Parity of the central partial quotient of the continued fraction expansion of $\sqrt{D}$

01 July 2024, Version 1
This content is an early or alternative research output and has not been peer-reviewed by Cambridge University Press at the time of posting.

Abstract

The form $D=(k)^2+1$, $k\in\mathbb{Z}^+$ is known to generate all positive non square integers $D$ having a continued fraction expansion $\sqrt{D}=[a_0;\overline{2a_0}]$. Another known form that generate all positive non square integers $D$ for the expansion of $\sqrt{D}=[a_0;\overline{a_1,a_1,2a_0}]$ is $D=(k\cdot a_1^2+k+\frac{a_1}{2})^2+2k\cdot a_1+1$, with $a_1$ and $k\in\mathbb{Z}^+$, and already we see that $a_1$ is restricted to even values for an integer solution $D$ to exist, and when $k=0$, the period is not primitive (the shortest). In this paper, a form that generate all non square integers $D$ for any given period $\ell=2n+1$ or $\ell=2n$, $D$ and $n\in\mathbb{Z}^+$, will be provided. It will be shown that the partial quotients $a_i$ ($00$ the period is always primitive. A study of all the sequences of continued fraction expansions of length $\ell$ where $a_n$ is incremented and the other partial quotients $a_i$ are fixed will be done, highlighting their cyclic nature.

Keywords

continued fraction
period length
central quotient
11A55

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Comment number 1, Sebastien Riche: Jul 01, 2024, 11:27

(The main result in the abstract was cut) It will be shown that the partial quotients a_i can be given any positive value for a solution to exist, and that the only restriction, if any, is on the parity of the central quotient a_n. When k=0, the period is sometimes not primitive and in three scenarios, it is never primitive. It will also be shown that for k>0 the period is always primitive.