Questions tagged [irrational-numbers]
An irrational number is a real number that cannot be expressed in the form $\frac{n}{m}$ where $n$ and $m$ are integers.
117 questions
6
votes
1
answer
373
views
The square root of natural number expressed by an infinite series
Can you prove or disprove the following claim:
Let $U(n,P,Q)$ be the nth generalized Lucas number of the first kind and let $m$ be a natural number. Then,
$$\sqrt{m}=1+\displaystyle\sum_{n=1}^{\infty}...
6
votes
1
answer
649
views
Algebraic and rational parts of a real number
Let $\alpha$ be a positive real number. Does it make sense to define the closest rational to $\alpha$ as the number $R(\alpha)=\frac{p_1}{p_2}$ such that $p_1,p_2$ are positive co-prime integers ...
6
votes
0
answers
283
views
Is the arithmetic-geometric mean of 1 and 2 rational?
It is easy to show that, for two fixed real numbers $\alpha, \beta > 0$, the sequences given by $a_ 1 = \frac{\alpha + \beta }{2}$, $ g_1 = \sqrt{\alpha\beta}$, and $a_{n+1} = \frac{a_n + g_n}{2}$, ...
6
votes
0
answers
465
views
Conway's box function iterated to produce a hierarchy of nested sets of real numbers
Conway's box function is the inverse of Minkowski's question mark function. It maps the dyadic rationals on the unit interval to the rationals using the Stern-Brocot tree (Farey sequence). When the ...
6
votes
0
answers
306
views
Irrationality of the sum of the reciprocal of perfect powers
A couple of days ago I was trying to remember a classical exercise (which I now find out goes by the name of Goldbach-Euler theorem). Eventually I figured out that it asked to prove that $$\sum_{p\in\...
5
votes
1
answer
2k
views
Lebesgue measure of some set of irrational numbers
Let $(i_{n})$ be a strictly increasing sequence of natural numbers,
$(v_{n})$ be an unbounded sequences of natural numbers
and $M\geq 2$. Denote by $\mathcal{I}(i_{n}, v_{n}, M)$ the set of all ...
5
votes
1
answer
330
views
Irrationality of $e^{x/y}$
How to prove the following continued fraction of $e^{x/y}$
$${\displaystyle e^{x/y}=1+{\cfrac {2x}{2y-x+{\cfrac {x^{2}}{6y+{\cfrac {x^{2}}{10y+{\cfrac {x^{2}}{14y+{\cfrac {x^{2}}{18y+\ddots }}}}}}}}}}...
5
votes
1
answer
586
views
What is known about constructively irrational numbers?
Intuitively, a constructively irrational number is one for which we can effectively separate it from any rational number in terms of the latter's denominator. More formally, a constructively ...
5
votes
1
answer
351
views
Mapping $\mathbb P$ onto $\mathbb Q ^\omega$
Let $\mathbb P$ denote the space of irrationals. Is there a continuous bijection (one-to-one and onto) $f:\mathbb P\to \mathbb Q ^\omega$ that maps each closed subset of $\mathbb P$ to a $G_\delta$-...
5
votes
0
answers
109
views
Approximation of an irrational point from a given direction
Taking norms to be maximal norm, then the simultaneous version of the Dirichlet's approximation theorem states that given real numbers ${\displaystyle \alpha _{1},\ldots ,\alpha _{d}} $,there are ...
4
votes
1
answer
3k
views
Is it possible to know if $\log(\pi)$ is irrational or not since the $\log$ function is the inverse of the $\exp$ function?
I'm interested in knowing more about the question if $f(\pi)$ is rational or not, where $f$ is some well-known function. For example, $\cos(\pi) =-1$ is rational, while ${e}^{\pi}$ is irrational as ...
4
votes
1
answer
361
views
Irrationality of this trigonometric function
I'd like to prove the following conjecture.
Let $x = \frac{p}{q}\pi$ be a rational angle ($p,q$ integers, $q \geq 1$).
Then
$f(x) = \frac{2}{\pi} \arccos{\left(2\cos^4(2x)-1 \right)}$
is irrational if ...
