DOCSLIB.ORG

Rational Irrational

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Rational Irrational SOME IRRATIONALS I HAVE KNOWN John Martin Santa Rosa Junior College Dr. Orval Klose 2 and ! Dr. Orval Klose An Extraordinary Statement “It may surprise you to learn that the set of irrationals is more numerous than the set of rationals.” The Number System Ishango Bone Lemombo Bone c. 20,000 B.C. c. 35,000 B.C. The Number System { 1, 2, 3, …} The Natural Numbers ( ) { … , − 3, − 2, −1, 0, 1, 2, 3, …} The Integers ( ) ⎧ a ⎫ ⎨ a and b are integers and b ≠ 0 ⎬ ⎩ b ⎭ The Rational Numbers ( ) The Number System Rational 1 Integer 2 0 Natural 2 1 3 1 3 2 4 2 2.25 !# !$ !" The naturals are a subset of the integers. ⊂ The integers are a subset of the rationals. ⊂ The Number System Rational 1 Integer 2 0 Natural 2 1 3 1 3 2 4 2 2.25 !# !$ !" 3 2 1 2 0 1 1 2 2.25 3 3 2 Dense: Between any two fractions lies another. The Number System Rational 1 Integer 2 0 Natural 2 1 3 1 3 2 4 2 2.25 !# !$ !" 3 2 1 2 01 1 22.25 3 3 2 2 π A Small Problem Pythagoras of Samos c. 570 B.C. – c. 495 B.C. c b a 2 2 2 a + b = c A Small Problem If a = 1 then 2 2 2 c = 1 + 1 = 2 c a and c = 2. a What kind of number 2 2 2 a + a = c is 2 ? A Small Problem 2 ∈ Hippasus Proof That 2 is Not Rational N Assume that 2 = , where N and D have no D common factor. Then 2D2 = N2. = + D D N Proof That 2 is Not Rational N Assume that 2 = , where N and D have no D common factor. Then 2D2 = N2. a = + a a b b So, b2 = a2 + a2 = 2a2 a D N Contradiction! 2 ∉ A Small Problem Pythagoras of Samos “Alogos” c. 570 B.C. – c. 495 B.C. The Unutterable A real number that cannot be expressed as the ratio of two integers is said to be irrational. Humor in Mathematics? “We have reason to believe that Martin himself is an irrational number!” The Golden Ratio Numerical Constants The Golden Ratio Numerical Constants OTHER CONSTANTS Golden Ratio ø = 1. 61803 39887 49894 84820 45868 34365 63811 77203 09180 The Golden Rectangle: A rectangle with the property that the removal of a square results in a new rectangle that has the same proportions as the original. « ® x 1 ® = ® ® ® 1 x-1 ® ¬ 1 ® 1 ® 2 ® x -x = 1 ® ® 1 x-1 ­® x2-x-1 = 0 x 1 ± 1-4(-1) 1 ±+ 5 x = = ≈ 1.618… = φ 2 2 A Small Problem Theorem: If k is not a perfect square, then k ∉. 1+ 5 The Golden Ratio: φ = ∉ 2 Theorem: If k is not a perfect nth power, then n k ∉. A Famous Irrational – e n Consider the expression: (1+1 n) n n (1+1 n) 1 2 10 2.59374 100 2.70481 1000 2.71692 10000 2.71815 lim (1+1 n)n = e ≈ 2.718281828459045… n→∞ A Famous Irrational – e Proved the irrationality of Leonard Euler 2 e and e in 1737. 1707–1783 1 e = 2 + 1 1+ 1 2 + 1 1+ 1 1+ 1 4 + 1+ A Proof of the Irrationality of e N Assume that e = , where N and D have no D common factor. ∞ 1 1 1 1 Recall: e = = 1+ + + + ∑ n! 1! 2! 3! n= 0 Then we have: N 1 1 1 1 ∞ 1 = 1+ + + ++ + D 1! 2! 3! D! ∑ n! n=D+1 A Proof of the Irrationality of e N 1 1 1 1 ∞ 1 = 1+ + + ++ + D 1! 2! 3! D! ∑ n! n=D+1 Multiply both sides by D! to get D! D! D! D! ∞ D! N(D −1)! = D! + + + ++ + D ∑ n! 1! 2! 3! ! n=D+1 Note that N(D −1)! is an integer, as are the terms ∞ D! ∞ D! before . Thus, is an integer. ∑ n! ∑ n! n=D+1 n=D+1 A Proof of the Irrationality of e But, ∞ D! 1 1 1 = + + + ∑ n! D +1 (D +1)(D + 2) (D +1)(D + 2)(D + 3) n=D+1 1 1 1 < + 2 + 3 + D +1 (D +1) (D +1) This last sum is a geometric series and 1 1 1 1 D +1 1 + + + = = . D +1 (D +1)2 (D +1)3 1 D 1− D +1 A Proof of the Irrationality of e ∞ D! 1 This means that 0 < < . ∑ n! D n=D+1 ∞ D! Thus cannot be an integer, as shown ∑ n! n=D+1 earlier. Contradiction! Hence, e . ∉ 1 n Also, sin(1 n), cos(1 n), and e ∉ for every positive integer n. Another Famous Irrational – π Showed that: Johann Lambert 1728–1777 If x is a rational number other than zero, the value of tan(x) is irrational. Since tan(π 4) = 1, it