Number theory/Signed Articles/Elementary diophantine approximations

The theory of diophantine approximations is a chapter of number theory, which in turn is a part of mathematics. It studies the approximations of real numbers by rational numbers. This article presents an elementary introduction to diophantine approximations, as well as an introduction to number theory via diophantine approximations.

Introduction

In the everyday life our civilization applies mostly (finite) decimal fractions $\ {\frac {k}{10^{n}}}.$  Decimal fractions are used both as certain values, e.g. $5.85, and as approximations of the real numbers, e.g. $\ \pi \approx 3.14159.$  However, the field of all rational numbers is much richer than the ring of the decimal fractions (or of the binary fractions $\ {\frac {k}{2^{n}}},$  which are used in the computer science). For instance, the famous approximation $\ \pi \approx {\frac {355}{113}}$  has denominator 113 much smaller than 10⁵ but it provides a better approximation than the decimal one, which has five digits after the decimal point.

How well can real numbers (all of them or the special ones) be approximated by rational numbers? A typical Diophantine approximation result states:

Theorem  Let $\ a$  be an arbitrary real number. Then

• $\ a$  is rational if and only if there exists a real number C > 0 such that

$|a-{\frac {x}{y}}|>{\frac {C}{y}}$

for arbitrary integers $\ (x,y)$  such that $\ y>0$  and $\ a\neq {\frac {x}{y}};$

• $\ a$  is irrational if and only if there exist infinitely many pairs of integers $\ (x,y)$  such that $\ y>0$  and

$|a-{\frac {x}{y}}|<{\frac {1}{{\sqrt {5}}\cdot y^{2}}}.$

Notation

• $\Leftarrow :\Rightarrow \$   —   "equivalent by definition" (i.e. "if and only if");
• $:=\$   —   "equals by definition";
• $\exists$   —   "there exists";
• $\forall$   —   "for all";
• $a\in A\$   —   "$a\$  is an element of set $\ A$";

 

• $\mathbb {N} \ :=\ \{1,2\dots \}$  —  the semiring of the natural numbers;
• $\mathbb {Z} _{+}\ :=\ \{0,1,\dots \}$  —  the semiring of the non-negative integers;
• $\mathbb {Z} \ :=\ \{-2,-1,1,2\dots \}$  —  the ring of integers;
• $\mathbb {Q}$  —  the field of rational numbers;
• $\mathbb {R}$  —  the field of real numbers;

 

• $x|y\$   —   "$x\$  divides $\ y$";
• $\gcd(a,b)\$  —  the greatest common divisor of integers $\ a$  and $\ b.$

 

The method of neighbors and median

In this section we will quickly obtain some results about approximating irrational numbers by rational (for the sake of simpplicity only positive numbers will be considered). To this end we will not worry about the details of the difference between a rational number and a fraction (with integer numerator and denominator)—this will not cause any problems. This section is still introductory. It is supposed to provide quickly some pleasure from the insight into the topic before getting into somewhat more involved considerations of the later sections.

Fractions ${\frac {a}{c}}$  and ${\frac {b}{d}},$  with non-negative numerators and positive denominators, are called neighbors (in the given order)   $\Leftarrow :\Rightarrow$

${\frac {a}{c}}-{\frac {b}{d}}\ =\ {\frac {1}{c\cdot d}}$

Fraction ${\frac {a}{c}}$  is called the left neighbor of the other, and ${\frac {b}{d}}$  is called the right neighbor.

Examples:

• Fractions ${\frac {n}{1}}$  and ${\frac {n+1}{1}}$  are neighbors for every positive integer $\ n.$

• Fractions ${\frac {1}{n}}$  and ${\frac {1}{n+1}}$  are neighbors for every positive integer $\ n.$

Thus it easily follows that for every positive irrational number $\ x$  there exists a pair of neighbors  ${\frac {a}{c}}$  and  ${\frac {b}{d}},$  with positive numerators and denominators, such that:

${\frac {a}{c}}\ >\ x\ >\ {\frac {b}{d}}$ 

First results

Theorem 1  Let fractions ${\frac {a}{c}}$  and ${\frac {b}{d}},$  with positive integer numerators and denominators, be neighbors. Then

• if positive integers $\ s$  and $\ t$  are such that   $\ {\frac {a}{c}}>{\frac {s}{t}}>{\frac {b}{d}},$   then   $t\geq b+d;$

• the median  ${\frac {a+b}{c+d}}$  is a right neighbor of  ${\frac {a}{c}},$  and a left neighbor of  ${\frac {b}{d}};$ 

