相关论文: Recurrent proofs of the irrationality of certain t…
Given a rational number $r$ such that $2r$ is not an integer, we prove that $\tan^2(r\pi)$ is irrational unless it is equal to $0$, $1$, $3$ or $\frac{1}{3}$, using only basic trigonometry and the Rational Root Theorem. Moreover, we deduce…
As rewards of reading two great papers of Hermite from 1873, we trace the historical origin of the integral Niven used in his well-known proof of the irrationality of $\pi$, uncover a rarely acknowledged simple proof by Hermite of the…
The arithmetic nature of values of some functions of a single variable, particularly, $\sin{z}$, $\cos{z}$, $\sinh{z}$, $\cosh{z}$, $e^z$, and $\ln{z}$, is a relevant topic in number theory. For instance, all those functions return…
In this note, we give a simple proof that the values of the trigonometric functions at any nonzero rational number are transcendental numbers.
It is a classical fact that the irrationality of a number $\xi\in\mathbb R$ follows from the existence of a sequence $p_n/q_n$ with integral $p_n$ and $q_n$ such that $q_n\xi-p_n\ne0$ for all $n$ and $q_n\xi-p_n\to0$ as $n\to\infty$. In…
Continued fractions are used to give an alternate proof of $e^{x/y}$ is irrational.
We give two elementary proofs, at a level understandable by students with only pre-calculus knowledge of Algebra, of the well known fact that an irreducible irrational n-th root of a positive rational number cannot be solution of a…
A systematic study of the trigonometric equation A tan a + B sin b = C, where A, B and C^2 are rational numbers. The special case tan Pi/11 + 4 sin 3 Pi/11 = sqrt[11] appears in the classical literature.
We point out that the proof of irrationality of $\pi$ by Niven can be modified to a proof by contraposition. As a warm-up, we also give a proof of irrationality of $\sqrt{2}$ and $\sqrt{3}$ in a similar way.
We give three elementary proofs of a nice equality of definite integrals, which arises from the theory of bivariate hypergeometric functions, and has connections with irrationality proofs in number theory. We furthermore provide a…
Many generalizations of continued fractions, where the reciprocal function has been replaced by a more general function, have been studied, and it is often asked whether such generalized expansions can have nice properties. For instance, we…
New (infinitely many) rational approximants to \zeta(3) proving its irrationality are given. The recurrence relations for the numerator and denominator of these approximants as well as their continued fraction expansions are obtained. A…
In this paper, we establish the irrationality of some open problems in mathematics based on using a recursive formula that generate the complete sequence of numbers. see [1] But before getting into that we begin with some Ramanujan notable…
It is well known that sin(a\pi/b), cos(a\pi/b), etc., are only rational numbers for a few select integers a and b. We show that this is equivalent to the fact that only for d = 1,2,3,4, and 6 is the primitive dth root of unity of degree 2…
Elementary problems like the evaluation of repeated derivatives of ordinary transcendent functions can usefully be treated by the use of special polynomials and of a formalism borrowed from combinatorial analysis. Motivated by previous…
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…
In this work, we prove the irrationality of $\pi$ based on the nested radicals with roots of $2$ of kind $c_k = \sqrt{2 + c_{k - 1}}$ and $c_0 = 0$. Sample computations showing how the rational approximation tends to $\pi$ with increasing…
There are numerous ways to represent real numbers. We may use, e.g., Cauchy sequences, Dedekind cuts, numerical base-10 expansions, numerical base-2 expansions and continued fractions. If we work with full Turing computability, all these…
Ivan Niven's succinct proof that pi is irrational is easy to verify, but it begins with a magical formula that appears to come out of nowhere, and whose origin remains mysterious even after one goes through the proof. The goal of this…
We apply the theory of disconjugate linear recurrence relations to the study of irrational quantities in number theory. In particular, for an irrational number associated with solutions of three-term linear recurrence relations we show that…