A class of negative-amphicheiral knots and their Alexander polynomials (Q794023)

A knot K belongs to the class considered if it can be described (in the tangle-theoretic terminology introduced by \textit{J. H. Conway} [Comput. Probl. abstract Algebra, Proc. Conf. Oxford 1967, 329-358 (1970; Zbl 0202.547)] as the numerator of the sum \(t+t^*\) of a tangle t with the tangle \(t^*\) obtained from the mirror-image of t by rotating it clockwise through a right angle. The Alexander polynomial of such a knot is determined by those of the numerator and denominator of t itself by the identity of Conway [ibid.] which states that the polynomial fraction of a sum of tangles is the formal sum of their polynomial fractions. Two examples are given, the second of which is a prime member of the class considered whose Alexander polynomial is trivial. The first example is alleged to be a prime non-alternating member of the class, but the verification of its primeness and non-alternating character depends on an erroneous calculation of its Alexander polynomial (the error lies in ignoring the effect of string orientation on the reduced Alexander polynomial of a two-component link); the true value of this polynomial, \(1-x^{-1}(x-1)^ 2(x+x^{-1})^ 2,\) will not support the argument given.