AbstractFor a connected graph G we denote by d(G,k) the number of vertex pairs at distance k. The Hosoya polynomial of G is H(G,x) = ∑k≥0 d(G,k)xk. In this paper, analytical formulae for calculating the polynomials of armchair open‐ended nanotubes are given. Furthermore, the Wiener index, derived from the first derivative of the Hosoya polynomial in x = 1, and the hyper‐Wiener index, from one‐half of the second derivative of the Hosoya polynomial multiplied by x in x = 1, can be calculated. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Quantum Chem, 2007