Non-Negative Integer Binary Concatenation: Is This an Irrational Number?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around a number formed by concatenating the binary representations of non-negative integers. Participants explore its properties, particularly its potential irrationality and connections to known mathematical constants.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Technical explanation
  • Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • One participant suggests that the concatenated binary number is irrational due to the lack of repeating patterns.
  • Another participant claims it is referred to as "Jimmy's snide Remark," prompting questions about the name's origin.
  • A participant recalls a series related to primes that resembles the concatenation, suggesting a connection to number theory.
  • One participant notes that the number contains every finite sequence of bits, implying it encompasses all written ideas.
  • Another participant compares the number to the Champernowne constant, specifically its base 2 version, and discusses its properties as a normal number.
  • There is a clarification about the relationship between the discussed number and the Champernowne constant, with some humor about the division by 10.
  • One participant references an article indicating multiple Champernowne constants, expressing a shift in focus to the base 2 version.
  • Another participant humorously reflects on their understanding of binary after the discussion.
  • A comment on the humility of scientists, particularly regarding naming theorems, introduces a light-hearted debate about historical figures like Gauss and Newton.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express various viewpoints about the nature of the number and its properties, with no consensus reached on its classification or naming. The discussion includes humor and personal reflections, indicating a mix of agreement on the interest in the number but disagreement on specific details.

Contextual Notes

Some claims about the properties of the number and its relation to known constants depend on definitions and interpretations that are not universally agreed upon. The discussion includes references to external sources that may not be fully explored within the thread.

Jimmy Snyder
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I am interested in the following number which is obtained by concatenting the binary representations of the non-negative integers:

.011011100101110111...

i.e. dot 0 1 10 11 100 101 110 111 ...

This is a little bigger than .43 and I assume it irrational since no pattern of bits repeats forever. I assume that I am not the first to become interested in it, so I wonder if it has already been given a name.
 
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It is actually called Jimmy's snide Remark.
 
arildno said:
It is actually called Jimmy's snide Remark.
Is this a pun on my name, or did I inadvertently say something snide?
 
when watching that i have a doubt...

once i read in a number theory book that existed a series (i think it was over primes) that gives you a sequence of primes in the form:

0.p100p2000p30000p4.... or something similar i think it

was related to the calculation of the series f(x)=\sum_{p}10^{-p}
 
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The number that I posted has this obvious characteristic: Every finite sequence of 1's and 0's is found in it. Therefore, every idea that can be written down in finitely many bits is there. For instance, all of the works of Shakespeare are there, complete with typesetting commands. And yet it's just a single irrational number like \pi or e.
 
It looks to be one tenth the Champernowne constant, the base 2 version that is. What's usually called the Champernowne constant is the base 10 version, just writing all the numbers in order, 0.123456789101112131415..., and of course you can do this for any base. They're built to be normal numbers (and are of course irrational).
 
You mean one half of the base 2 Campernowne constant?
 
jimmysnyder said:
Is this a pun on my name, or did I inadvertently say something snide?
Do you think Newton declared the units of force to be Newtons?
Do you think Gauss called Gauss' theorem Gauss' theorem?
 
shmoe said:
It looks to be one tenth the Champernowne constant.
Thanks shmoe, you and this forum are an invaluable resource.
 
  • #10
arildno said:
Do you think Newton declared the units of force to be Newtons?
Do you think Gauss called Gauss' theorem Gauss' theorem?
It was intended as a joke. Sorry you didn't get it.
Newton said:
I assume that I am not the first to become interested in it, so I wonder if it has already been given a name.
 
  • #11
Anyhow, it was an interesting number, I'll grant you that.
 
  • #12
Nimz said:
You mean one half of the base 2 Campernowne constant?

I mean the Champernowne constant divided by 10.:-p

Thanks for the correction.
 
  • #13
shmoe said:
I mean the Champernowne constant divided by 10.
According to this article, there is more than one Champernowne constant.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Champernowne_constant
In particular, the number I spoke of in the original post is in the notation of that site C_2 / 2. I am not concerned about the factor of 1/2, and so I transfer my interest to C_2. Thanks again to everyone for your interest and help.
 
  • #14
jimmysnyder said:
According to this article, there is more than one Champernowne constant.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Champernowne_constant
In particular, the number I spoke of in the original post is in the notation of that site C_2 / 2. I am not concerned about the factor of 1/2, and so I transfer my interest to C_2. Thanks again to everyone for your interest and help.

That's what I meant by the 'base 2 version'. Divided by 10 was a weak attempt at correcting my one tenth gaff with some binary humour.
 
  • #15
shmoe said:
That's what I meant by the 'base 2 version'. Divided by 10 was a weak attempt at correcting my one tenth gaff with some binary humour.
There are 10 kinds of people. Those who know binary when they see it and those who don't. I didn't, but now I do.
 
  • #16
-I don,t know if Gauss called his law "Gauss Theorem" (perhaps by humility scientist don,t give his name or baptize it with other people name) but Gauss and Newton were very arrogant, in fact you will now the "Egregium theorem by Gauss" in latin egregium meaning supreme or best..so i don,t think he was very "humble" ...:) :) :) :)
 

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