follows that π 4 and hence π is irrational. Another Famous Irrational – π Showed that: Johann Lambert 1728–1777 If x is a rational number other than zero, the value of tan(x) is irrational. This result was extended to include the irrationality of x sin x, cos x, and e for all rational x ≠ 0. Dr. Orval Klose An Extraordinary Statement “It may surprise you to learn that the set of irrationals is more numerous than the set of rationals.” The Infinities of Georg Cantor Georg Cantor In 1874 Cantor published an 1845–1918 article, titled "On a Property of the Collection of All Real Algebraic Numbers." This article was the first to provide a rigorous proof that there was more than one kind of infinity. The Infinities of Georg Cantor Set: A collection of objects. Georg Cantor 1845–1918 { a, b, c, … , z} { 1, 2, 3, … } Cardinality: The number of elements in a set. Notation: n(A) Example: n a, b, c, , z ({ … }) = 26 The Infinities of Georg Cantor One-to-one correspondence: A rule that assigns to each element of one set, one and only one element of a second set, with no element omitted. {1, 2, 3, 4, 5 } { a, e, i, o, u } The Infinities of Georg Cantor One-to-one correspondence: A rule that assigns to each element of one set, one and only one element of a second set, with no element omitted. { 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, …} { 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, …} The Infinities of Georg Cantor Discourses Concerning the Two Galileo Galilei New Sciences (1638) 1564–1642 { 1, 2, 3, 4, 5,…} { 1, 4, 9, 16, 25,…} “So far as I see, we can only infer that the number of squares is infinite and the number of their roots is infinite.” The Infinities of Georg Cantor Postulate: Georg Cantor 1845–1918 Whenever two sets – finite or infinite – can be matched by a one-to-one correspondence, they have the same number of elements. n 1, 2, 3, n 2, 4, 6, ({ …}) = ({ …}) n 1, 4, 9, = ({ …}) n , 3, 2, 1, 0, 1, 2, 3, = ({… − − − …}) The Infinities of Georg Cantor Denumerable: Any set that can be placed into a one-to-one correspondence with the natural numbers. Examples: The even numbers, the squares, the integers, the primes and the rationals! The Infinities of Georg Cantor Notation: n = (aleph-null) ( ) ℵ0 Thus, n = n = n = ℵ0 ( ) ( ) ( ) 3 2 1 0 1 2 3 The real number line: Cantor showed: n() < n() = c (continuum) The Infinities of Georg Cantor Now, R eals = Rationals ∪ Irrationals and n(Rationals) = ℵ0 . But n(Reals) = c > ℵ0 , so n(Irrationals) > ℵ0 . Thus, n(Irrationals) > n(Rationals). The Irrational Hall of Fame 2 φ e π Algebraic Numbers Algebraic: A number that is a solution to a polynomial equation with integer coefficients. a bx − a = 0 b 2 7 x − 7 = 0 2 2 + 3 x − 4x +1 = 0 3 6 3 −2 + 6 x + 4x − 2 = 0 2 and φ are algebraic Algebraic Numbers Algebraic: A number that is a solution to a polynomial equation with integer coefficients. Are there any non-algebraic irrational numbers? Non-Algebraic Numbers Transcendental: Joseph Liouville 1809–1882 An irrational number that is not algebraic. Liouville’s constant: 1 1 1 1 + + + + 101! 102! 103! 104! = 0.110001000000000000000001000… Transcendental Numbers Transcendental: An irrational number that is not algebraic. Charles Hermite “I shall risk nothing on an 1822–1901 attempt to prove the transcendence of π. If others undertake this enterprise, no one will be happier than I in their success. But believe me, it will not fail to cost them some effort.” e is transcendental Transcendental Numbers Transcendental: An irrational number that is not algebraic. Ferdinand von Charles Hermite Lindemann 1822–1901 1852–1939 e is transcendental π is transcendental The Infinities of Georg Cantor R eals () = Algebraic ( A ) ∪ Transcendentals n Transcendentals What about n( A ) and ( )? In 1874 Cantor showed that n( ) . A = ℵ0 Hence, n(Transcendentals) > ℵ0 . Thus, most real numbers are irrational and most irrational numbers are transcendental! The Real Number System Real ! Real Algebraic e Rational 2 2! 