Affirmative solution of a conjecture related to a sequence of Shanks (Q1180784)

For a positive square-free integer \(d\), let \((1+\sqrt d)/2=\langle a_ 0,\overline{a_ 1,a_ 2,\ldots,a_ k}\rangle\) be the continued fraction expansion and put \(a_ i=\lfloor(P_ i+\sqrt d)/Q_ i\rfloor\), where \(\lfloor x\rfloor\) denotes the greatest integer less than or equal to \(x\). Then, the authors in their previous paper [Powers of 2, continued fractions, and the class number one problem for real quadratic fields \(\mathbb Q(\sqrt d)\), with \(d\equiv 1\pmod 8\), The mathematical heritage of C. F. Gauss, Collect. Pap. Mem. C. F. Gauss, 505--516 (1991; Zbl 0771.11006)] presented a conjecture on the class number one problem of real quadratic fields in terms of these \(Q_ i\)'s. In this paper, they intend to prove this conjecture and to show how it relates to a sequence of Shanks. Namely, they prove the following theorem: If \(d\equiv 1\pmod 8\) and all \(Q_ i\)'s are powers of 2, then the class number of \(\mathbb Q(\sqrt d)\) is equal to one if and only if \(d\in\{17,41,113,353,1217\}\).