i∣i∈Z_n}∪{y_i∣i∈Z_n} and edge set {{x_i,x_i+1}∣i∈Z_n}∪{{y_i,y_i+r}∣i∈Z_n}∪{{x_i,y_i}∣i∈Z_n}∪{{x_i+a,y_i}∣i∈Z_n}. In this paper rotary maps on rose window graphs are considered. In particular, we answer the question posed in [S. Wilson, Rose window graphs, Ars Math. Contemp. 1 (2008), 7-19. http://amc.imfm.si/index.php/amc/issue/view/5] concerning which of these graphs underlie a rotary map.     

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.     

Integer version of the multipath flow network synthesis problem

We consider the following integer multipath flow network synthesis problem. We are given two positive integers q, n, (1<q<n), and a non-negative, integer, symmetric, n×n matrix R, each non-diagonal element r_ij of which represents the minimum requirement of q-path flow value between nodes i and j in an undirected network on the node set N={1,2,…,n}. We want to construct a simple, undirected network G=[N,E] with integer edge capacities {u_e:e∈E} such that each of these flow requirements can be realized (one at a time) and the sum of all the edge capacities is minimum. We present an O(n³) combinatorial algorithm for the problem and we show that the problem has integer rounding property.     

Stability for the functional equation of cubic type

In this article, we establish the stability of the orthogonally cubic type functional equation (1.2) for all x₁,x₂,x₃ with xi⊥xj(i,j=1,2,3), where ⊥ is the orthogonality in the sense of Rätz, and investigate the stability of the n-dimensional cubic type functional equation (1.3), where n?3 is an integer.     

Strongly maximal antichains in posets

Given a collection S of sets, a set S∈S is said to be strongly maximal in S if |T?S|≤|S?T| for every T∈S. In Aharoni (1991) [3] it was shown that a poset with no infinite chain must contain a strongly maximal antichain. In this paper we show that for countable posets it suffices to demand that the poset does not contain a copy of posets of two types: a binary tree (going up or down) or a “pyramid”. The latter is a poset consisting of disjoint antichains A_i,i=1,2,…, such that |A_i|=i and x<y whenever x∈A_i,y∈A_j and j<i (a “downward” pyramid), or x<y whenever x∈A_i,y∈A_j and i<j (an “upward” pyramid).     

A localization inequality for set functions

We prove the following theorem, which is an analog for discrete set functions of a geometric result of Lovász and Simonovits. Given two real-valued set functions f₁,f₂ defined on the subsets of a finite set S, satisfying for i∈{1,2}, there exists a positive multiplicative set function μ over S and two subsets A,B⊆S such that for i∈{1,2}μ(A)f_i(A)+μ(B)f_i(B)+μ(A∪B)f_i(A∪B)+μ(A∩B)f_i(A∩B)?0. The Ahlswede-Daykin four function theorem can be deduced easily from this.