English

On the periods of generalized Fibonacci recurrences

Number Theory 2010-05-03 v1 Discrete Mathematics

Abstract

We give a simple condition for a linear recurrence (mod 2^w) of degree r to have the maximal possible period 2^(w-1).(2^r-1). It follows that the period is maximal in the cases of interest for pseudo-random number generation, i.e. for 3-term linear recurrences defined by trinomials which are primitive (mod 2) and of degree r > 2. We consider the enumeration of certain exceptional polynomials which do not give maximal period, and list all such polynomials of degree less than 15.

Keywords

Cite

@article{arxiv.1004.5439,
  title  = {On the periods of generalized Fibonacci recurrences},
  author = {Richard P. Brent},
  journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:1004.5439},
  year   = {2010}
}

Comments

13 pages. An old Technical Report, submitted for archival purposes. For further details, see http://wwwmaths.anu.edu.au/~brent/pub/pub133.html