Questions tagged [elementary-proofs]
For questions related to 'elementary' proofs in a technical sense, which has nothing to do with the difficulty of the argument or result. A typical example would be 'elementary' proofs of the Prime Number Theorem, which avoid complex analysis. The tag is however not limited to this particular notion of 'elementary.'
209
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How to estimate the highest power of 2 in the partial sum of 2-adic $\log(-1)$ (i.e. $\sum_{i=1}^n\frac{2^i}{i}$)?
The estimate I wanna get is $$v_2(\sum_{i=1}^n\frac{2^i}{i})\geq\min_{t\geq n+1}\{t-v_2(t)\}\tag{*}$$
where $v_2$ is the 2-adic valuation, that is the highest power of 2 defined on $\mathbb{Q}$.
Set $$...
1
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1
answer
142
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Generalizing Bottema's theorem
Can you provide another proof for the claim given below?
Claim. In any triangle $\triangle ABC$ construct triangles $\triangle ACE$ and $\triangle BDC$ on sides $AC$ and $BC$ such that $\frac{AE}{AC}...
3
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1
answer
92
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Equal sums of line segments
I would like to see a proof of the following
Claim. Let $A_1,A_2,A_3,A_4,A_5$ be vertices of bicentric pentagon. Let $B_1$ be the intersection point of $A_1A_3$ and $A_2A_5$, $B_2$ the intersection ...
6
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4
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522
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Necessary and sufficient condition for quadrilateral to be cyclic
Can you provide a proof for the following proposition:
Proposition. Given any quadrilateral $ABCD$. Let $P,Q,R,S$ be nine-point centers of triangles $\triangle ABD$,$\triangle ABC$,$\triangle BCD$ ...
8
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4
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2k
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Three circles intersecting at one point
Can you provide a proof for the following proposition:
Proposition. Let $\triangle ABC$ be an arbitrary triangle with nine-point center $N$ and circumcenter $O$. Let $A',B',C'$ be a reflection points ...
3
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1
answer
111
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Collinearity of three significant points of bicentric pentagon
Can you provide a proof for the following claim?
Claim. Given bicentric pentagon. Consider the triangle whose sides are two diagonals drawn from the same vertex and side of pentagon opposite from ...
2
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0
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197
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Polyhedron - sphere intersection
newbie here.
I'd like to ask you, if you know some brief, but somewhat solid proof of a convex polyhedron and a sphere centered at one of its vertices (with small enough radius, so it intersects only ...
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What is the limit of $a (n + 1) / a (n)$?
Let $a(n) = f(n,n)$ where $f(m,n) = 1$ if $m < 2 $ or $ n < 2$ and $f(m,n) = f(m-1,n-1) + f(m-1,n-2) + 2 f(m-2,n-1)$ otherwise.
What is the limit of $a(n + 1) / a (n)$? $(2.71...)$
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1
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Collinearity in bicentric polygons
Can you provide a proofs for the following two claims?
Claim 1. The circumcenter, the incenter, and the intersection of the principal diagonals in a bicentric even-sided polygon are collinear.
Claim ...
6
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1
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215
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Necessary and sufficient condition for tangential polygon to be cyclic
Can you prove or disprove the following claim?
Claim. Let $A_1,A_2, \ldots ,A_n$ be the vertices of an $n$-sided tangential polygon and let $B_1,B_2, \ldots ,B_n$ be the contact points of the ...
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1
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Stability estimates on quotients of the form $ \frac{\prod_{j=1}^n a_j}{\prod_{j=1}^n b_j} $
Suppose that $a_j,b_j \in \mathbb C$ are complex numbers, $j=1,\dots,n$, with the property that $|a_j|,|b_j| \geq c > d >0$ where $c,d$ are positive real numbers. I'm interested in the stability ...
4
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1
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211
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Point of concurrency [closed]
I am looking for the proof of the following claim:
Claim: Let $\triangle ABC$ be an arbitrary triangle, $D$ its nine-point center and $E,F,G$ are the nine-point centers of the triangles $\triangle ...
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2
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A tricky integral to evaluate
I came across this integral in some work. So, I would like to ask:
QUESTION. Can you evaluate this integral with proofs?
$$\int_0^1\frac{\log x\cdot\log(x+2)}{x+1}\,dx.$$
1
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1
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171
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A binomial convolution of Catalan numbers vs "utterly odd numbers"
An integer is called utterly odd if the terminal string of $1$’s in its binary representation has odd length. A number $2^{k+1}m+(2^k-1)$ where $m\geq0$ (every non-negative integer has this form) is ...
30
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Functional-analytic proof of the existence of non-symmetric random variables with vanishing odd moments
It is known that a random variable $X$ which is symmetric about $0$ (i.e $X$ and $-X$ have the same distribution) must have all its odd moments (when they exist!) equal to zero. The converse is a ...
1
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1
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297
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A generalization of Harcourt's theorem
This question is closely related to my previous question.
Can you prove the claim given below? The following claim is a conjectured generalization of Harcourt's theorem.
Claim. Let $A_1,A_2 \ldots ...