• let  $\ x$  be an irrational number such that   ${\frac {a}{c}}\ >\ x\ >\ {\frac {b}{d}};$   then

$\max({\frac {a}{c}}-x,\,x-{\frac {b}{d}})\ <\ {\frac {1}{c\cdot d}}$

and

${\frac {a}{c}}-x\ <\ {\frac {1}{c\cdot (c+1)}}$     or     $x-{\frac {b}{d}}\ <\ {\frac {1}{d\cdot (d+1)}}$

Proof  Let   Failed to parse (SVG (MathML can be enabled via browser plugin): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle \ \frac{a}{c} > \frac{s}{t} > \frac{b}{d};}   then

Failed to parse (SVG (MathML can be enabled via browser plugin): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle \frac{a}{c} - \frac{s}{t}\ \ge\ \frac{1}{c\cdot t}}     and     Failed to parse (SVG (MathML can be enabled via browser plugin): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle \frac{s}{t} - \frac{b}{d}\ \ge\ \frac{1}{d\cdot t}}

and

Failed to parse (SVG (MathML can be enabled via browser plugin): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle \frac{1}{c\cdot t} + \frac{1}{d\cdot t}\ \le \frac{1}{c\cdot d}}

Multiplying this inequality by  Failed to parse (SVG (MathML can be enabled via browser plugin): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle c\cdot d\cdot t\ } gives

Failed to parse (SVG (MathML can be enabled via browser plugin): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle t \ge c+d}

which is the first part of our theorem.

Divisibility

Definition  Integer Failed to parse (SVG (MathML can be enabled via browser plugin): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle \ a}   is divisible by integer Failed to parse (SVG (MathML can be enabled via browser plugin): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle \ b}   Failed to parse (SVG (MathML can be enabled via browser plugin): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle \Leftarrow:\Rightarrow\ }   Failed to parse (SVG (MathML can be enabled via browser plugin): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle \exists_{c\in\mathbb{Z}}\ a=b\cdot c}

Symbolically:

Failed to parse (SVG (MathML can be enabled via browser plugin): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle b|a\ }   Failed to parse (SVG (MathML can be enabled via browser plugin): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle \Leftarrow:\Rightarrow\ }   Failed to parse (SVG (MathML can be enabled via browser plugin): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle \exists_{c\in\mathbb{Z}}\ a=b\cdot c}

When Failed to parse (SVG (MathML can be enabled via browser plugin): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle \ a}   is divisible by Failed to parse (SVG (MathML can be enabled via browser plugin): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle \ b}   then we also say that Failed to parse (SVG (MathML can be enabled via browser plugin): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle \ b}   is a divisor of Failed to parse (SVG (MathML can be enabled via browser plugin): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle \ a,}   or that Failed to parse (SVG (MathML can be enabled via browser plugin): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle \ b}   divides Failed to parse (SVG (MathML can be enabled via browser plugin): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle \ a.}

• The only integer divisible by Failed to parse (SVG (MathML can be enabled via browser plugin): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle \ 0}   is Failed to parse (SVG (MathML can be enabled via browser plugin): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle \ 0}   (i.e. Failed to parse (SVG (MathML can be enabled via browser plugin): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle \ 0}   is a divisor only of Failed to parse (SVG (MathML can be enabled via browser plugin): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle \ 0} ).
• Failed to parse (SVG (MathML can be enabled via browser plugin): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle 0\ }   is divisible by every integer.
• Failed to parse (SVG (MathML can be enabled via browser plugin): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle 1\ }   is the only positive divisor of Failed to parse (SVG (MathML can be enabled via browser plugin): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle \ 1.}
• Every integer is divisible by Failed to parse (SVG (MathML can be enabled via browser plugin): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle \ 1}   (and by  Failed to parse (SVG (MathML can be enabled via browser plugin): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle \ -1} ).

 

• Failed to parse (SVG (MathML can be enabled via browser plugin): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle a|b\ \Rightarrow (-a|b\ \and\ a|\!-\!\!b)}
• Failed to parse (SVG (MathML can be enabled via browser plugin): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle a|b > 0\ \Rightarrow a\le b}

 

• Failed to parse (SVG (MathML can be enabled via browser plugin): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle a|a\ }
• Failed to parse (SVG (MathML can be enabled via browser plugin): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle (a|b\ \and\ b|c)\ \Rightarrow\ a|c}
• Failed to parse (SVG (MathML can be enabled via browser plugin): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle (a|b\ \and\ b|a)\ \Rightarrow\ |a|=|b|}

Remark  The above three properties show that the relation of divisibility is a partial order in the set of natural number  Failed to parse (SVG (MathML can be enabled via browser plugin): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle \mathbb{N},}   and also in Failed to parse (SVG (MathML can be enabled via browser plugin): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle \mathbb{Z}_+} — Failed to parse (SVG (MathML can be enabled via browser plugin): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle \ 1}   is its minimal, and Failed to parse (SVG (MathML can be enabled via browser plugin): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle \ 0}   is its maximal element.

