A106273 Discriminant of the polynomial x^n - x^(n-1) - ... - x - 1.

1, 5, -44, -563, 9584, 205937, -5390272, -167398247, 6042477824, 249317139869, -11597205023744, -601139006326619, 34383289858207744, 2151954708695291177, -146323302326154543104, -10742330662077208945103, 846940331265064719417344, 71373256668946058057974997

Offset: 1

Author

T. D. Noe, May 02 2005

Keywords

• sign

Comments

This polynomial is the characteristic polynomial of the Fibonacci and Lucas n-step sequences. These discriminants are prime for n=2, 4, 6, 26, 158 (A106274). It appears that the term a(2n+1) always has a factor of 2^(2n). With that factor removed, the discriminants are prime for odd n=3, 5, 7, 21, 99, 405. See A106275 for the combined list.

a(n) is the determinant of an r X r Hankel matrix whose entries are w(i+j) where w(n) = x1^n + x2^n + ... + xr^n where x1,x2,...xr are the roots of the titular characteristic polynomial. E.g., A000032 for n=2, A001644 for n=3, A073817 for n=4, A074048 for n=5, A074584 for n=6, A104621 for n=7, ... - Kai Wang, Jan 17 2021

Luca proves that a(n) is a term of the corresponding k-nacci sequence only for n=2 and 3. - Michel Marcus, Apr 12 2025

Links

• Vincenzo Librandi, Table of n, a(n) for n = 1..200
• Mohammad K. Azarian, On the Hyperfactorial Function, Hypertriangular Function, and the Discriminants of Certain Polynomials, International Journal of Pure and Applied Mathematics 36(2), 2007, pp. 251-257. MR2312537. Zbl 1133.11012.
• Michael Baake and Uwe Grimm, Fourier transform of Rauzy fractals and point spectrum of 1D Pisot inflation tilings, arXiv:1907.11012 [math.MG], 2019.
• Herbert Batte and Florian Luca, The Discriminant of the Characteristic Polynomial of the kth Fibonacci sequence is not a member of the kth Lucas sequence, arXiv:2504.02514 [math.NT], 2025.
• Florian Luca, On the discriminant of the k-generalized Fibonacci polynomial, II, Fibonacci Quart. 62 (2024), no. 3, 193-200.
• Eric Weisstein's World of Mathematics, Fibonacci n-Step Number
• Eric Weisstein's World of Mathematics, Polynomial Discriminant

Crossrefs

Cf. A086797 (discriminant of the polynomial x^n-x-1), A000045, A000073, A000078, A001591, A001592 (Fibonacci n-step sequences), A000032, A001644, A073817, A074048, A074584, A104621, A105754, A105755 (Lucas n-step sequences), A086937, A106276, A106277, A106278 (number of distinct zeros of these polynomials for n=2, 3, 4, 5).

Programs

Mathematica

Discriminant[p_?PolynomialQ, x_] := With[{n=Exponent[p, x]}, Cancel[((-1)^(n(n-1)/2) Resultant[p, D[p, x], x])/Coefficient[p, x, n]^(2n-1)]]; Table[Discriminant[x^n-Sum[x^i, {i, 0, n-1}], x], {n, 20}]

PARI

{a(n)=(-1)^(n*(n+1)/2)*((n+1)^(n+1)-2*(2*n)^n)/(n-1)^2}  \\ Max Alekseyev, May 05 2005

PARI

a(n)=poldisc('x^n-sum(k=0,n-1,'x^k)); \\ Joerg Arndt, May 04 2013

Formula

a(n) = (-1)^(n*(n+1)/2) * ((n+1)^(n+1)-2*(2*n)^n)/(n-1)^2. - Max Alekseyev, May 05 2005