Related papers: Irrationality proofs \`a la Hermite

We provide an alternative proof that $\sqrt{2}$ is irrational that does not begin with the assumption that $\sqrt{2}$ is in fact rational.

Continued fractions are used to give an alternate proof of $e^{x/y}$ is irrational.

We show geometrically that $\sqrt n$ is irrational for $n=3,5,7$ by adapting Tennenbaum's geometric proof that $\sqrt 2$ is irrational. We also show that this method cannot be used to prove the irrationality of $\sqrt n$ for a bigger $n$.

In this paper we review a general proof for the irrationality property of numbers which take a certain form of infinite sums.

A general hypergeometric construction of linear forms in (odd) zeta values is presented. The construction allows to recover the records of Rhin and Viola for the irrationality measures of $\zeta(2)$ and $\zeta(3)$, as well as to explain…

We present a geometric way of describing the irrationality of a number using the area of a circular sector $A(r)$. We establish a connection between this and the continued fraction expansion of the number, and prove bounds for $A(r)$ as…

For real $\xi$ we consider the irrationality measure function $\psi_\xi(t) = \min_{1\leqslant q \leqslant t, q\in\mathbb{Z}} || q\xi ||$, where $||\cdot||$ - distance to the nearest integer. We prove that in the case…

For an irrational number $\alpha\in\mathbb{R}$ we consider its irrationality measure function $$ \psi_\alpha(x) = \min_{1\le q\le x,\, q\in\mathbb{Z}} \| q\alpha \|. $$ It is known for all irrational numbers $\alpha$ and $\beta$ satisfying…

We illustrate the power of Experimental Mathematics and Symbolic Computation to suggest irrationality proofs of natural constants, and the determination of their irrationality measures. Sometimes such proofs can be fully automated, but…

Euler gave recipes for converting alternating series of two types, I and II, into equivalent continued fractions, i.e., ones whose convergents equal the partial sums. A condition we prove for irrationality of a continued fraction then…

This note presents an analytic technique for proving the linear independence of certain small subsets of real numbers over the rational numbers. The applications of this test produce simple linear independence proofs for the subsets of…

Using techniques from calculus, we combine classical identities for $\pi$, $\operatorname{ln}2$, and harmonic numbers, to arrive at a nice infinite series formula for $\pi/3$ that does not appear to be well known. In addition, we give…

We introduce a geometric-arithmetic approach to the analysis of the Flint Hills series, linking its convergence behavior to the irrationality measure of pi. The framework highlights the interplay between the distribution of near-multiples…

We prove that a real number a greater than or equal to 2 is the irrationality exponent of some computable real number if and only if a is the upper limit of a computable sequence of rational numbers. Thus, there are computable real numbers…

A famous theorem of Zudilin states that at least one of the Riemann zeta values $\zeta(5), \zeta(7), \zeta(9), \zeta(11)$ is irrational. In this paper, we establish the $p$-adic analogue of Zudilin's theorem. As a weaker form of our result,…

The irrationality exponent $\mu(t)$ of an irrational number t, defined using the irrationality measure $1/q^\mu$, distinguishes among non-Liouville numbers and is infinite for Liouville numbers. Using the irrationality measure $1/\beta^q$,…

Cantor's first set theory paper (1874) establishes the uncountability of $\mathbb{R}$. We study this most basic mathematical fact formulated in the language of higher-order arithmetic. In particular, we investigate the logical and…

This note proves that the first odd zeta value does not have a closed form formula $\zeta(3)\ne r \pi^3$ for any rational number $r \in \mathbb{Q}$. Furthermore, assuming the irrationality of the second odd zeta value $\zeta(5)$, it is…

We are interested in irrationality of roots for seven important families of polynomials : Tchebichef polynomials, Legendre polynomials, Laguerre polynomials, Hermite polynomials, Bessel polynomials, Bernoulli polynomials and Euler…

The recent technique for estimating lower bounds of the prime counting function $\pi(x)=#\{p \leq x: p\text{ prime}\}$ by means of the irrationality measures $\mu(\zeta(s)) \geq 2$ of special values of the zeta function claims that $\pi(x)…