Let θ be a real number with continued fraction expansion [a0,a1,a2,…]. Define the convergents pn/qn (by means of recurrence relations) and show that for β>0 we have
[a0,a1,…,an−1,β]=βqn−1+qn−2βpn−1+pn−2
Show that
∣∣∣∣∣θ−qnpn∣∣∣∣∣<qnqn+11
and deduce that pn/qn→θ as n→∞.
By computing a suitable continued fraction expansion, find solutions in positive integers x and y to each of the equations x2−53y2=4 and x2−53y2=−7.