1
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1
answer
292
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A formula for the area of bicentric quadrilateral
Can you provide a proof for the claim given below? The following claim is inspired by Harcourt's theorem and can be seen as its generalization to quadrilaterals.
Claim. Given bicentric quadrilateral $...
1
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1
answer
446
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A new perspective on Lehmer's totient problem
Lehmer's totient problem asks if there are any composite integers $n$ with $\phi(n) \ | \ n-1$.
It is known that any such $n$ must be odd. It must also be a charmichael number.
Assume $n=4m+3$ then $\...
2
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1
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192
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The centroid, the first and second Napoleon points and $X(930)$ lie on a circle
Can you provide an elementary proof for the claim given below?
Preliminary definitions:
$X(110)=$ focus of Kiepert parabola.
$X(137)=X(110)$ of orthic triangle .
$X(930)=$ anticomplement of $X(137)$ .
...
2
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1
answer
173
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Four concyclic triangle centers
Can you prove the claim given below? Inspired by Lester's theorem I have formulated the following claim:
Claim. Given any scalene triangle $\triangle ABC$ . Let $D$ be the reflection of incenter in ...
64
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6
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What is the simplest proof that the density of primes goes to zero?
By density of primes, I mean the proportion of integers between $1$ and $x$ which are prime. The prime number theorem says that this is asymptotically $1/\log(x)$.
I want something much weaker, namely ...
2
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2
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520
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A generalization of Napoleon's theorem
Can you provide a proof for the following proposition?
Proposition. Given an arbitrary $\triangle ABC$. The $\triangle AEB$, $\triangle BFC$ and $\triangle CDA$ are constructed on the sides of the $...
2
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2
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243
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Six concyclic points
Can you provide a proof for the following proposition:
Proposition. Let $\triangle ABC$ be an arbitrary triangle with excenters $J_A$,$J_B$ and $J_C$ . Let $G$ be the orthogonal projection of the $...
3
votes
2
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243
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Four concyclic points inside bicentric quadrilateral
Can you provide a proof for the following proposition:
Proposition. Let quadrilateral $ABCD$ be inscribed into a circle with center $O$ and circumscribed around a circle with center $I$. Let $X$ be a ...
14
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2
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1k
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Euclid-style proof of Dirichlet’s theorem on primes in certain arithmetic progression
The well-known theorem of Dirichlet on primes in arithmetic progression states that given coprime natural numbers $a\le q$, there are infinitely many prime numbers congruent to $a\pmod q$. The ...
14
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4
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1k
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Six points on an ellipse
Can you prove the following proposition:
Proposition. Let $\triangle ABC$ be an arbitrary triangle with centroid $G$. Let $D,E,F$ be the points on the sides $AC$,$AB$ and $BC$ respectively , such ...
12
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2
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915
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Intersection point of three circles
Can you provide a proof for the following proposition:
Proposition. Let $\triangle ABC$ be an arbitrary triangle with orthocenter $H$. Let $D,E,F$ be a midpoints of the $AB$,$BC$ and $AC$ , ...
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6
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Alternative proofs sought after for a certain identity
Here is an identity for which I outlined two different arguments. I'm collecting further alternative proofs, so
QUESTION. can you provide another verification for the problem below?
Problem. Prove ...
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2
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226
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An elementary-looking integral inequality
This might seem a bit easy but I still like to ask it for pedagogical reasons.
QUESTION. Is this inequality true for non-negative integers $n$?
$$\frac{\pi}2\int_0^1x^n\sin\left(\frac{\pi}2x\right)dx\...
2
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0
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145
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Asking for a combinatorial proof of a binomial-sum
QUESTION. Is there a combinatorial proof of the below identity?
$$\sum_{k=0}^{n-1}\frac{2^{2k}}{2k+1}\frac{\binom{2n}n}{\binom{2k}k}=2^{2n}-\binom{2n}n.$$
REMARK. There are many other proofs (...
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2
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242
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Is there a combinatorial reason for variable-independence of this binomial-coefficient identity?
Consider the following identity
$$\sum_{n=0}^{R-t}\binom{n+\ell}n\binom{R-\ell-n}{R-t-n}=\binom{R+1}{t+1}.\tag1$$
It is relatively easy to give an algebraic or mechanical proof of (1). But, I like to ...
0
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0
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182
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A certain Pell Equation
Recently I came up with a positive solution $((x,y)\neq (\pm 1;0))$ to this diophantine equation
$$
x^2-\left(w^2(2^{n-2}p)^2+2^n(2^{n-2}p)\right)y^2=1,\qquad n\geq 2,
$$
where all variables are in $ ...
7
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2
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608
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How to use the Prime Number Theorem in order to prove Selberg's Formula?
I`m reading Melvin B. Nathanson's "Elementary Methods in Number Theory"
and I can't think of a way of deducing Selberg's formula (9.3) from the prime number theorem.
This is one of the tasks ...