• Failed to parse (SVG (MathML can be enabled via browser plugin): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle (a|b\ \and\ a|c)\ \Rightarrow\ (a\,|\,b\!\cdot\!d\ \and\ a\,|\,b\!+\!c\ \and\ a\,|\,b\!-\!c)}

 

Relatively prime pairs of integers

Definition  Integers Failed to parse (SVG (MathML can be enabled via browser plugin): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle \ a}   and Failed to parse (SVG (MathML can be enabled via browser plugin): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle \ b}   are relatively prime   Failed to parse (SVG (MathML can be enabled via browser plugin): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle \Leftarrow:\Rightarrow\ }   Failed to parse (SVG (MathML can be enabled via browser plugin): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle \ 1}   is their only common positive divisor.

• Integers Failed to parse (SVG (MathML can be enabled via browser plugin): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle \ x}   and Failed to parse (SVG (MathML can be enabled via browser plugin): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle \ 0}   are relatively prime   Failed to parse (SVG (MathML can be enabled via browser plugin): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle \Leftrightarrow\ |x| = 1.}
• Failed to parse (SVG (MathML can be enabled via browser plugin): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle 1\ }   is relatively prime with every integer.
• If Failed to parse (SVG (MathML can be enabled via browser plugin): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle \ a}   and Failed to parse (SVG (MathML can be enabled via browser plugin): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle \ b}   are relatively prime then also Failed to parse (SVG (MathML can be enabled via browser plugin): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle \ a}   and  Failed to parse (SVG (MathML can be enabled via browser plugin): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle \ -b}   are relatively prime.

Theorem 1  If Failed to parse (SVG (MathML can be enabled via browser plugin): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle \ a,b,c \in \mathbb{Z}}   are such that two of them are relatively prime and Failed to parse (SVG (MathML can be enabled via browser plugin): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle \ a+b=c,}   then any two of them are relatively prime.

Corollary  If Failed to parse (SVG (MathML can be enabled via browser plugin): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle \ a}   and Failed to parse (SVG (MathML can be enabled via browser plugin): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle \ b}   are relatively prime then also Failed to parse (SVG (MathML can be enabled via browser plugin): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle \ a}   and  Failed to parse (SVG (MathML can be enabled via browser plugin): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle \ |a-b\,|}   are relatively prime.

Now, let's define inductively a table odd integers:

Failed to parse (SVG (MathML can be enabled via browser plugin): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle (\nu_{k,n} : k\in \mathbb{Z}_+,\ 0\le n\le 2^k)}

as follows:

• Failed to parse (SVG (MathML can be enabled via browser plugin): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle \nu_{0,0} := 0\ }     and     Failed to parse (SVG (MathML can be enabled via browser plugin): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle \nu_{0,1} :=1\ }
• Failed to parse (SVG (MathML can be enabled via browser plugin): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle \nu_{k+1,2\cdot n}\ :=\ \nu_{k,n}}   for  Failed to parse (SVG (MathML can be enabled via browser plugin): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle 0\le n\le 2^k\ }
• Failed to parse (SVG (MathML can be enabled via browser plugin): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle \nu_{k+1,2\cdot n+1}\ :=\ \nu_{k,n}+\nu_{k,n+1}}   for  Failed to parse (SVG (MathML can be enabled via browser plugin): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle 0\le n < 2^k\ }

for every  Failed to parse (SVG (MathML can be enabled via browser plugin): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle \ k=0,1,\dots.}

The top of this table looks as follows:

0 1

0 1 1

0 1 1 2 1

0 1 1 2 1 3 2 3 1

0 1 1 2 1 3 1 3 1 4 3 5 2 5 3 4 1

etc.