4
votes
1
answer
2k
views
The constant $\pi$ expressed by an infinite series
I am looking for the proof of the following claim:
First, define the function $\operatorname{sgn_1}(n)$ as follows:
$$\operatorname{sgn_1}(n)=\begin{cases} -1 \quad \text{if } n \neq 3 \text{ and } n \...
4
votes
0
answers
66
views
Show that there are infinitely many well-separated grids from a fixed set of points
I have stumbled upon a question which naturally arises when trying to bin a set of $n$ points into equispaced bins such that they are sufficiently well separated from the bin edges.
Take $n$ points $...
4
votes
0
answers
223
views
What is known about the irrationality of ratios and products of logarithms of integers?
Let $a,b,c,d$ be positive natural numbers such that $\{a,b\} \neq \{c,d\}$ and such that none are perfect powers. Is it true that
$$\frac{\log a \log b}{\log c \log d} \notin \mathbb{Q} ?$$
The ...
4
votes
0
answers
447
views
The irrational numbers α such that n odd and m=⌊nα⌋ odd implies ⌊mα⌋ odd
This post is the analogous of that one (about $\sqrt{2}$) but with a much stronger expectation here.
We observed, and then this comment of Lucia proved, that for $\phi$ the golden ratio, if $n$ ...
4
votes
0
answers
239
views
A connection between basic hypergeometric series and number theory
I am studying functions given by the power series:
$$f(z)=1+\sum_{n=1}^{\infty}\frac{z^n}{(1-q)(1-q^2)\cdots(1-q^{n})}.$$
The parameter $q$ is usually assumed to be such that $|q|<1$. Then it is ...
3
votes
2
answers
452
views
Example of irrational number with a pattern in digits [closed]
Suppose I created the following random number generator.
A trusted person choose a irrational number. That can easily defined and computed by a computer. Like square root of a prime.
Every time the ...
3
votes
2
answers
286
views
$\mathbb{S}^2$ equivalent to frac$(n \alpha)$ equidistribution on $\mathbb{S}^1$
Let $\operatorname{frac}(x) = x - \lfloor x \rfloor$ be the fractional part of $x$.
Then, for $\alpha$ irrational, $\operatorname{frac}(n \alpha)$, $n=1,2,\ldots$, distributes
randomly in $[0,1)$, ...
3
votes
1
answer
315
views
Distribution of the first occurrence of a maximum (record) run of zeros in the digits of a normal number (say $\pi$)
If the question was stated to appeal to the general public, it would be something like this. For a number such as $\pi$ or $\sqrt{2}$, the digits in base $b$ appear to be randomly distributed. We are ...
3
votes
2
answers
1k
views
Irrational number with known probability distribution on digits
Is there any irrational number that is known the probability distribution of digits?
Something like 0 appears 10% of time, 1 appears 10% of time, etc.
Probably irrational numbers that are defined ...
3
votes
1
answer
513
views
Regarding the digit expansion of $\sqrt 7$
Let $\sqrt 7=\sum_{i=0}^\infty a_i 7^{-i}, 0\le a_i \le 6$ be the expansion of $\sqrt 7$ in base $7$.
I am curious about the following question: Is there a $K\in \mathbb{N}$ such that for any $n\ge ...
3
votes
1
answer
208
views
$\psi(2,1/6),\psi(4,1/6)$ in terms of zeta and pi only and another closed form for zeta
Let $\psi(n,x)$ denote the polygamma function.
In this answer Lucia gave linear relations for $\psi(m,1/3),\psi(m,1/6),\zeta(m+1)$.
The computer managed to find closed form for $\psi(2,1/6)$ and $\...
3
votes
1
answer
82
views
Evaluating the generalized continued fraction obtained from the factorization of a bivariate polynomial equation
Happy New Year, MO community!
We need someone expert in Generalized Continued Fractions (GCFs), with a deep knowledge of the GCFs’ convergence properties, to solve the following problem.
PROBLEM
...
3
votes
1
answer
312
views
Looking for a proof that $\pi$ is irrational using a series representation for it
This have been asked on MSE but got no answers.
I'm searching for a proof that $\pi$ is irrational using a series representation for $\pi$, but can't find it.
