Analytic Proof of a Quartic Continued Fraction Identity for $8/\pi^2$ via Operator Decoupling
Abstract
We present a rigorous analytic proof of a generalized continued fraction (GCF) identity for the transcendental constant , 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 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 involving central binomial coefficients. The convergence is established through Pincherle's Theorem: the true minimal solution of the associated difference equation is , which satisfies , 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