Elliptic Divisibility Sequence - Definition

Definition

A (nondegenerate) elliptic divisibility sequence (EDS) is a sequence of integers (Wn)n ≥ 1 defined recursively by four initial values W1, W2, W3, W4, with W1W2W3 ≠ 0 and with subsequent values determined by the formulas

\begin{align} W_{2n+1}W_1^3 &= W_{n+2}W_n^3 - W_{n+1}^3W_{n-1},\qquad n \ge 2, \\ W_{2n}W_2W_1^2 &= W_{n+2}W_n W_{n-1}^2 - W_n W_{n-2}W_{n+1}^2,\qquad n\ge 3,\\ \end{align}

It can be shown that if W1 divides each of W2, W3, W4 and if further W2 divides W4, then every term Wn in the sequence is an integer.

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