1
vote
1
answer
351
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Primality test for numbers of the form $4k+3$
Can you prove or disprove the following claim:
Let $n$ be a natural number of the form $4k+3$ , and let $c$ be the smallest odd prime such that $\binom{c}{n}=-1$ , where $\binom{}{}$ denotes a Jacobi ...
1
vote
1
answer
226
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Sign changes of a sequence
Let $f$ be an arithmetical function. Suppose that $f(n)>0$ if $n$ is in an integer set $A$ and that $f(n)<0$ for another integer set $B.$ Is there a result from number theory or an elementary ...
3
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1
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150
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Arithmetical function comparable to sine function [closed]
I was wondering if there exists or can we construct (using known arithmetic functions) an arithmetical function that has the same behaviour of the function sine or comparable to it (I mean that ...
0
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0
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93
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A primality criterion for specific class of $N=4kp^n+1$
Can you provide a proof for the following claim:
Let $P_m(x)=2^{-m}\cdot \left(\left(x-\sqrt{x^2-4})^m+(x+\sqrt{x^2-4}\right)^m\right)$ .
Let $N= 4kp^n+1 $ such that $p$ is a prime number greater ...
10
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0
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Primality testing using Chebyshev polynomials
Can you provide a proof or a counterexample for the claim given below?
Inspired by an alternative definition of the Frobenius primality test which is given in this paper I have formulated the ...
1
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0
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93
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Primality test for specific class of $N=12k \cdot 5^n-1$
Can you provide a proof for the following claim:
Let $P_m(x)=2^{-m}\cdot \left(\left(x-\sqrt{x^2-4})^m+(x+\sqrt{x^2-4}\right)^m\right)$ .
Let $N= 12k \cdot 5^{n} - 1 $ where $n\ge3$ , $12k <5^n$ ...
0
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0
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Testing the primality of Mersenne and Fermat numbers using third order recurrence relation
Can you prove or disprove the claims given below?
Inspired by generalization of Lucas-Lehmer test I have formulated the following claims:
Claim 1 Let $M_p=2^p-1$ where $p$ is an odd prime number , ...
3
votes
1
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398
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Theorems with many proofs
Q. What are the characteristics of theorems that seem to invite (or possess) several or even many distinct proofs?
What I have in mind are examples such as these:
Proofs that there are infinitely ...
4
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1
answer
318
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Primality test for $N=2^mp^n +1$
This question is related to my previous question.
Can you prove or disprove the following claim:
Let $N=2^mp^n+1$ , $m>0 , n>0$ and $p$ is an odd prime . If there exists an integer $a$ such ...
7
votes
1
answer
456
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Primality test for $N=2^a3^b+1$
Can you prove or disprove the following claim:
Let $N=2^a3^b+1$ , $a>0 , b>0$ . If there exists an integer $c$ such that $$c^{(N-1)/3}-c^{(N-1)/6} \equiv -1 \pmod{N}$$ then $N$ is a prime.
You ...
0
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1
answer
359
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Elementary proof for $n^2>p>n$ for all $n>1$ [duplicate]
Is there any elementary way of proving that for all natural numbers $n>1$ there exists a prime $p$ such that $n<p<n^2$. And I mean elementary, not using the Prime Number Theorem or Bertrand's ...
2
votes
2
answers
562
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A Pell like equation
If one takes in general $(\star)\, \,x^2-dy^2=C$ where $d$, $C$ in $\mathbb{N}$.
Taking $d=w^2p^2+p$ with $w\in \mathbb{Q}\ge 1$ and $p\in \mathbb{Z}$ which is verified (explained later), for the ...
3
votes
0
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609
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While solving the 1988 IMO problem 6, I have questions about new solutions without using Vieta Jumping [closed]
I think most of you may know the well-known problem:
"Let $x$ and $y$ be positive integers such that $xy + 1$ divides $x^{2} + y^{2}$. Show that $\frac {x^{2} + y^{2}}{xy + 1}$ is the perfect ...
6
votes
2
answers
309
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How to understand the "boundary" of subscheme, as defined in "An elementary characterisation of Krull dimension"
In An elementary characterisation of Krull dimension and A short proof for the Krull dimension of a polynomial ring, Coquand, Lombardi, and Roy give an elementary characterization of Krull dimension, ...
3
votes
0
answers
86
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Hales' generalization of the stacked bases theorem (seeking a proof)
In his paper Analogues of the stacked bases theorem, published in the proceedings of a 1976 conference, A.W. Hales claimed some interesting generalizations of the stacked bases theorem for abelian ...
4
votes
1
answer
179
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Primality test for specific class of $N=8k \cdot 3^n-1$
This question is related to my previous question.
Can you prove or disprove the following claim:
Let $P_m(x)=2^{-m}\cdot \left(\left(x-\sqrt{x^2-4}\right)^{m}+\left(x+\sqrt{x^2-4}\right)^{m}\right)$
...
2
votes
1
answer
362
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Primality test for specific class of $N=8kp^n-1$
My following question is related to my question here
Can you provide a proof or a counterexample for the following claim :
Let $P_m(x)=2^{-m}\cdot \left(\left(x-\sqrt{x^2-4}\right)^{m}+\left(x+\...