English

Maximal size of irreducible $\lambda$-quiddities over polynomial and formal power series rings

Combinatorics 2026-04-15 v1

Abstract

The study of the combinatorics of the modular group and of Coxeter's friezes naturally leads to the investigation of a matrix equation, sometimes referred to as the Conway-Coxeter equation. The solutions of size nn of this equation, called λ\lambda-quiddities, are nn-tuples of elements of a given ring BB. A detailled understanding of these objects relies on the notion of irreducible solutions, from which all λ\lambda-quiddities can be reconstructed. One of the central questions that naturally arises in this context is whether the irreducible λ\lambda-quiddities over BB have bounded size, and, if so, how to determine such a bound. In this paper, we aim to list results that address this question in the case of polynomial rings A[X]A[X] and K[X]\mathbb{K}[X], where AA is a finite commutative unitary ring and K\mathbb{K} is a commutative field. Moreover, the stated results will also make it possible to treat easily many situations in which AA is infinite. Finally, we shall give a complete answer to the initial question for all rings of formal power series.

Keywords

Cite

@article{arxiv.2604.12547,
  title  = {Maximal size of irreducible $\lambda$-quiddities over polynomial and formal power series rings},
  author = {Flavien Mabilat},
  journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:2604.12547},
  year   = {2026}
}