Can All Coefficients in a Continued Fraction Be the Same Integer?

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SUMMARY

The discussion centers on the construction of continued fractions where all coefficients, both numerators and denominators, are the same integer. The examples provided illustrate that using 1 yields the Fibonacci constant (Golden ratio) and using 2 results in the value of \(\sqrt{2} + 1\). Participants question whether a similar construction can be achieved for integers greater than 2, such as 3, 4, 5, and 6, and explore the implications of these constructions on the resulting values. The conversation highlights the relationship between the coefficients and the resulting irrational numbers derived from these continued fractions.

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  • Understanding of continued fractions and their properties
  • Familiarity with recurrence relations in mathematical sequences
  • Knowledge of irrational numbers and their representations
  • Basic concepts of the Fibonacci sequence and the Golden ratio
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  • Explore the mathematical implications of recurrence relations in continued fractions
  • Study the relationship between continued fractions and irrational numbers
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Klaus_Hoffmann
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Hi, my question is given the recurrence relation for the convergents, could we construct a continued fraction so..

[tex]\alpha = a_{0}+ \frac{b_{0}}{a_{1}+\frac{b_{1}}{a_{2}}+...[/tex]

all the coefficients a's and b's are equal to a certain integer ?

for example if all the coefficients (numerators and denomiators)

* are one we have just the Fibonacci (Golden ratio) constant [tex]\frac{2}{\sqrt 5 -1}[/tex]

* are two we have exactly [tex]\sqrt 2 +1[/tex]

i the sense that expanding the 2 numbers above their continued fraction is made only by 1 or 2, but can we construct a general continued fraction with all the numbers equal to 3,4,5,6,...
 
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Klaus_Hoffmann said:
Hi, my question is given the recurrence relation for the convergents, could we construct a continued fraction so..

[tex]\alpha = a_{0}+ \frac{b_{0}}{a_{1}+\frac{b_{1}}{a_{2}}+...[/tex]

all the coefficients a's and b's are equal to a certain integer ?

for example if all the coefficients (numerators and denomiators)

* are one we have just the Fibonacci (Golden ratio) constant [tex]\frac{2}{\sqrt 5 -1}[/tex]

* are two we have exactly [tex]\sqrt 2 +1[/tex]

i the sense that expanding the 2 numbers above their continued fraction is made only by 1 or 2, but can we construct a general continued fraction with all the numbers equal to 3,4,5,6,...
Something doesn't seem right. If making all the a's and b's 1 gives the Fibonacci (golden ratio) constant, wouldn't making all the a's and b's 2 simply be 2 times the Golden ration rather than [tex]\sqrt 2 + 1[/tex].

Postscript. On the other hand: It seemed to me that any similar manner of construction a continued fraction will give an irrational number of some fixed value which would be a multiple of the continued fraction comprising only ones, but then n/n = 1 so I guess I made a mistake. Anyway at least the numbers are completely predefined.
 
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