Squaring the magic squares of order 4

In this paper, we present the problem of counting magic squares and we focus on the case of multiplicative magic squares of order 4. We give the exact number of normal multiplicative magic squares of order 4 with an original and complete proof, pointing out the role of the action of the symmetric group. Moreover, we provide a new representation for magic squares of order 4. Such representation allows the construction of magic squares in a very simple way, using essentially only five particular 4X4 matrices

On Power Sums Involving Lucas Functions Sequences

We present some general formulas related to sum of powers, also with alternating sign, involving Lucas functions sequences. In particular, our formulas give a synthesis of various identities involving sum of powers of well-known polynomial sequences such as Fibonacci, Lucas, Pell, Jacobsthal, and Chebyshev polynomials. Finally, we point out some interesting divisibility properties between polynomials arising from our results

Linear divisibility sequences and Salem numbers

We study linear divisibility sequences of order 4, providing a characterization by means of their characteristic polynomials and finding their factorization as a product of linear divisibility sequences of order 2. Moreover, we show a new interesting connection between linear divisibility sequences and Salem numbers. Specifically, we generate linear divisibility sequences of order 4 by means of Salem numbers modulo 1

Groups and monoids of Pythagorean triples connected to conics

We define operations that give the set of all Pythagorean triples a structure of commutative monoid. In particular, we define these operations by using injections between integer triples and $3 \times 3$ matrices. Firstly, we completely characterize these injections that yield commutative monoids of integer triples. Secondly, we determine commutative monoids of Pythagorean triples characterizing some Pythagorean triple preserving matrices. Moreover, this study offers unexpectedly an original connection with groups over conics. Using this connection, we determine groups composed by Pythagorean triples with the studied operations

Identities Involving Zeros of Ramanujan and Shanks Cubic Polynomials

In this paper we highlight the connection between Ramanujan cubic polynomials (RCPs) and a class of polynomials, the Shanks cubic polynomials (SCPs), which generate cyclic cubic fields. In this way we provide a new characterization for RCPs and we express the zeros of any RCP in explicit form, using trigonometric functions. Moreover, we observe that a cyclic transform of period three permutes these zeros. As a consequence of these results we provide many new and beautiful identities. Finally we connect RCPs to Gaussian periods, finding a new identity, and we study some integer sequences related to SCPs

Periodic representations and rational approximations of square roots

In this paper the properties of R\'edei rational functions are used to derive rational approximations for square roots and both Newton and Pad\'e approximations are given as particular cases. As a consequence, such approximations can be derived directly by power matrices. Moreover, R\'edei rational functions are introduced as convergents of particular periodic continued fractions and are applied for approximating square roots in the field of p-adic numbers and to study periodic representations. Using the results over the real numbers, we show how to construct periodic continued fractions and approximations of square roots which are simultaneously valid in the real and in the p-adic field