1 3 Integer 2 0 1 + 5 Transcen- Natural 2 dental 1 3 2 1 3 2 4 2 Irrational 2.25 !$ !% !# !"A !" The Property of Closure The sum of any two natural numbers is another natural number. The naturals are closed under addition. The integers are closed under subtraction. The Property of Closure Rational Irrational 2 − 2 = 0 3 + 3 = 2 3 3 ⋅ 12 = 6 7 ⋅ 3 = 21 24 30 = 2 = 5 6 6 The set of irrationals is not closed under the operations of addition, subtraction, multiplication and division.
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Liouville Numbers
    Math 154 Notes 2 In these notes I’ll construct some explicit transcendental numbers. These numbers are examples of Liouville numbers. Let {ak} be a sequence of positive integers, and suppose that ak divides ak+1 for all k. We say that {ak} has moderate growth if there is some con- K stant K such that an+1 <K(an) for all n. Otherwise we say that {an} has immoderate growth. ∞ 1 Theorem 0.1 k P If {a } has immoderate growth then the number x = n=1 an is transcendental. Proof: We will suppose that P (x) = 0 for some polynomial P . There is some constant C1 such that P has degree at most C1 and all the coefficients of P are less than C1 in absolute value. Let xn = 1/a1 + ... +1/an. The divisibility condition guarantees that xn = hn/an, where hn is some integer. As long as P (xn) is nonzero, we have −C1 |P (xn) − P (x)| = |P (xn)|≥ (an) . (1) This just comes from the fact that P (xn) is a rational number whose denom- C1 inator is at most (an) . ′ On the other hand, there is some constant C2 such that |P (u)| < C2 for all u in the interval [x − 1,x + 1]. For n large, xn lies in this interval. Therefore, by the usual estimate that comes from integration, −1 |P (xn) − P (x)| <C2|xn − x| < 2C2an+1. (2) The last inequality comes from the fact that {1/an} decays faster than the sequence {1/2n} once n is large.
    [Show full text]
  • Irrationality and Transcendence of Alternating Series Via Continued
    Mathematical Assoc. of America American Mathematical Monthly 0:0 October 1, 2020 12:43 a.m. alternatingseries.tex page 1 Irrationality and Transcendence of Alternating Series Via Continued Fractions Jonathan Sondow Abstract. Euler gave recipes for converting alternating series of two types, I and II, into equiv- alent continued fractions, i.e., ones whose convergents equal the partial sums. A condition we prove for irrationality of a continued fraction then allows easy proofs that e, sin 1, and the pri- morial constant are irrational. Our main result is that, if a series of type II is equivalent to a sim- ple continued fraction, then the sum is transcendental and its irrationality measure exceeds 2. ℵℵ0 = We construct all 0 c such series and recover the transcendence of the Davison–Shallit and Cahen constants. Along the way, we mention π, the golden ratio, Fermat, Fibonacci, and Liouville numbers, Sylvester’s sequence, Pierce expansions, Mahler’s method, Engel series, and theorems of Lambert, Sierpi´nski, and Thue-Siegel-Roth. We also make three conjectures. 1. INTRODUCTIO. In a 1979 lecture on the Life and Work of Leonhard Euler, Andr´eWeil suggested “that our students of mathematics would profit much more from a study of Euler’s Introductio in Analysin Infinitorum, rather than of the available mod- ern textbooks” [17, p. xii]. The last chapter of the Introductio is “On Continued Frac- tions.” In it, after giving their form, Euler “next look[s] for an equivalent expression in the usual way of expressing fractions” and derives formulas for the convergents. He then converts a continued fraction into an equivalent alternating series, i.e., one whose partial sums equal the convergents.