Theorem 2

• Every pair of neighboring elements of the table, Failed to parse (SVG (MathML can be enabled via browser plugin): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle \ \nu_{k,n}}   and Failed to parse (SVG (MathML can be enabled via browser plugin): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle \ \nu_{k,n+1}}   is relatively prime.
• For every pair of relatively prime, non-negative integers Failed to parse (SVG (MathML can be enabled via browser plugin): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle \ a}   and Failed to parse (SVG (MathML can be enabled via browser plugin): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle \ b}   there exist indices Failed to parse (SVG (MathML can be enabled via browser plugin): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle k\in\mathbb{Z}_+}   and non-negative Failed to parse (SVG (MathML can be enabled via browser plugin): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle \ n<2^k}   such that:

Failed to parse (SVG (MathML can be enabled via browser plugin): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle \{a,b\}\ =\ \{\nu_{k,n},\nu_{k,n+1}\}}

Proof  Of course the pair

Failed to parse (SVG (MathML can be enabled via browser plugin): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle \{\nu_{0,0},\nu_{0,1}\}\ =\ \{0,1\}}

is relatively prime; and the inductive proof of the first statement of Theorem 2 is now instant thanks to Theorem 1 above.

Now let Failed to parse (SVG (MathML can be enabled via browser plugin): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle \ a}   and Failed to parse (SVG (MathML can be enabled via browser plugin): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle \ b}   be a pair of relatively prime, non-negative integers. If Failed to parse (SVG (MathML can be enabled via browser plugin): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle \ a+b=1}   then Failed to parse (SVG (MathML can be enabled via browser plugin): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle \ \{a, b\}=\{0,1\}=\{\nu_{0,0},\nu_{0,1}\},}   and the second part of the theorem holds. Continuing this unductive proof, let's assume that Failed to parse (SVG (MathML can be enabled via browser plugin): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle \ a+b>1.}   Then Failed to parse (SVG (MathML can be enabled via browser plugin): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle \ \min(a,b) > 0.}   Thus

Failed to parse (SVG (MathML can be enabled via browser plugin): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle \ \max(a,b) < a+b}

But integers Failed to parse (SVG (MathML can be enabled via browser plugin): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle \ c := \min(a,b)}   and Failed to parse (SVG (MathML can be enabled via browser plugin): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle \ d := |a-b|}   are relatively prime (see Corollary above), and

Failed to parse (SVG (MathML can be enabled via browser plugin): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle c+d\ =\ max(a,b)\ <\ a+b}

hence, by induction,

Failed to parse (SVG (MathML can be enabled via browser plugin): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle \{c,d\}\ =\ \{\nu_{k,n},\nu_{k,n+1}\}}

for certain indices Failed to parse (SVG (MathML can be enabled via browser plugin): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle k\in\mathbb{Z}_+}   and non-negative Failed to parse (SVG (MathML can be enabled via browser plugin): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle \ n<2^k.}   Furthermore:

Failed to parse (SVG (MathML can be enabled via browser plugin): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle \{a,b\}\ =\ \{\min(a,b), \max(a,b)\}}

It follows that one of the two options holds:

Failed to parse (SVG (MathML can be enabled via browser plugin): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle \{a,b\}\ =\ \{\nu_{k+1,2\cdot n},\nu_{k+1,2\cdot n+1}\}}

or

Failed to parse (SVG (MathML can be enabled via browser plugin): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle \{a,b\}\ =\ \{\nu_{k+1,2\cdot n+1},\nu_{k+1,2\cdot n+2}\}}

End of proof

• $\max _{\quad 0\leq n\leq 2^{k}}\nu _{k,n}\ =\ F_{k+1}$

where $\ F_{r}$  is the r-th Fibonacci number.

Matrix monoid Failed to parse (SVG (MathML can be enabled via browser plugin): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle \mathit{SO}(\mathbb{Z}_+, 2)}

Definition 1  Failed to parse (SVG (MathML can be enabled via browser plugin): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle \mathit{SO}(\mathbb{Z}_+, 2)}   is the set of all matrices

Failed to parse (SVG (MathML can be enabled via browser plugin): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle M\ :=\ \left[\begin{array}{cc}a & b\\ c & d\end{array}\right]}

such that Failed to parse (SVG (MathML can be enabled via browser plugin): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle \ a,b,c,d\in\mathbb{Z}_+,}   and  Failed to parse (SVG (MathML can be enabled via browser plugin): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle \ \det(M) = 1,}   where  $\ \det(M):=a\cdot d-b\cdot c.$  Such matrices (and their columns and rows) will be called special.

• If

Failed to parse (SVG (MathML can be enabled via browser plugin): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle M\ :=\ \left[\begin{array}{cc}a & b\\ c & d\end{array}\right]\in\mathit{SO}(\mathbb{Z}_+, 2)}

then  Failed to parse (SVG (MathML can be enabled via browser plugin): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle \ a,d > 0,}   and each of the columns and rows of M, i.e. each of the four pairs  Failed to parse (SVG (MathML can be enabled via browser plugin): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle (x,y) \in \{a,d\}\times \{b,c\},\ }   is relatively prime.

