Markoff numbers, principal ideals and continued fraction expansions (Q5931956): Difference between revisions

A Markoff triple is a triple \((a,b,c)\) of natural numbers solving the Markoff equation \[ a^2+ b^2+ c^2= 3abc, \] and a Markoff number is the largest number in a Markoff triple. It is an old problem whether the Markoff number determines the triple uniquely. This problem has an affirmative answer in certain cases using the factorization of ideals in quadratic number fields.