Markov fractions and Cohn matrices

Abstract

We show that the Markov fractions introduced recently by Springborn coincide with the index of the Cohn matrices defined by Aigner. This provides a simple concatenation rule for the corresponding continued fractions on the Conway topograph. We also discuss the $q$-deformation of Markov fractions in the sense of Morier-Genoud and Ovsienko, as well as their ``metallic" version motivated by the work of Spalding and the author.

arXiv commentExtended version with $q$-deformed and "metallic" generalisations added