Paper 2, Section II, F

Topics in Analysis
Part II, 2013

(i) Let n4n \geqslant 4 be an integer. Show that

1+1n+11+1n+1+12n.1+\frac{1}{n+\frac{1}{1+\frac{1}{n+\ldots}}} \geqslant 1+\frac{1}{2 n} .

(ii) Let us say that an irrational number α\alpha is badly approximable if there is some constant c>0c>0 such that

αpqcq2\left|\alpha-\frac{p}{q}\right| \geqslant \frac{c}{q^{2}}

for all q1q \geqslant 1 and for all integers pp. Show that if the integers ana_{n} in the continued fraction expansion α=[a0,a1,a2,]\alpha=\left[a_{0}, a_{1}, a_{2}, \ldots\right] are bounded then α\alpha is badly approximable.

Give, with proof, an example of an irrational number which is not badly approximable.

[Standard facts about continued fractions may be used without proof provided they are stated clearly.]