MHB Value and Solutions of Continued Fraction and Pell's Equation

[Poirot1]

Find the value of the continued fraction $1$+$\frac{1}{1+\frac{1}{2+\frac{1}{1+\frac{1}{2+...}}}}$
and use it to find two positive solutions to pell's equation $x^2-3y^2=1$

 

[chisigma]

Find the value of the continued fraction $1$+$\frac{1}{\frac{1+\frac{1}{2+\frac{1}{1+\frac{1}{2+...}}$
and use it to find two positive solutions to pell's equation $x^2-3y^2=1$

Let's suppose that You have to find a continued fraction expansion of $\displaystyle \sqrt{3}$ starting from the first step...

$\displaystyle \sqrt{3} = 1 + \frac{1}{x_{1}}$ (1)

Solving (1) respect to $x_{1}$ You obtain...

$\displaystyle x_{1} = \frac{\sqrt{3}+1}{2} = 1 + \frac{1}{x_{2}}$ (2)

Solving (2) respect to $x_{2}$ You obtain...

$\displaystyle x_{2}= \sqrt{3}+1 = 2 + \frac{1}{x_{1}}$ (3)

Now comparing (1),(2) and (3) You can conclude that...

$\displaystyle \sqrt{3}= 1 + \frac{1}{1 + \frac{1}{2 + ...}}$ (4)

Kind regards

$\chi$ $\sigma$

 

[Poirot1]

The code's not working so you have the wrong fraction

 

[soroban]

Hello, Poirot!

Here is part of the solution.

Find the value of the continued fraction

x \;=\;1 + \dfrac{1}{1+\dfrac{1}{2 + \dfrac{1}{1+\dfrac{1}{2+...}}}}

We have:

$x-1 \;=\;\dfrac{1}{1+\dfrac{1}{2 + \left\{\dfrac{1}{1+\dfrac{1}{2+...}}\right\}}}$

The expression in braces is x-1.So we have:

. . x-1 \;=\;\dfrac{1}{1 + \dfrac{1}{2+(x-1)}}

. . x-1 \;=\;\dfrac{1}{1+\dfrac{1}{x+1}}

. . x-1 \;=\;\dfrac{1}{\dfrac{x+2}{x+1}}

. . x-1 \;=\;\dfrac{x+1}{x+2}Then:

. . (x-1)(x+2) \:=\:x+1

. . . . .x^2 + x - 2 \:=\:x+1

. . . . . . . . . . x^2 \:=\:3

. . . . . . . . . . .x \;=\;\sqrt{3}

 

[Poirot1]

Thanks 'Soroban'. For the last bit, is there a good formula for the convergents?