    [Show full text]
  • On Transcendental Numbers: New Results and a Little History
    Axioms 2013, xx, 1-x; doi:10.3390/—— OPEN ACCESS axioms ISSN 2075-1680 www.mdpi.com/journal/axioms Communication On transcendental numbers: new results and a little history Solomon Marcus1 and Florin F. Nichita1,* 1 Institute of Mathematics of the Romanian Academy, 21 Calea Grivitei Street, 010702 Bucharest, Romania * Author to whom correspondence should be addressed; E-Mail: [email protected]; Tel: (+40) (0) 21 319 65 06; Fax: (+40) (0) 21 319 65 05 Received: xx / Accepted: xx / Published: xx Abstract: Attempting to create a general framework for studying new results on transcendental numbers, this paper begins with a survey on transcendental numbers and transcendence, it then presents several properties of the transcendental numbers e and π, and then it gives the proofs of new inequalities and identities for transcendental numbers. Also, in relationship with these topics, we study some implications for the theory of the Yang-Baxter equations, and we propose some open problems. Keywords: Euler’s relation, transcendental numbers; transcendental operations / functions; transcendence; Yang-Baxter equation Classification: MSC 01A05; 11D09; 11T23; 33B10; 16T25 arXiv:1502.05637v2 [math.HO] 5 Dec 2017 1. Introduction One of the most famous formulas in mathematics, the Euler’s relation: eπi +1=0 , (1) contains the transcendental numbers e and π, the imaginary number i, the constants 0 and 1, and (transcendental) operations. Beautiful, powerful and surprising, it has changed the mathematics forever. We will unveil profound aspects related to it, and we will propose a counterpart: ei π < e , (2) | − | Axioms 2013, xx 2 Figure 1. An interpretation of the inequality ei π < e .
    [Show full text]
  • Transcendental Numbers
    INTRODUCTION TO TRANSCENDENTAL NUMBERS VO THANH HUAN Abstract. The study of transcendental numbers has developed into an enriching theory and constitutes an important part of mathematics. This report aims to give a quick overview about the theory of transcen- dental numbers and some of its recent developments. The main focus is on the proof that e is transcendental. The Hilbert's seventh problem will also be introduced. 1. Introduction Transcendental number theory is a branch of number theory that concerns about the transcendence and algebraicity of numbers. Dated back to the time of Euler or even earlier, it has developed into an enriching theory with many applications in mathematics, especially in the area of Diophantine equations. Whether there is any transcendental number is not an easy question to answer. The discovery of the first transcendental number by Liouville in 1851 sparked up an interest in the field and began a new era in the theory of transcendental number. In 1873, Charles Hermite succeeded in proving that e is transcendental. And within a decade, Lindemann established the tran- scendence of π in 1882, which led to the impossibility of the ancient Greek problem of squaring the circle. The theory has progressed significantly in recent years, with answer to the Hilbert's seventh problem and the discov- ery of a nontrivial lower bound for linear forms of logarithms of algebraic numbers. Although in 1874, the work of Georg Cantor demonstrated the ubiquity of transcendental numbers (which is quite surprising), finding one or proving existing numbers are transcendental may be extremely hard. In this report, we will focus on the proof that e is transcendental.
