\documentclass[11pt,a4paper]{article} \usepackage[utf8]{inputenc} \usepackage{amsmath,amssymb,amsthm} \usepackage[margin=2.6cm]{geometry} \usepackage[hidelinks]{hyperref} \newtheorem{theorem}{Theorem} \newtheorem{lemma}[theorem]{Lemma} \newtheorem{proposition}[theorem]{Proposition} \newtheorem{corollary}[theorem]{Corollary} \theoremstyle{definition} \newtheorem{definition}[theorem]{Definition} \theoremstyle{remark} \newtheorem{remark}[theorem]{Remark} \newcommand{\F}{\mathbb{F}} \DeclareMathOperator{\odd}{odd} \DeclareMathOperator{\st}{T} \title{\texorpdfstring{The binary Collatz dynamics of the trinomials $x^n+x+1$: proof of two conjectures of Gallardo and Rahavandrainy}{The binary Collatz dynamics of the trinomials x\^{}n+x+1: proof of two conjectures of Gallardo and Rahavandrainy}} \author{David Niedbala Giraudin\\\small ORCID 0009-0009-1526-1178} \date{} \begin{document} \maketitle \begin{abstract} Gallardo and Rahavandrainy studied an analogue of the Collatz map on $\F_2[x]$, in which $x(x+1)$ plays the role of $2$ and $x^2+x+1$ that of $3$: an odd polynomial $A$ is sent to the odd part of $1+(x^2+x+1)A$. They proved that every orbit reaches $1$, and conjectured that the orbit of the trinomial $x^n+x+1$ has length $2^s+1$, where $s$ is the largest integer with $2^{s+1}\delta_1>\delta_2>\dots>\delta_{k-2}$, and finally of $1$. \end{theorem} \begin{corollary}\label{cor:conj} Conjectures 3.12 and 3.13 of \cite{GR23} hold for every $n\ge3$. \end{corollary} \begin{proof} Theorem~\ref{thm:main} with $s=k-2$ gives Conjecture 3.13. For $1\le t\le s-1$ the block $B_{t+1}$ consists of $2^t$ terms of degree $\delta_{t+1}$, and no other term has this degree since the degrees $n,\delta_1,\delta_2,\dots$ are distinct; this is Conjecture 3.12, with $d_t=\delta_{t+1}$. Moreover $T_n$ and $B_1,\dots,B_t$ have $2^t$ terms in all, so $B_{t+1}$ occupies the positions $2^t+1,\dots,2^{t+1}$ of the odd sequence, that is, it consists of $A_{2^{t+1}+1},A_{2^{t+1}+3},\dots,A_{2^{t+2}-1}$; for $t=1,2$ these are $A_5,A_7$ and $A_9,\dots,A_{15}$. \end{proof} The blocks are made explicit in Proposition~\ref{prop:induction}: $B_j$ starts with $V(m_j)^{2^{j-1}}$, where $V(m)=\odd(x^mM+1)$, $m_1=n-3$, and $m_{j+1}$ is obtained from $m_j$ by a binary rule (Lemma~\ref{lem:binary}). The last block starts from a power of one of the four polynomials $x^3+x+1$, $x^3+x^2+1$, $x^4+x+1$, $x^5+x^3+x^2+x+1$. Section~\ref{sec:general} contains three statements valid for every odd polynomial: the plateau lemma, the plateau-to-plateau map with a necessary and sufficient criterion for the orbit to end after a given plateau, and an infinite family of polynomials whose orbit is a single plateau. Section~\ref{sec:trinomials} treats the trinomials. In Section~\ref{sec:erratum} we note that the restatement of Conjecture 3.13 as Conjecture 3.3 of \cite{GR25}, with a non-strict inequality, fails exactly at the powers of $2$. The polynomial analogue of the $3x+1$ problem goes back to Hicks, Mullen, Yucas and Zavislak \cite{HMYZ}, who used the map sending $f$ to $f/x$ if $x\mid f$ and to $(x+1)f+1$ otherwise; see also Nichols \cite{Nic}. The variant studied here, with $x(x+1)$ in the role