English

On the Borel complexity of continued fraction normal, absolutely abnormal numbers

Number Theory 2021-11-24 v1 Logic

Abstract

We show that normality for continued fractions expansions and normality for base-bb expansions are maximally logically separate. In particular, the set of numbers that are normal with respect to the continued fraction expansion but not base-bb normal for a fixed b2b\ge 2 is D2(Π30)D_2(\boldsymbol{\Pi}_3^0)-complete. Moreover, the set of numbers that are normal with respect to the continued fraction expansion but not normal to \emph{any} base-bb expansion is D2(Π30)D_2(\boldsymbol{\Pi}_3^0)-hard, confirming the existence of uncountably many such numbers, which was previously only known assuming the generalized Riemann hypothesis. By varying the method of proof we are also able to show that the set of base-22 normal, base-33 non-normal numbers is also D2(Π30)D_2(\boldsymbol{\Pi}_3^0)-complete. We also prove an auxiliary result on the normality properties of the continued fraction expansions of fractions with a fixed denominator.

Keywords

Cite

@article{arxiv.2111.11522,
  title  = {On the Borel complexity of continued fraction normal, absolutely abnormal numbers},
  author = {Steve Jackson and Bill Mance and Joseph Vandehey},
  journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:2111.11522},
  year   = {2021}
}

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Video talk by first author on this and related topics: https://u-paris.zoom.us/rec/share/ZxCzwWYl8DkuaH7FArc9266D2Gkdja08bl5xRsRM3MwHKnmoaTB8mWqw7WtS24Ah.cE6teTB2hkXNdRPw