    [Show full text]
  • Solving Recurrence Equations
    Great Theoretical Ideas In Computer Science V. Adamchik CS 15-251 Spring 2010 D. Sleator Solve in integers Lecture 8 Feb 04, 2010 Carnegie Mellon University Recurrences and Continued Fractions x1 + x2 +…+ x5 = 40 xkrk; yk=xk – k y1 + y2 +…+ y5 = 25 y ≥ 0; k 29 4 Partitions Solve in integers Find the number of ways to partition the integer n x + y + z = 11 3 = 1+1+1=1+2 xr0; yb3; zr0 4=1+1+1+1=1+1+2=1+3=2+2 2 3 x1 2x2 3x3 ... nxn n [X11] 1 x x x (1 -x) 2 1 (1 -x)(1 -x2)(1 -x3)...(1 -xn) Leonardo Fibonacci The rabbit reproduction model •A rabbit lives forever In 1202, Fibonacci has become •The population starts as a single newborn interested in rabbits and what they do pair •Every month, each productive pair begets a new pair which will become productive after 2 months old Fn= # of rabbit pairs at the beginning of the nth month month 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 rabbits 1 1 2 3 5 8 13 1 F =0, F =1, 0 1 WARNING!!!! Fn=Fn-1+Fn-2 for n≥2 This lecture has What is a closed form explicit mathematical formula for Fn? content that can be shocking to some students. n n-1 n-2 Characteristic Equation - - = 0 n-2 2 Characteristic Fn=Fn-1+Fn-2 iff ( - - 1) = 0 equation Consider solutions of the form: iff 2 - - 1 = 0 n 1 5 Fn= for some (unknown) constant ≠ 0 2 = , or = -1/ must satisfy: (“phi”) is the golden ratio n - n-1 - n-2 = 0 a,b a n + b (-1/ )n = , or = -(1/ ) satisfies the inductive condition So for all these values of the Adjust a and b to fit the base inductive condition is satisfied: conditions.
    [Show full text]
  • A Computable Absolutely Normal Liouville Number
    MATHEMATICS OF COMPUTATION Volume 84, Number 296, November 2015, Pages 2939–2952 http://dx.doi.org/10.1090/mcom/2964 Article electronically published on April 24, 2015 A COMPUTABLE ABSOLUTELY NORMAL LIOUVILLE NUMBER VERONICA´ BECHER, PABLO ARIEL HEIBER, AND THEODORE A. SLAMAN Abstract. We give an algorithm that computes an absolutely normal Liou- ville number. 1. The main result The set of Liouville numbers is {x ∈ R \ Q : ∀k ∈ N, ∃q ∈ N,q>1and||qx|| <q−k} where ||x|| =min{|x−m| : m ∈ Z} is the distance of a real number x to the nearest −k! integer and other notation is as usual. Liouville’s constant, k≥1 10 ,isthe standard example of a Liouville number. Though uncountable, the set of Liouville numbers is small, in fact, it is null, both in Lebesgue measure and in Hausdorff dimension (see [6]). We say that a base is an integer s greater than or equal to 2. A real number x is normal to base s if the sequence (sjx : j ≥ 0) is uniformly distributed in the unit interval modulo one. By Weyl’s Criterion [11], x is normal to base s if and only if certain harmonic sums associated with (sjx : j ≥ 0) grow slowly. Absolute normality is normality to every base. Bugeaud [6] established the existence of absolutely normal Liouville numbers by means of an almost-all argument for an appropriate measure due to Bluhm [3, 4]. The support of this measure is a perfect set, which we call Bluhm’s fractal, all of whose irrational elements are Liouville numbers.
