Continued Fraction Expansions of Matrix Eigenvectors

Abstract

We examine various properties of the continued fraction expansions of matrix eigenvector slopes of matrices from the SL(2, Z) group. We calculate the average period length, maximum period length, average period sum, maximum period sum and the distributions of 1s 2s and 3s in the periods versus the radius of the Ball within which the matrices are located. We also prove that the periods of continued fraction expansions from the real irrational roots of x2 + px + q = 0 are always palindromes.