Related papers: Christoffel words and Markoff triples
We define Markoff words as certain factors appearing in bi-infinite words satisfying the Markoff condition. We prove that these words coincide with central words, yielding a new characterization of Christoffel words.
We introduce a family of modules, called Markoff modules, generated by a cluster-mutation-like iterative process. We show that these modules are combinatorially similar to Christoffel words. Furthermore, we construct a bijective map between…
The elements of Markoff triples are given by coefficients in certain matrix products defined by Christoffel words, and the Markoff injectivity conjecture, a long-standing open problem (also known as the uniqueness conjecture), is then…
A triple (a,b,c) of positive integers is called a Markoff triple iff it satisfies the diophantine equation a2 + b2 + c2 = abc . Recasting the Markoff tree, whose vertices are Markoff triples, in the framework of intergral upper triangular…
We define a family of natural decompositions of Sturmian words in Christoffel words, called *reversible Christoffel* (RC) factorizations. They arise from the observation that two Sturmian words with the same language have (almost always)…
We introduce a parametrization of the conjugates of Christoffel words based on the integer Ostrowski numeration system. We use it to give a precise description of the borders (prefixes which are also suffixes) of the conjugates of…
We discuss certain matrices associated with Christoffel words, and show that they have a group structure. We compute their determinants and show a relationship between the Zolotareff symbol from number theory.
A triple (a, b, c) of positive integers is called a Markoff triple iff it satisfies the Diophantine equation a2+b2+c2=abc . Recasting the Markoff tree, whose vertices are Markoff triples, in the framework of integral upper triangular 3x3…
Motivated by the theory of trapezoidal words, whose sequences of cardinality of factors by length are symmetric, we introduce a bivariate variant of this symmetry. We show that this symmetry characterizes Christoffel words, and establish…
Sturmian words form a family of one-sided infinite words over a binary alphabet that are obtained as a discretization of a line with an irrational slope starting from the origin. A finite version of this class of words called Christoffel…
It is well known that Pythagorean triples can be parametrized by two triples of polynomials with integer coefficients. We show that no single triple of polynomials with integer coefficients in any number of variables is sufficient, but that…
Initially stated in terms of Beatty sequences, the Fraenkel conjecture can be reformulated as follows: for a $k$-letter alphabet A, with a fixed $k \geq 3$, there exists a unique balanced infinite word, up to letter permutations and shifts,…
We introduce and study natural derivatives for Christoffel and finite standard words, as well as for characteristic Sturmian words. These derivatives, which are realized as inverse images under suitable morphisms, preserve the…
Perfectly clustering words are one of many possible generalizations of Christoffel words. In this article, we propose a factorization of a perfectly clustering word on a $n$ letters alphabet into a product of $n-1$ palindromes with a letter…
Performing both right and left multiplication operations using general regular matrix polynomials, which need not be monic and may possess leading coefficients of arbitrary rank, on a rectangular matrix of measures associated with mixed…
We classify all solution triples with $k$-Fibonacci components to the equation $x^2+y^2+z^2=3xyz+m,$ where $m$ is a positive integer and $k\geq 2$. As a result, for $m=8$, we have the Markoff triples with Pell components $(F_2(2), F_2(2n),…
We give a simple and independent proof of the result of Jack Button and Paul Schmutz that the Markoff conjecture on the uniqueness of the Markoff triples (a,b,c), where a, b, and c are in increasing order, holds whenever $c$ is a prime…
Sturmian sequences are well-known as the ones having minimal complexity over a 2-letter alphabet. They are also the balanced sequences over a 2-letter alphabet and the sequences describing discrete lines. They are famous and have been…
We exhibit combinatorial results on Christoffel words and binary balanced words that are motivated by their geometric interpretation as approximations of digital segments. We give a closed formula for counting the exact number of balanced…
Central, standard, and Christoffel words are three strongly interrelated classes of binary finite words which represent a finite counterpart of characteristic Sturmian words. A natural arithmetization of the theory is obtained by…