arXiv · 2307.10470
Minimal triples for a generalized Markoff equation
Abstract
For a positive integer $m>1$, if the generalized Markoff equation $a^2+b^2+c^2=3abc+m$ has a solution triple, then it has infinitely many solutions. We show that all positive solution triples are generated by a finite set of triples that we call minimal triples. We exhibit a correspondence between the set of minimal triples with first or second element equal to $a$, and the set of fundamental solutions of $m-a^2$ by the form $x^2-3axy+y^2$. This gives us a formula for the number of minimal triples in terms of fundamental solutions, and thus a way to calculate minimal triples using composition and reduction of binary quadratic forms, for which there are efficient algorithms. Additionally, using the above correspondence we also give a criterion for the existence of minimal triples of the form $(1, b, c)$, and present a formula for the number of such minimal triples.
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A. Srinivasan, L. A. Calvo. 2023-07-19. Minimal triples for a generalized Markoff equation. https://arxiv.org/abs/2307.10470
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