However, on this wikipedia page show'...
3
votes
0
answers
146
views
Two algebraically independent irrational numbers $\alpha,\beta$ s.t. $\alpha^\beta$ is a rational number
Are there two algebraically independent irrational numbers $\alpha,\beta$ s.t. $\alpha^\beta$ is a rational number?
3
votes
0
answers
208
views
Help with this irrationality proof
I have a real number, that is quite messy so I'll just call it $x$. I want to prove it's irrational. It's a proof by contradiction. The contradiction will rise if I assume $x$ is a rational number $p/...
3
votes
0
answers
202
views
Irrationality or transcendence of $i^{i\Omega}$ and $2^\Omega$, with $\Omega=W(1)$ and $W(x)$ being the main branch of Lambert $W$ function
In this post we denote the main (or principal) branch of the Lambert $W$ function as $W(x)$, I add as reference that Wikipedia has the article Lambert $W$ function. The particular value $W(1)=\Omega$ ...
2
votes
1
answer
2k
views
Chudnovsky algorithm and Pi precision
What are the precision/ number of correct Pi digits after N iterations of Chudnovsky algorithm. Looking for a formula (rather than a table) and reference.
2
votes
1
answer
162
views
infinite set of mutually irrational numbers which odd linear combinations approximate 0 badly
I'm looking for a set of real numbers $\{\lambda_i;i\geq 1\}$ such that for each odd $n$, one can control $\delta_n:=\inf| \sum_i \pm n_i \lambda_i|$ where the $n_i$ are natural integers that sum to $...
2
votes
1
answer
356
views
Computing all "suboptimal" rational approximations to $\pi/2$
I have an irrational number $\alpha$ ($\alpha=\frac\pi2$), and I would like to determine all integers $n\in[1,N]$ ($N=10^{16}$) that satisfy
$$ n \epsilon(n)^2 \leq \tau $$
where $\tau$ is a known ...
2
votes
1
answer
213
views
Irrational rotations are rank 2 by intervals without spacers
Let $\alpha$ be an irrational number, and $R_\alpha$ be the rotation by $\alpha$, that is $R_\alpha(x)=x+\alpha\bmod 1$.
S. Ferenczi in his survey [Systems of finite rank. Colloq. Math. 73 (1997), no. ...
2
votes
1
answer
88
views
On finding the region $R$ for which the multi-variable sequence converges [closed]
Find the region $(x,y) \in R$ for which the following sequence converges
$$\lim_{n \to \infty} \; \;\left| e^n\frac{(\sqrt{y}-\sqrt{x})^{2n}}{x^n} \right| = 0$$
I am currently doing number theory ...
2
votes
1
answer
162
views
O(1) or o(logn) discrepancy for multiples of an irrational for at least one sub interval
O(1) or o(logn) discrepancy for multiples of an irrational for at least one sub interval.
Using $\{x\}$ to denote the fraction part of $x$ we can define for any $I\subset [0,1]$,
$$E(n,\theta, I) ={ ...
2
votes
0
answers
157
views
Subsets of particular values of $\zeta'(k)$ that contain irrational numbers
We consider the set of elements $\zeta'(2),\zeta'(3),\zeta'(4),\zeta'(5),\ldots$ where $\zeta(z)$ is the Riemann zeta function and $\zeta'(z)=\frac{d}{dz}\zeta(z)$ its derivative. Thus we consider ...
2
votes
0
answers
140
views
Combination of irrationals
Fix a very small $\epsilon>0$; and irrationals $a_1,a_2>0$. Now suppose we look at all integer combinations of these irrationals which has a small norm; that is,
$$
S=\{(m_1,m_2)\in\mathbb{Z}\...
2
votes
0
answers
43
views
Fractional parts of two multiples [duplicate]
There is a theorem (I can't remember its name) saying that for any irrational number $x$ and any $0<a<b<1$, there exists a positive integer $n$ such that $\{nx\}\in (a,b)$, where $\{\cdot\}$ ...
