Related papers: A well-motivated proof that pi is irrational
We prove the irrationality of some factorial series. To do so we combine methods from elementary and analytic number theory with methods from the theory of uniform distribution.
Let $k\geq 1$ be a small fixed integer. The rational approximations $\left |p/q-\pi^{k} \right |>1/q^{\mu(\pi^k)}$ of the irrational number $\pi^{k}$ are bounded away from zero. A general result for the irrationality exponent $\mu(\pi^k)$…
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 call a finite group irrational if none of its elements is conjugate to a distinct power of itself. We prove that those groups are solvable and describe certain classes of these groups, where the above property is only required for…
I'll discuss how Goedel's paradox "This statement is false/unprovable" yields his famous result on the limits of axiomatic reasoning. I'll contrast that with my work, which is based on the paradox of "The first uninteresting positive whole…
A simplification of Ap\'ery's proof of the irrationality of \zeta(3) is presented. The construction of approximations is motivated from the viewpoint of 2-dimensional recurrence relations which simplifies many of the details of the proof.…
We give a simple geometric proof that $e$ is irrational, using a construction of a nested sequence of closed intervals with intersection $e$. The proof leads to a new measure of irrationality for $e$: if $p$ and $q$ are integers with $q >…
Following earlier results of Sondow, we propose another criterion of irrationality for Euler's constant $\gamma$. It involves similar linear combinations of logarithm numbers $L\_{n,m}$. To prove that $\gamma$ is irrational, it suffices to…
Wigner's famous and influential claim that mathematics is "unreasonably effective" in physics is founded on unreasonable assumptions about the nature of mathematics and its independence of physics. Here I argue that what is surprising is…
A family of original formulae for computing number PI and its proof are presented. An algorithm is proposed to validate the results of this new algorithm.
Measures of irrationality are a numerical way of quantifying how far a given variety is from being rational (or rationally connected, uniruled, etc.). In the last two decades, there has been renewed interest in the study of these…
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…
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…
In this paper we review a general proof for the irrationality property of numbers which take a certain form of infinite sums.
(l) I have enough evidence to render the sentence S probable. (la) So, relative to what I know, it is rational of me to believe S. (2) Now that I have more evidence, S may no longer be probable. (2a) So now, relative to what I know, it is…
Khnichin's theorem is a surprising and still relatively little known result. It can be used as a specific criterion for determining whether or not any given number is irrational. In this paper we apply this theorem as well as the…
Challenges to classical logic have emerged from several sources. According to recent work, the behavior of epistemic modals in natural language motivates weakening classical logic to orthologic, a logic originally discovered by Birkhoff and…
Warning: This paper contains a mistake, rendering the proof of the main theorem invalid. The logic of Bunched Implications (BI) combines both additive and multiplicative connectives, which include two primitive intuitionistic implications.…
This paper investigates the proof-theoretic foundations of double negation introduction (DNI) and double negation elimination (DNE) in classical logic. By examining both sequent calculus and natural deduction, it is shown that these rules…
The concept of informal mathematical proof considered in intuitionism is apparently vulnerable to a version of the liar paradox. However, a careful reevaluation of this concept reveals a subtle error whose correction blocks the…