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Analytic Proof of a Quartic Continued Fraction Identity for $8/\pi^2$ via Operator Decoupling

General Mathematics 2026-03-18 v3

Abstract

We present a rigorous analytic proof of a generalized continued fraction (GCF) identity for the transcendental constant 8/π28/\pi^2, a result recently conjectured via the algorithmic framework of the Ramanujan Machine. Distinct from canonical GCFs derived from classical hypergeometric series, the identity at hand features a complex polynomial architecture characterized by quartic partial numerators. Our approach utilizes an algebraic decomposition of the second-order shift operator L=T2bnTan\mathcal{L} = \mathcal{T}^2 - b_n \mathcal{T} - a_n into a coupled first-order system. This decomposition enables an exact mapping of the higher-order recurrence to a cascaded system, from which the continued fraction is identified as the reciprocal of a binomial series for (arcsin)2(\arcsin)^2 involving central binomial coefficients. The convergence is established through Pincherle's Theorem: the true minimal solution of the associated difference equation is fn=An(8/π2)Bnf_n = A_n - (8/\pi^2)\,B_n, which satisfies fn/Bn0f_n/B_n \to 0, confirming absolute convergence of the continued fraction. This work provides a systematic operator-theoretic methodology for verifying automated conjectures of transcendental constants with high-degree polynomial coefficients.

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Cite

@article{arxiv.2602.03027,
  title  = {Analytic Proof of a Quartic Continued Fraction Identity for $8/\pi^2$ via Operator Decoupling},
  author = {Chao Wang},
  journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:2602.03027},
  year   = {2026}
}

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11 pages