Sequnce of rationals less than pi, which converges to pi

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This discussion centers on finding a sequence of rational numbers that converges to π, with each term being less than π. Participants mention the Taylor series for arctan and the Archimedes sequence of inscribed polygons as potential methods. A specific sequence is proposed using the formula \( a_i = \left \lfloor \left ( \pi - f(i) \right ) \cdot b^i \right \rfloor b^{-i} \), which can generate terms approaching π. The conversation highlights the need for sequences that maintain values strictly less than π while converging to it.

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Amer
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is there any sequnce which converges to \pi such that each term of it less than pi
I know the sequnce related with the taylor expansion of the arctan \sum_{i=1}^\infty \frac{(-1)^{i+1}}{(2i-1)}
but this sequnce first term is bigger than pi
why I am looking for such a sequnce because I want to find a_{\alpha} , b_{\alpha} such that

\cup (a_{\alpha} , b_{\alpha} ) = (\sqrt{2} , \pi)
for the \sqrt{2} i was thinking about the taylor series for \sqrt{x}
but what I am stuck at is the taylor series for a function T(x) is convereges to f(a) if the expansion was around the a

Any ideas
Thanks
 
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Amer said:
is there any sequnce which converges to \pi such that each term of it less than pi
I know the sequnce related with the taylor expansion of the arctan \sum_{i=1}^\infty \frac{(-1)^{i+1}}{(2i-1)}
but this sequnce first term is bigger than pi
why I am looking for such a sequnce because I want to find a_{\alpha} , b_{\alpha} such that

\cup (a_{\alpha} , b_{\alpha} ) = (\sqrt{2} , \pi)
for the \sqrt{2} i was thinking about the taylor series for \sqrt{x}
but what I am stuck at is the taylor series for a function T(x) is convereges to f(a) if the expansion was around the a

Any ideas
Thanks

Hi Amer! :)

Well... another sequence is $\zeta(2) = 1 + \dfrac 1 {2^2} + \dfrac 1 {3^2} + ... = \dfrac {\pi^2}{6}$
You can find more sequences like that on wiki.
 
Amer said:
is there any sequnce which converges to \pi such that each term of it less than pi
I know the sequnce related with the taylor expansion of the arctan \sum_{i=1}^\infty \frac{(-1)^{i+1}}{(2i-1)}
but this sequnce first term is bigger than pi
why I am looking for such a sequnce because I want to find a_{\alpha} , b_{\alpha} such that

\cup (a_{\alpha} , b_{\alpha} ) = (\sqrt{2} , \pi)
for the \sqrt{2} i was thinking about the taylor series for \sqrt{x}
but what I am stuck at is the taylor series for a function T(x) is convereges to f(a) if the expansion was around the a

Any ideas
Thanks

Archimedes sequence of inscribed regular polygons to a circle of unit diameter will give what you want.

.
 
zzephod said:
Archimedes sequence of inscribed regular polygons to a circle of unit diameter will give what you want.

.

can you give me a link about what you are talking about, thanks again
I googled Archimedes sequnce but i did not get trivial thing
 
ILikeSerena said:
Hi Amer! :)

Well... another sequence is $\zeta(2) = 1 + \dfrac 1 {2^2} + \dfrac 1 {3^2} + ... = \dfrac {\pi^2}{6}$
You can find more sequences like that on wiki.

interesting link, thanks
I am looking for pi without power :)
 
There is always the sequence $\{3,\,3.1,\,3.14,\,3.141,\,3.1415,\,3.14159,\, \ldots\}$.
 
Or more generally, any sequence $a_i$ which satisfies:

$$a_i = \left \lfloor \left ( \pi - f(i) \right ) \cdot b^i \right \rfloor b^{-i}$$

For any function $f$, with $f(i) \geq 0$, such that the limit to infinity of $f$ be zero, and any rational base $b > 1$.

The sequence Opalg presented is one of the family above, with $b = 10$ and $f(i) = 0$. For instance, in base $4$:

$$\{ 3,\ 3,\ 3.125,\ 3.140625,\ \dots \}$$

Using a non-constant function, say, $f(i) = \pi e^{-i}$, we get, in base 10:

$$\{ 0,\ 1.9,\ 2.71,\ 2.985,\ 3.084,\ 3.12042,\ \dots \}$$

But of course, using this "digit extraction" method is probably not Amer wanted ;)
 
Last edited:
Any alternating sign terms series can be transformed in a positive terms series as follows... $\displaystyle \sum_{n=0}^{\infty} (-1)^{n}\ a_{n} = (a_{0}-a_{1}) + (a_{2}-a_{1}) +...$ (1) ... so that is... $\displaystyle \sum_{n=0}^{\infty} \frac{(-1)^{n}} {2n + 1} = (1-\frac{1}{3}) + (\frac{1}{5}- \frac{1}{7}) +...$ (2)

Kind regards $\chi$ $\sigma$
 
chisigma said:
Any alternating sign terms series can be transformed in a positive terms series as follows... $\displaystyle \sum_{n=0}^{\infty} (-1)^{n}\ a_{n} = (a_{0}-a_{1}) + (a_{2}-a_{1}) +...$ (1) ... so that is... $\displaystyle \sum_{n=0}^{\infty} \frac{(-1)^{n}} {2n + 1} = (1-\frac{1}{3}) + (\frac{1}{5}- \frac{1}{7}) +...$ (2)

Kind regards $\chi$ $\sigma$

I like it! (Sun)

Cleaning it up a little so we don't see that "ugly" minus sign anymore, you'd get:
$8 \displaystyle\sum_{n=0}^\infty \frac{1}{(4n+1)(4n+3)} = 8(\frac{1}{1 \cdot 3} + \frac{1}{5 \cdot 7} + \frac{1}{9 \cdot 11} + ...) = 8(\frac{1}{3} + \frac{1}{35} + \frac{1}{99} + ...)= \pi$​

Looks just as if there never was a minus sign involved! (Wink)
 
  • #10
you gave me a punch of ideas thanks very much all of you
 
  • #11
Amer said:
can you give me a link about what you are talking about, thanks again
I googled Archimedes sequnce but i did not get trivial thing

A paper (pdf) that provides the background and the formula using only elementary methods can be found >>here<<

.
 

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