Bounds for the maximal height of divisors of \(x^n - 1\) (Q841248)

Let \(B(n)\) denote the maximum absolute value of a coefficient of any divisor \(f(x)\in \mathbb Z[x]\) of \(x^n-1\). It was first studied by \textit{C. Pomerance} and \textit{N. C. Ryan} [Ill.\ J.\ Math. 51, No. 2, 597--604 (2007; Zbl 1211.11108)], who suggested that it would be interesting to compute \(B(n)\) explicitly in cases where \(n\) has few prime divisors. They proved that \(B(p^n)=1\) and that \(B(pq)=\min(p,q)\) and conjectured that \(B(p^2q)=\min(p^2,q)\), where \(p\neq q\) are primes. The author establishes this conjecture. Further, for primes \(p<q<r\) he establishes that \((3p^2q-p^3+7p-6)/3\leq B(pqr)\leq p^2q^2\). For general \(n\), the author shows that \(B(n)\) can be bounded by a function that does not depend on the largest prime factor of \(n\). Let \(C(n)\) denote the set of coefficients of \(\Phi_n(x)\). \textit{A. Decker} and the reviewer [``Coefficient convexity of divisors of \(x^n-1\)'', \url{arXiv:1010.3938}] determined \(C(p^2q)\), thus refining the result that \(B(p^2q)=\min(p^2,q)\). In Section 3.2 there is a comparison with and discussion of the results of the author on \(\Phi_{p^2q}(x)\).