    [Show full text]
  • Liouville Numbers
    Liouville Numbers Manuel Eberl April 17, 2016 Abstract In this work, we define the concept of Liouville numbers as well as the standard construction to obtain Liouville numbers and we prove their most important properties: irrationality and transcendence. This is historically interesting since Liouville numbers constructed in the standard way where the first numbers that were proven to be transcendental. The proof is very elementary and requires only stan- dard arithmetic and the Mean Value Theorem for polynomials and the boundedness of polynomials on compact intervals. Contents 1 Liouville Numbers1 1.1 Preliminary lemmas.......................1 1.2 Definition of Liouville numbers.................3 1.3 Standard construction for Liouville numbers..........7 1 Liouville Numbers 1.1 Preliminary lemmas theory Liouville-Numbers-Misc imports Complex-Main ∼∼=src=HOL=Library=Polynomial begin We will require these inequalities on factorials to show properties of the standard construction later. lemma fact-ineq: n ≥ 1 =) fact n + k ≤ fact (n + k) proof (induction k) case (Suc k) from Suc have fact n + Suc k ≤ fact (n + k) + 1 by simp also from Suc have ::: ≤ fact (n + Suc k) by simp finally show ?case . 1 qed simp-all lemma Ints-setsum: assumes Vx: x 2 A =) f x 2 ZZ shows setsum f A 2 ZZ by (cases finite A; insert assms; induction A rule: finite-induct) (auto intro!: Ints-add) lemma suminf-split-initial-segment 0: summable (f :: nat ) 0a::real-normed-vector) =) suminf f = (P n: f (n + k + 1 )) + setsum f f::kg by (subst suminf-split-initial-segment[of
    [Show full text]
  • Transcendental Numbers
    Bachelor Thesis DEGREE IN MATHEMATICS Faculty of Mathematics University of Barcelona TRANSCENDENTAL NUMBERS Author: Adina Nedelea Director: Dr. Ricardo Garc´ıaL´opez Department: Algebra and Geometry Barcelona, June 27, 2016 Summary Transcendental numbers are a relatively recent finding in mathematics and they provide, togheter with the algebraic numbers, a classification of complex numbers. In the present work the aim is to characterize these numbers in order to see the way from they differ the algebraic ones. Going back to ancient times we will observe how, since the earliest history mathematicians worked with transcendental numbers even if they were not aware of it at that time. Finally we will describe some of the consequences and new horizons of mathematics since the apparition of the transcendental numbers. Agradecimientos El trabajo final de grado es un punto final de una etapa y me gustar´aagradecer a todas las personas que me han dado apoyo durante estos a~nosde estudios y hicieron posible que llegue hasta aqu´ı. Empezar´epor agradecer a quien hizo posible este trabajo, a mi tutor Ricardo Garc´ıa ya que sin su paciencia, acompa~namiento y ayuda me hubiera sido mucho mas dif´ıcil llevar a cabo esta tarea. Sigo con los agradecimientos hacia mi familia, sobretodo hacia mi madre quien me ofreci´ola libertad y el sustento aunque no le fuera f´acily a mi "familia adoptiva" Carles, Marilena y Ernest, quienes me ayudaron a sostener y pasar por todo el pro- ceso de maduraci´onque conlleva la carrera y no rendirme en los momentos dif´ıciles. Gracias por la paciencia y el amor de todos ellos.
    [Show full text]
  • The Irrationality Measure of $\Pi $ As Seen Through the Eyes of $\Cos (N) $
    THE IRRATIONALITY MEASURE OF π AS SEEN THROUGH THE EYES OF cos(n) SULLY F. CHEN California Polytechnic University, San Luis Obispo University of Southern California ERIN P. J. PEARSE California Polytechnic University, San Luis Obispo Abstract. For different values of γ ≥ 0, analysis of the end behavior of the nγ sequence an = cos(n) yields a strong connection to the irrationality measure 2 of π. We show that if lim sup j cos njn 6= 1, then the irrationality measure of π is exactly 2. We also give some numerical evidence to support the conjecture that µ(π) = 2, based on the appearance of some startling subsequences of cos(n)n. 1. Introduction 1.1. Irrationality Measure. An irrational number α is considered to be well- approximated by rational numbers iff for any ν 2 N, there are infinitely many p choices of q that satisfy (1). p 1 α − < ; for some ν 2 N: (1) q qµ The idea is that if the set p p 1 U(α; ν) = 2 Q : 0 < α − < (2) q q qν arXiv:1807.02955v3 [math.NT] 29 Jul 2019 is infinite for a fixed ν, then U(α; ν) contains rationals with arbirarily large denom- inators and so one can find a sequence of rationals pn 2 U(α; ν) which converge to qn α. One could say that this sequence converges to α \at rate ν". When this can be accomplished for any ν 2 N, the number α can be approximated by sequences with arbitrarily high rates of convergence.
