Generalized lattice-path trigonometric positivity conjecture

Let MiM_i and NiN_i be nonnegative integers such that MiNik|M_i-N_i|\leq k for i=1,,ri=1,\ldots,r. Define the sums

li=1r(Mi+NiMikl)cos(lx)\sum_l\prod_{i=1}^r {M_i+N_i\choose M_i-kl}\cos(lx)

and

li=1r(Mi+NiMikl)sin(lx)sin(x).\sum_l\prod_{i=1}^r {M_i+N_i\choose M_i-kl}\frac{\sin(|l|x)}{\sin(x)}.

Generalized positivity conjecture. The first sum is a polynomial in 1+cos(x)1+\cos(x) with nonnegative integral coefficients, and the second satisfies

li=1r(Mi+NiMikl)sin(lx)sin(x)0\sum_l\prod_{i=1}^r {M_i+N_i\choose M_i-kl}\frac{\sin(|l|x)}{\sin(x)}\geq 0

for any real xx.

This conjecture proposes a simultaneous extension of the preceding two-factor positivity results to an arbitrary number rr of pairs (Mi,Ni)(M_i,N_i). The supplied text gives no resolution or further evidence beyond the statement, so its status remains open.

Sources & referencesView supporting material

Primary source

Victor J. W. Guo and Jiang Zeng, “Pairs of lattice paths and positive trigonometric sums”, arXiv:0903.5179 (2009).

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