(a) State Liouville's theorem on approximation of algebraic numbers by rationals.
(b) Consider the continued fraction expression
x=a0+a1+a2+a3+…111
in which the coefficients an are all positive integers forming an unbounded set. Let qnpn be the nth convergent. Prove that
∣∣∣∣∣x−qnpn∣∣∣∣∣⩽qnqn+11
and use this inequality together with Liouville's theorem to deduce that x2 is irrational.
[ You may assume without proof that, for n=1,2,3,…,
(pn+1qn+1pnqn)=(pnqnpn−1qn−1)(an+1110).]