    [Show full text]
  • This Topic Will Be Treated Again in Our Next Issue. and in the Issue After
    e: The Master of All BRIAN J. MCCARTIN Read Euler, read Euler. He is the master of us all. --P. S. de Laplace aplace's dictum may rightfully be transcribed as: "Study Thus, e was first conceived as the limit e, study e. It is the master of all." L e = lim (1 + l/n)*' = 2.718281828459045" (1) Just as Gauss earned the moniker Princeps mathemati- n~ao corum amongst his contemporaries [1], e may be dubbed although its baptism awaited Euler in the eighteenth cen- Princeps constantium symbolum. Certainly, Euler would tury [2]. One might naively expect that all that could be concur, or why would he have endowed it with his own gleaned from equation (1) would have been mined long initial [2]? ago. Yet, it was only very recently that the asymptotic The historical roots of e have been exhaustively traced development and are readily available [3, 4, 5]. Likewise, certain funda- mental properties of e such as its limit definition, its series =(1+1/n) ~ = ~ e~. representation, its close association with the rectangular hy- perbola, and its relation to compound interest, radioactive decay, and the trigonometric and hyperbolic functions are ev= e l---7--. ' (2) k=o (v+ k)! l=o too well known to warrant treatment here [6, 7]. Rather, the focus of the present article is on matters re- with & denoting the Stirling numbers of the first kind [9], lated to e which are not so widely appreciated or at least was discovered [10]. have never been housed under one roof. When I do in- Although equation (1) is traditionally taken as the defin- dulge in reviewing well-known facts concerning e, it is to ition of e, it is much better approximated by the limit forge a link to results of a more exotic variety.
    [Show full text]
  • On the Arithmetic Behavior of Liouville Numbers Under Rational Maps
    On the Arithmetic Behavior of Liouville Numbers under Rational Maps Ana Paula Chavesa, Diego Marquesb,∗, Pavel Trojovsk´yc aInstituto de Matem´atica e Estat´ıstica, Universidade Federal de Goi´as, Brazil bDepartamento de Matem´atica, Universidade de Bras´ılia, Brazil cFaculty of Science, University of Hradec Kr´alov´e, Czech Republic Abstract In 1972, Alnia¸cik proved that every strong Liouville number is mapped into the set of Um-numbers, for any non-constant rational function with coeffi- cients belonging to an m-degree number field. In this paper, we generalize this result by providing a larger class of Liouville numbers (which, in par- ticular, contains the strong Liouville numbers) with this same property (this set is sharp is a certain sense). Keywords: Mahler’s Classification, Diophantine Approximation, U-numbers, rational functions. 2000 MSC: 11J81, 11J82, 11K60 1. Introduction The beginning of the transcendental number theory happened in 1844, when Liouville [11] showed that algebraic numbers are not “well-approximated” by rationals. More precisely, if α is an n-degree real algebraic number (with n > 1), then there exists a positive constant C, depending only on α, such arXiv:1910.14190v1 [math.NT] 31 Oct 2019 that α p/q > Cq−n, for all rational number p/q. By using this result, | − | Liouville was able to explicit, for the first time, examples of transcendental numbers (the now called Liouville numbers). A real number ξ is called a Liouville number if there exist infinitely many rational numbers (pn/qn)n, with qn > 1, such that ∗Corresponding author Email addresses: [email protected] (Ana Paula Chaves), [email protected] (Diego Marques), [email protected] (Pavel Trojovsk´y) Preprint submitted to ..
    [Show full text]
  • A Computable Absolutely Normal Liouville Number
    A computable absolutely normal Liouville number Verónica Becher Pablo Ariel Heiber Theodore A. Slaman [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] January 30, 2014 Abstract We give an algorithm that computes an absolutely normal Liouville number. 1 The main result The set of Liouville numbers is ´k tx P RzQ : @k P N; Dq P N; q ¡ 1 and ||qx|| ă q u where ||x|| “ mint|x ´ m| : m P Zu is the distance of a real number x to the nearest integer ´k! and other notation is as usual. Liouville’s constant, k¥1 10 , is the standard example of a Liouville number. Though uncountable, the set of Liouville numbers is small, in fact, it is null, both in Lebesgue measure and in Hausdorff dimensionř (see [6]). We say that a base is an integer s greater than or equal to 2. A real number x is normal to base s if the sequence psjx : j ¥ 0q is uniformly distributed in the unit interval modulo one. By Weyl’s Criterion [11], x is normal to base s if and only if certain harmonic sums associated with psjx : j ¥ 0q grow slowly. Absolute normality is normality to every base. Bugeaud [6] established the existence of absolutely normal Liouville numbers by means of an almost-all argument for an appropriate measure due to Bluhm [3, 4]. The support of this measure is a perfect subset of the Liouville numbers, Bluhm’s fractal. The Fourier transform of this measure decays quickly enough to ensure that those harmonic sums grow slowly on a set of measure one.
    [Show full text]