2
votes
0
answers
148
views
Bitwise operation of two square roots
Let $\sqrt 2 = 1.a_1a_2\dots _2$, and $\sqrt 3 = 1.b_1b_2\dots _2$. What can one say about the number $n = 0.c_1c_2\dots$ where $c_i = 1$ if $a_i = b_i$ and $0$ otherwise? There is no reason to ...
1
vote
2
answers
630
views
Are rationals everywhere equally dense? [closed]
I would like to know is there any notion of density over the rationals with which we could determine are rationals everywhere equally dense on the real line, because, for example, I am not sure would ...
1
vote
1
answer
120
views
Sobolev-type estimate for irrational winding on a torus
Let $\mathbb{T} = \{ (x, y) \in \mathbb{R}^2 \}/_{x \mapsto x + 1, y \mapsto y + 1}$ be a real 2-torus. Let $\mathscr{C}^{\infty}_0(\mathbb{T})$ be the subset of $\mathscr{C}^{\infty}(\mathbb{T})$ of ...
1
vote
1
answer
146
views
Rational linear subspace corresponding to an irrational vector
Given a vector $v = (v_1, \ldots, v_n) \in \mathbb{R}^n$, we can associate a rational linear subspace with this vector: assume $\{1, v_i \text{ for }i \in I\}$ is a linear basis of $\{1, v_1, \ldots, ...
1
vote
1
answer
234
views
Quotients of the irrationals
Everyone knows that there is a closed equivalence relation $\sim$ on the Cantor set $C$ such that each non-trivial equivalence class has exactly $2$ points and $[0,1]\simeq C/\sim$. Thus a closed ...
1
vote
1
answer
135
views
Rational Peano curves
An rr function (i.e. rational rational function) is a quotient
$$ \frac fg\,:\, \Bbb Q\ \to\ \Bbb Q\cup\{\infty\} $$
such that $\ f,g\,\in\,\Bbb Z[X],\ $ where $\ g\ne 0.$
QUESTION Do there exist ...
1
vote
1
answer
629
views
If $x^x=2$ then is $x$ expressible using elementary functions?
I have a curious question. Let $x∈\mathbb{R}^+$ such that $x^x=2$. I am aware that the Gelfond–Schneider theorem implies that $x$ cannot be algebraic. However, is it still possible that $x$ can be ...
1
vote
1
answer
163
views
A question on subgroup-restricted irrationality measures
The irrationality measure μ(x) of a positive irrational number x is defined to be the supremum of the exponents e such that |x - p/q| < 1/q^e has an infinite number of solutions p/q. By the ...
1
vote
0
answers
148
views
Rational solutions to $\cos(\lambda \pi) = \cos^2(a\pi) - \cos(b\pi) \sin^2(a\pi) $, with $a,b \in \mathbb{Q}$
In a similar vein to this question, I am trying to understand the occurrence of rational solutions $\lambda$ to the following equation $$\cos(\lambda \pi) = \cos^2 (a\pi) - \cos ( b\pi ) \sin^2 \left(...
1
vote
0
answers
120
views
Question on recursive formulas for $\eta(2 n+1)$ and $\beta(2 n)$ where $n\in\mathbb{N}$
This question is a refinement of my related MSE question which was asked over 2 years ago and no answers have yet been posted.
Consider the following formulas for the Dirichlet eta function $\eta(s)$ ...
1
vote
0
answers
243
views
The power of irrationality: ${\rm sin}(x) + {\rm sin}(\pi x)$ [closed]
I'm a physicist studying undulatory phenomena. Reducing the problem, I find the issue lies on the relative irrationality of the angular frequencies of two superimposed waves. To state it simply, ...
1
vote
0
answers
256
views
Ergodic Theory and Euler-Mascheroni Constant
I am highly interested in doing research on proving irrationality of some specific numbers like Euler-Mascheroni Constant or $\zeta(5)$. A professor guided me that arithmetic nature of constants are a ...
1
vote
0
answers
75
views
On the degree of irrationality of two irrational numbers and their rational (in)dependence
Let $x$ and $y$ be some irrational numbers. If the degree of irrationality of $x$ is the same as that of $y$, is it necessarily the case that $x$ and $y$ are rationally dependent ?
ADDENDUM: What if $...