of $2$, is that of \cite{GR23,GR25}. \section{Three facts valid for every odd polynomial}\label{sec:general} For odd $u$ we write $z=u+1$, which is divisible by $D$, and \[ \mu(u)=\max\{t\ge0:\ D^t\mid u+1\}\ \ge1 . \] Since $D=x(x+1)$ with $x$, $x+1$ coprime, $\mu(u)=\min\bigl(v_x(u+1),v_{x+1}(u+1)\bigr)$, and $\mu(u^{2^e})=2^e\mu(u)$ because $u^{2^e}+1=(u+1)^{2^e}$. \begin{lemma}[Plateau lemma]\label{lem:plateau} Let $u$ be odd of degree at least $1$, $z=u+1$ and $\mu=\mu(u)$. \begin{enumerate} \item[(i)] $\deg\st(u)\le\deg u$, with equality if and only if $\mu\ge2$; in that case $\st(u)+1=Mz/D$ and $\mu(\st(u))=\mu-1$. \item[(ii)] Consequently $u,\st(u),\dots,\st^{\mu-1}(u)$ all have degree $\deg u$, and $\deg\st^{\mu}(u)<\deg u$. \end{enumerate} \end{lemma} \begin{proof} (i) Since $M+1=D$, we have $1+Mu=M(z+1)+1=Mz+D$. As $M(0)=M(1)=1$, the valuation of $Mz$ at $x$ is $v_x(z)\ge1$, while $v_x(D)=1$. Hence $v_x(Mz+D)=1$ if $v_x(z)\ge2$, and $v_x(Mz+D)\ge2$ if $v_x(z)=1$; the same holds at $x+1$. Since $\deg(Mz+D)=\deg u+2$, the degree of $\st(u)=\odd(Mz+D)$ is $\deg u+2-v_x(Mz+D)-v_{x+1}(Mz+D)\le\deg u$, with equality exactly when both valuations equal $1$, that is, when $D^2\mid z$, that is, when $\mu\ge2$. In that case $\st(u)=(Mz+D)/D=Mz/D+1$, so $\st(u)+1=Mz/D$, and $\mu(\st(u))=\mu-1$ because $M$ is coprime to $D$. (ii) follows by applying (i) $\mu$ times: the values of $\mu$ along $u,\st(u),\dots$ are $\mu,\mu-1,\dots,1$, and the step from the term with $\mu=1$ lowers the degree. \end{proof} We call $u,\st(u),\dots,\st^{\mu-1}(u)$ the \emph{plateau} issued from $u$. \begin{lemma}[Plateau-to-plateau map]\label{lem:psi} Let $u$ be odd of degree at least $1$, $\mu=\mu(u)$, and \[ W=\frac{M^{\mu}(u+1)}{D^{\mu}}\in\F_2[x]. \] Then $\deg W=\deg u$, $\st^{\mu}(u)=\odd(W+1)$, and \[ \st^{\mu}(u)=1\iff W+1=x^i(x+1)^j\ \text{for some } i,j\ge0 . \] \end{lemma} \begin{proof} By Lemma~\ref{lem:plateau}(i), $\st^t(u)+1=M^tz/D^t$ for $0\le t\le\mu-1$. For $w=\st^{\mu-1}(u)$ we get, as in the proof of Lemma~\ref{lem:plateau}, \[ 1+Mw=M(w+1)+D=\frac{M^{\mu}z}{D^{\mu-1}}+D=D\,(W+1), \] so $\st^{\mu}(u)=\odd(D(W+1))=\odd(W+1)$. The degree of $W$ is $\deg u+2\mu-2\mu$; in particular $W+1\ne0$. Finally $\odd(W+1)=1$ if and only if $W+1$ is a product of powers of $x$ and $x+1$. \end{proof} In the terminology of \cite{GR19}, the orbit ends right after the plateau issued from $u$ if and only if $W$ is a Mersenne polynomial, the exponents $i,j$ being allowed to vanish. \begin{proposition}[Single-plateau orbits]\label{prop:seeds} Let $i,j\ge0$ with $(i,j)\ne(0,0)$ and $i\equiv j\pmod3$. Then $M$ divides $x^i(x+1)^j+1$, and the polynomial \[ P_{i,j}=1+\frac{D\,\bigl(x^i(x+1)^j+1\bigr)}{M} \] is odd of degree $i+j$. For every $e\ge0$ the odd sequence of $P_{i,j}^{2^e}$ consists of $2^e$ terms of degree $2^e(i+j)$, followed by $1$. \end{proposition} \begin{proof} Let $\omega\in\F_4$ be a root of $M$; then $\omega+1=\omega^2$, so $\omega^i(\omega+1)^j+1=\omega^{i+2j}+1$, which vanishes since $i+2j\equiv i-j\equiv0\pmod 3$. The same holds for the conjugate root $\omega^2$, so $M\mid E:=x^i(x+1)^j+1$. Clearly $P_{i,j}(0)=P_{i,j}(1)=1$ and $\deg P_{i,j}=2+(i+j)-2$. Since $(i,j)\ne(0,0)$, $\deg E=i+j$ and at least one of $E(0)$, $E(1)$ equals $1$; as $P_{i,j}+1=DE/M$, we get $\mu(P_{i,j})=1+\min\bigl(v_x(E),v_{x+1}(E)\bigr)=1$. For $u=P_{i,j}^{2^e}$ we get $\mu(u)=2^e$ and $W=M^{2^e}(P_{i,j}+1)^{2^e}/D^{2^e}=E^{2^e}$, so $W+1=(E+1)^{2^e}=x^{i2^e}(x+1)^{j2^e}$. Lemmas \ref{lem:plateau} and \ref{lem:psi} conclude. \end{proof} For instance $P_{1,1}=M$, $P_{3,0}=x^3+x+1$, $P_{0,3}=x^3+x^2+1$, $P_{2,2}=x^4+x+1$ and $P_{1,4}=x^5+x^3+x^2+x+1$. \section{The trinomials}\label{sec:trinomials} For $m\ge0$ put \[ F_m=x^mM+1,\qquad V(m)=\odd(F_m). \] Thus $F_0=D$ and $V(0)=1$. \begin{lemma}[First step]\label{lem:first} For $n\ge3$, $\mu(T_n)=1$ and $\st(T_n)=V(n-3)$. \end{lemma} \begin{proof} Here $z=T_n+1=x^n+x=x(x^{n-1}+1)$, so $v_x(z)=1$ and $\mu(T_n)=1$. Then $W=Mz/D=M(x^{n-1}+1)/(x+1)$ and, using $M+x+1=x^2$, \[ W+1=\frac{Mx^{n-1}+M+x+1}{x+1}=\frac{Mx^{n-1}+x^2}{x+1}=\frac{x^2F_{n-3}}{x+1}. \] By Lemma~\ref{lem:psi}, $\st(T_n)=\odd(W+1)=V(n-3)$. \end{proof} \begin{lemma}[Valuations]\label{lem:val} For $m\ge1$, $v_x(F_m)=0$ and \[ v_{x+1}(F_m)=1,\ 3,\ 1,\ 2\qquad\text{according as}\qquad m\equiv0,\ 1,\ 2,\ 3\pmod4 . \] Hence $\deg V(m)=m+2-v_{x+1}(F_m)$; in particular $\deg V(m)\le m+1$, and $\deg V(m)\le m$ if $m$ is odd. Moreover $V(1)=1$ and $\deg V(m)\ge3$ for $m\ge2$. \end{lemma} \begin{proof} $F_m(0)=1$ for $m\ge1$. Put $y=x+1$; then $M=y^2+y+1$ and \[ F_m=(1+y)^m(1+y+y^2)+1=(m+1)\,y+\Bigl(\tbinom m2+m+1\Bigr)y^2+\Bigl(\tbinom m3+\tbinom m2+m\Bigr)y^3+O(y^4), \] the coefficients being read modulo $2$. If $m$ is even, the coefficient of $y$ is $1$. If $m$ is odd, it vanishes and the coefficient of $y^2$ is $\binom m2$, which by Lucas' theorem is odd if and only if the bit of weight $2$ of $m$ is $1$, that is, $m\equiv3\pmod4$. If $m\equiv1\pmod4$, then $\binom m2$ and $\binom m3$ are even, again by Lucas, and the coefficient of $y^3$ is $m\equiv1$. The degree formula follows from $\deg F_m=m+2$. Finally $F_1=x^3+x^2+x+1=(x+1)^3$, and for $m\ge2$ the bound $v_{x+1}(F_m)\le3$ gives $\deg V(m)\ge m-1\ge 3$ when $m\ge4$, while $\deg V(2)=\deg V(3)=3$. \end{proof} \begin{lemma}[Renormalisation]\label{lem:renorm} For $m\ge2$ define \[ m'=\begin{cases} m/2-1 & m \text{ even},\\ (m-3)/2 & m\equiv1\pmod4,\\ (m-1)/2 & m\equiv3\pmod4.\end{cases} \] Then $m'\ge0$, $\st(V(m))=V(m')^2$, and $\mu(V(m))=1$. \end{lemma} \begin{proof} Note $m'\ge0$ ($m\equiv1\pmod4$ and $m\ge2$ force $m\ge5$). Write $b=v_{x+1}(F_m)$, so $V(m)=F_m/(x+1)^b$ by Lemma~\ref{lem:val}, and \[ MV(m)+1=\frac{MF_m+(x+1)^b}{(x+1)^b}=\frac{M^2x^m+M+(x+1)^b}{(x+1)^b}. \] In characteristic $2$ one has $M+(x+1)=x^2$, $M+(x+1)^2=x$ and $M+(x+1)^3=x^3$. Hence, with $b=1,3,2$ in the three cases of the definition of $m'$, \[ MV(m)+1=\frac{x^2\bigl(M^2x^{m-2}+1\bigr)}{x+1},\qquad \frac{x^3\bigl(M^2x^{m-3}+1\bigr)}{(x+1)^3},\qquad \frac{x\bigl(M^2x^{m-1}+1\bigr)}{(x+1)^2}, \] and in each case $M^2x^{2m'}+1=(Mx^{m'}+1)^2=F_{m'}^2$. Taking odd parts, $\st(V(m))=\odd(F_{m'})^2=V(m')^2$. For the last assertion, by Lemma~\ref{lem:plateau}(i) it suffices to show $\deg\st(V(m))<\deg V(m)$, that is, $2\deg V(m')<\deg V(m)$. If $m$ is even, $2\deg V(m')\le2(m'+1)=m