Continued fractions and nested radicals

In summary, a continued fraction is a representation of a number as an infinite sequence of fractions, where the denominator of each fraction is added to the numerator of the next fraction. To convert a decimal to a continued fraction, the Euclidean algorithm can be used. Rational numbers can be represented as finite continued fractions, while irrational numbers have infinite continued fraction representations. Continued fractions and nested radicals have various applications in mathematics, including solving equations, approximating irrational numbers, and studying mathematical constants. They also have connections to other areas such as number theory and dynamical systems.
  • #1
ajawagner
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TL;DR Summary
Isomorphism between continued fractions and nested radicals.
There appears to be a simple isomorphism between continued fractions and nested radicals.

Does anybody know more about this?
 

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  • #2
[tex]y=\sqrt{x+\sqrt{x+\sqrt{x+...}}}[/tex]
From your observation
[tex]y^2-y-x=0[/tex]
[tex]y=\frac{1}{2}(1 \pm \sqrt{1+4x})[/tex]
as x>0,y>0
[tex]y=\frac{1}{2}(1+\sqrt{1+4x})[/tex]
But from the first formula, y(x=0) should be zero. How can we get value of y(x=1) from it which does not show us initial value ? I am afraid this formula is not defined well enough.
 
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1. What are continued fractions and nested radicals?

Continued fractions and nested radicals are mathematical expressions that involve an infinite number of fractions or square roots nested within each other. They are used to represent irrational numbers in a concise and elegant way.

2. How are continued fractions and nested radicals related?

Continued fractions can be converted into nested radicals and vice versa. This means that they are essentially two different ways of representing the same number. Nested radicals are often considered simpler and more intuitive, while continued fractions are more useful for calculations.

3. What is the difference between a simple continued fraction and a regular continued fraction?

A simple continued fraction is one in which all the numerators are equal to 1, while a regular continued fraction has a fixed pattern in the numerators. For example, a simple continued fraction would be 1 + 1/(1 + 1/(1 + 1/...)), while a regular continued fraction could be 1 + 1/(2 + 1/(3 + 1/...)).

4. How are continued fractions and nested radicals used in real-world applications?

Continued fractions and nested radicals have many practical applications in fields such as number theory, physics, and engineering. They can be used to solve equations, approximate irrational numbers, and even optimize algorithms.

5. Are there any famous examples of continued fractions or nested radicals?

Yes, there are many famous examples of continued fractions and nested radicals. One of the most well-known is the golden ratio, which can be represented as both a continued fraction and a nested radical. Another famous example is the square root of 2, which has a simple continued fraction that converges to its exact value.

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