Supercongruences modulo p^(3k) for the coefficients of powers of (1+x)^A/(1-x)^B: a proof of P. Bala's conjectures on the Schröder-type sequences A333715, A103885 and A333481

For integers r, A, B ≥ 1 let u(N) = [x^(rN)] ((1+x)^A (1−x)^(−B))^N = Sum_i C(AN, i) C((B+r)N − i − 1, BN − 1). We prove that for every prime p ≥ 5 and all n, k ≥ 1, u(n p^k) ≡ u(n p^(k−1)) (mod p^(3k)). This settles the supercongruence conjectures of P. Bala in the OEIS for A333715 ([x^(3n)]((1+x)/(1−x))^n, April 2020), A103885 ([x^n] S(x)^n, S the large Schröder numbers) and A333481 ([x^n] S(x)^(2n), March 2020), and the same congruence for A002003, with the exponent 3k attained. The proof splits the sum defining u(n p^k) according to the residue of i modulo p: the terms with p | i are handled by the Jacobsthal–Kazandzidis congruence; the remaining terms are written exactly as T(pa) p^2 (−1)^(b−1) c e /((pa+b)(pd−b)) times a p-adic unit, the sum over b is expanded about the centre b = p/2, where Sum_(b=1..p−1) (−1)^b (b − p/2)^(−2j) = 0, and the surviving terms are controlled by the congruence Sum_a w(a) (2a+1)^(2j+1) ≡ 0 (mod N) for the odd moments of the weights w(a) = C(AN−1, a) C((B+r)N − a − 1, BN), which we prove for every odd integer N by a derivative identity for (1+z)^α (1−z)^(−β) modulo N. The Catalan-type conjectures of Bala (A333093–A333097, A333564) are not of this form and are not covered. The conjectures were selected by a scan of a local copy of the OEIS for open "tower" congruences with the author's SyntheticMind engine, which had already proved the towers of Euler, Genocchi and tribonacci type; the method (recognition of the form λ·[x^(rn)]((1+x)^A/(1−x)^B)^n, exact check and proof) has been implemented in the engine. The proofs and the text were prepared with the assistance of an AI system under the author's direction; the author checked every step and takes full responsibility for the content. Files: Blanco_Gomez_2026_supercongruences_binomial_powers_EN.pdf is the article (6 pages); Blanco_Gomez_2026_supercongruencias_potencias_binomiales_ES.pdf is the Spanish version (same content); verify_super_towers.py is an independent verification script (Python 3, exact integers and fractions, standard library only) that checks the theorem with the exact valuation for eight triples (r, A, B), primes 5 ≤ p ≤ 19 and k ≤ 4, the closed form as an exact identity, the Jacobsthal–Kazandzidis congruence, the odd-moment theorem and the key congruence of its proof (4256 cases), and the centred alternating sums; verify_super_towers.log is its output (ALL CHECKS PASSED).

Authors

Publication Details

Journal
Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research)
Published
2026-10-16
DOI
https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.23411346
Primary Topic
Advanced Mathematical Identities
Type
preprint
Controls
|||
ALL TIME
JAN
FEB
MAR
APR
MAY
JUN
JUL
AUG
SEP
OCT
preprint

Supercongruences modulo p^(3k) for the coefficients of powers of (1+x)^A/(1-x)^B: a proof of P. Bala's conjectures on the Schröder-type sequences A333715, A103885 and A333481

Roberto Blanco Gómez
Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research)
Advanced Mathematical Identities
preprint

Supercongruences modulo p^(3k) for the coefficients of powers of (1+x)^A/(1-x)^B: a proof of P. Bala's conjectures on the Schröder-type sequences A333715, A103885 and A333481

Roberto Blanco Gómez
preprint en

Abstract

For integers r, A, B ≥ 1 let u(N) = [x^(rN)] ((1+x)^A (1−x)^(−B))^N = Sum_i C(AN, i) C((B+r)N − i − 1, BN − 1). We prove that for every prime p ≥ 5 and all n, k ≥ 1, u(n p^k) ≡ u(n p^(k−1)) (mod p^(3k)). This settles the supercongruence conjectures of P. Bala in the OEIS for A333715 ([x^(3n)]((1+x)/(1−x))^n, April 2020), A103885 ([x^n] S(x)^n, S the large Schröder numbers) and A333481 ([x^n] S(x)^(2n), March 2020), and the same congruence for A002003, with the exponent 3k attained. The proof splits the sum defining u(n p^k) according to the residue of i modulo p: the terms with p | i are handled by the Jacobsthal–Kazandzidis congruence; the remaining terms are written exactly as T(pa) p^2 (−1)^(b−1) c e /((pa+b)(pd−b)) times a p-adic unit, the sum over b is expanded about the centre b = p/2, where Sum_(b=1..p−1) (−1)^b (b − p/2)^(−2j) = 0, and the surviving terms are controlled by the congruence Sum_a w(a) (2a+1)^(2j+1) ≡ 0 (mod N) for the odd moments of the weights w(a) = C(AN−1, a) C((B+r)N − a − 1, BN), which we prove for every odd integer N by a derivative identity for (1+z)^α (1−z)^(−β) modulo N. The Catalan-type conjectures of Bala (A333093–A333097, A333564) are not of this form and are not covered. The conjectures were selected by a scan of a local copy of the OEIS for open "tower" congruences with the author's SyntheticMind engine, which had already proved the towers of Euler, Genocchi and tribonacci type; the method (recognition of the form λ·[x^(rn)]((1+x)^A/(1−x)^B)^n, exact check and proof) has been implemented in the engine. The proofs and the text were prepared with the assistance of an AI system under the author's direction; the author checked every step and takes full responsibility for the content. Files: Blanco_Gomez_2026_supercongruences_binomial_powers_EN.pdf is the article (6 pages); Blanco_Gomez_2026_supercongruencias_potencias_binomiales_ES.pdf is the Spanish version (same content); verify_super_towers.py is an independent verification script (Python 3, exact integers and fractions, standard library only) that checks the theorem with the exact valuation for eight triples (r, A, B), primes 5 ≤ p ≤ 19 and k ≤ 4, the closed form as an exact identity, the Jacobsthal–Kazandzidis congruence, the odd-moment theorem and the key congruence of its proof (4256 cases), and the centred alternating sums; verify_super_towers.log is its output (ALL CHECKS PASSED).

Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research)
Advanced Mathematical Identities
AI Navigator

Ask Laika to Summarize, Analyze, and Connect papers live on the map.

Summarize Papers & Methodologies

Extract key findings, datasets, and comparative methods across publications.

Benchmark Rankings & Visual Analytics

Rank top research institutions, authors, funders, topics, and journals by Field-Weighted Citation Impact (FWCI) and paper volume with instant charts.

Connect Distant Disciplines

Bridge topological clusters on the map to find hidden collaborative intersections.