continued fraction
Given a sequence of positive real numbers (an)n≥1, with a0 any real number. Consider the sequence
c1 | =a0+1a1 | ||
c2 | =a0+1a1+1a2 | ||
c3 | =a0+1a1+1a2+1a3 | ||
c4 | =… |
The limit c of this sequence, if it exists, is called the value or limit of the infinite continued fraction with convergents (cn), and is denoted by
a0+1a1+1a2+1a3+… |
or by
a0+1a1+1a2+1a3+… |
In the same way, a finite sequence
(an)1≤n≤k |
defines a finite sequence
(cn)1≤n≤k. |
We then speak of a finite continued fraction with value ck.
An archaic word for a continued fraction is anthyphairetic ratio.
If the denominators an are all (positive) integers, we speak of a simple continued fraction. We then use the notation q=⟨a0;a1,a2,a3,…⟩ or, in the finite case, q=⟨a0;a1,a2,a3,…,an⟩.
It is not hard to prove that any irrational number c is the value of a unique infinite simple continued fraction. Moreover, if cn denotes its nth convergent, then c-cn is an alternating sequence and |c-cn| is decreasing (as well as convergent to zero). Also, the value of an infinite simple continued fraction is perforce irrational.
Any rational number is the value of two and only two finite continued fractions; in one of them, the last denominator is 1. E.g.
4330=⟨1;2,3,4⟩=⟨1;2,3,3,1⟩. |
These two conditions on a real number c are equivalent:
1. c is a root of an irreducible quadratic polynomial with integer coefficients.
2. c is irrational and its simple continued fraction is “eventually periodic”; i.e.
c=⟨a0;a1,a2,…⟩ |
and, for some integer m and some integer k>0, we have an=an+k for all n≥m.
For example, consider the quadratic equation for the golden ratio:
x2=x+1 |
or equivalently
x=1+1x. |
We get
x | = | 1+11+1x | ||
= | 1+11+11+1x |
and so on. If x>0, we therefore expect
x=⟨1;1,1,1,…⟩ |
which indeed can be proved. As an exercise, you might like to look for a continued fraction expansion of the other solution of x2=x+1.
Although e is transcendental, there is a surprising pattern in its simple continued fraction expansion.
e=⟨2;1,2,1,1,4,1,1,6,1,1,8,1,1,10,…⟩ |
No pattern is apparent in the expansions some other well-known transcendental constants, such as π and Apéry’s constant ζ(3).
Owing to a kinship with the Euclidean division algorithm, continued fractions arise naturally in number theory. An interesting example is the Pell diophantine equation
x2-Dy2=1 |
where D is a nonsquare integer >0. It turns out that if (x,y) is any solution of the Pell equation other than (±1,0), then |xy| is a convergent to √D.
227 and 355113 are well-known rational approximations to π, and indeed both are convergents to π:
3.14159265… | = | π=⟨3;7,15,1,292,…⟩ | ||
3.14285714… | = | 227=⟨3;7⟩ | ||
3.14159292… | = | 355113=⟨3;7,15,1⟩=⟨3;7,16⟩ |
For one more example, the distribution of leap years in the 4800-month cycle of the Gregorian calendar can be interpreted (loosely speaking) in terms of the continued fraction expansion of the number of days in a solar year.
Title | continued fraction |
Canonical name | ContinuedFraction |
Date of creation | 2013-03-22 12:47:12 |
Last modified on | 2013-03-22 12:47:12 |
Owner | PrimeFan (13766) |
Last modified by | PrimeFan (13766) |
Numerical id | 29 |
Author | PrimeFan (13766) |
Entry type | Definition |
Classification | msc 11Y65 |
Classification | msc 11J70 |
Classification | msc 11A55 |
Synonym | chain fraction |
Related topic | FareySequence |
Related topic | AdjacentFraction |
Related topic | SternBrocotTree |
Related topic | FareyPair |
Defines | anthyphairetic ratio |
Defines | simple continued fraction |