In algebra, the continuant is a multivariate polynomial representing the determinant of a tridiagonal matrix and having applications in generalized continued fractions.

Definition

The n-th continuant ${\displaystyle K_{n}(x_{1},\;x_{2},\;\ldots ,\;x_{n})}$ is defined recursively by

${\displaystyle K_{0}=1;\,}$

${\displaystyle K_{1}(x_{1})=x_{1};\,}$

${\displaystyle K_{n}(x_{1},\;x_{2},\;\ldots ,\;x_{n})=x_{n}K_{n-1}(x_{1},\;x_{2},\;\ldots ,\;x_{n-1})+K_{n-2}(x_{1},\;x_{2},\;\ldots ,\;x_{n-2}).\,}$

Properties

• The continuant ${\displaystyle K_{n}(x_{1},\;x_{2},\;\ldots ,\;x_{n})}$ can be computed by taking the sum of all possible products of x₁,...,x_n, in which any number of disjoint pairs of consecutive terms are deleted (Euler's rule). For example,

  ${\displaystyle K_{5}(x_{1},\;x_{2},\;x_{3},\;x_{4},\;x_{5})=x_{1}x_{2}x_{3}x_{4}x_{5}\;+\;x_{3}x_{4}x_{5}\;+\;x_{1}x_{4}x_{5}\;+\;x_{1}x_{2}x_{5}\;+\;x_{1}x_{2}x_{3}\;+\;x_{1}\;+\;x_{3}\;+\;x_{5}.}$

It follows that continuants are invariant with respect to reversing the order of indeterminates: ${\displaystyle K_{n}(x_{1},\;\ldots ,\;x_{n})=K_{n}(x_{n},\;\ldots ,\;x_{1}).}$

• The continuant can be computed as the determinant of a tridiagonal matrix:

  ${\displaystyle K_{n}(x_{1},\;x_{2},\;\ldots ,\;x_{n})=\det {\begin{pmatrix}x_{1}&1&0&\cdots &0\\-1&x_{2}&1&\ddots &\vdots \\0&-1&\ddots &\ddots &0\\\vdots &\ddots &\ddots &\ddots &1\\0&\cdots &0&-1&x_{n}\end{pmatrix}}.}$

• ${\displaystyle K_{n}(1,\;\ldots ,\;1)=F_{n+1}}$, the (n+1)-st Fibonacci number.
• ${\displaystyle {\frac {K_{n}(x_{1},\;\ldots ,\;x_{n})}{K_{n-1}(x_{2},\;\ldots ,\;x_{n})}}=x_{1}+{\frac {K_{n-2}(x_{3},\;\ldots ,\;x_{n})}{K_{n-1}(x_{2},\;\ldots ,\;x_{n})}}.}$
• Ratios of continuants represent (convergents to) continued fractions as follows:

  ${\displaystyle \frac{K_n}{}}$Zdroj:https://en.wikipedia.org?pojem=Continuant_(mathematics)
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