Obviously, the identity matrix

Failed to parse (SVG (MathML can be enabled via browser plugin): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle \mathcal{I}\ :=\ \left[\begin{array}{cc}1 & 0\\ 0 & 1\end{array}\right]}

belongs to   Failed to parse (SVG (MathML can be enabled via browser plugin): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle \mathit{SO}(\mathbb{Z}_+, 2).}   Furthermore,  Failed to parse (SVG (MathML can be enabled via browser plugin): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle \mathit{SO}(\mathbb{Z}_+, 2)}   is a monoid with respect to the matrix multiplication.

Example  The left matrix and the right matrix are defined respectively as follows:

Failed to parse (SVG (MathML can be enabled via browser plugin): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle \mathcal{L}\ :=\ \left[\begin{array}{cc}1 & 1\\ 0 & 1\end{array}\right]}   and   Failed to parse (SVG (MathML can be enabled via browser plugin): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle \mathcal{R}\ :=\ \left[\begin{array}{cc}1 & 0\\ 1 & 1\end{array}\right]}

Obviously Failed to parse (SVG (MathML can be enabled via browser plugin): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle \ \mathcal{L},\mathcal{R}\in \mathit{SO}(\mathbb{Z}_+,2).}   When they act on the right on a matrix M (by multipliplying M by itself), then they leave respectively the left or right column of M intact:

$M\cdot {\mathcal {L}}\ =\ \left[{\begin{array}{cc}a&a+b\\c&c+d\end{array}}\right]$

and

Failed to parse (SVG (MathML can be enabled via browser plugin): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle M\cdot \mathcal{R}\ =\ \left[\begin{array}{cc}a+b & b\\ c+d & d\end{array}\right]}

Definition 2  Vectors

Failed to parse (SVG (MathML can be enabled via browser plugin): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle \left[\begin{array}{c}a\\ c\end{array}\right]}     and     Failed to parse (SVG (MathML can be enabled via browser plugin): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle \left[\begin{array}{c}b\\ d\end{array}\right]}

where Failed to parse (SVG (MathML can be enabled via browser plugin): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle \ a,b,c,d\in\mathbb{Z}_+,}   are called neighbors (in that order)   Failed to parse (SVG (MathML can be enabled via browser plugin): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle \Leftarrow:\Rightarrow}   matrix formed by these vectors

Failed to parse (SVG (MathML can be enabled via browser plugin): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle M\ :=\ \left[\begin{array}{cc}a & b\\ c & d\end{array}\right]}

belongs to  Failed to parse (SVG (MathML can be enabled via browser plugin): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle \mathit{SO}(\mathbb{Z}_+, 2).}   Then the left (resp. right) column is called the left (resp. right) neighbor.

Rational representation

With every vector

Failed to parse (SVG (MathML can be enabled via browser plugin): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle v\ :=\ \left[\begin{array}{c}a\\ c\end{array}\right]}

such that Failed to parse (SVG (MathML can be enabled via browser plugin): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle \ c\ne 0,}   let's associate a rational number

Failed to parse (SVG (MathML can be enabled via browser plugin): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle \mathit{rat}(v)\ :=\ \frac{a}{c}}

Also, let

Failed to parse (SVG (MathML can be enabled via browser plugin): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle \mathit{rat}(v_{\infty})\ :=\ \infty}

for

Failed to parse (SVG (MathML can be enabled via browser plugin): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle v_{\infty}\ :=\ \left[\begin{array}{c}1\\ 0\end{array}\right]}

Furthermore, with every matrix  Failed to parse (SVG (MathML can be enabled via browser plugin): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle M\in \mathit{SO}(\mathbb{Z}_+,2),}   let's associate the real closed interval (it may include the point at plus infinity)

Failed to parse (SVG (MathML can be enabled via browser plugin): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle \mathit{span}(M)\ :=\ [\mathit{rat}(w);\mathit{rat}(v)]}

and its length

$|M|\ :=\ {\mathit {rat}}(v)-{\mathit {rat}}(w)$

where Failed to parse (SVG (MathML can be enabled via browser plugin): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle \ v}   is the left, and Failed to parse (SVG (MathML can be enabled via browser plugin): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle \ w}   is the right column of matrix M — observe that the rational representation of the left column of a special matrix is always greater than the rational representation of the right column of the same special matrix.

• If

Failed to parse (SVG (MathML can be enabled via browser plugin): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle M\ :=\ \left[\begin{array}{cc}a & b\\ c & d\end{array}\right]\in\mathit{SO}(\mathbb{Z}_+, 2)}

then  Failed to parse (SVG (MathML can be enabled via browser plugin): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle \ |M| = \frac{1}{c\cdot d}}