Simplicity conjecture for the characteristic polynomial of a randomized subtraction game

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Let tt be the number of allowed moves, and let d1,…,dtd_1,\ldots,d_t be the corresponding positive integers, with characteristic polynomial

χS(x)=txdt+∑i=1t−1xdi+1.\chi_S(x)=tx^{d_t}+\sum_{i=1}^{t-1}x^{d_i}+1.

Simplicity conjecture. The roots of χS(x)\chi_S(x) are all simple whenever dt≡1(mod2)d_t\equiv 1\pmod{2} and di≡0(mod2)d_i\equiv 0\pmod{2} for all 1≤i≤t−11\leq i\leq t-1.

This conjecture concerns the case not covered by the preceding convergence theorem and would permit the authors' argument to proceed under the assumption that all roots are simple. The source gives no proof or resolution of the claim.

References

Primary source

Nicolas Capitelli and Francisco Somma, “On sequences arising from randomizing subtraction games”, arXiv:2405.19593 (2024).

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