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In mathematics, a proof by infinite descent, also known as Fermat's method of descent, is a particular kind of proof by contradiction [1] used to show that a statement cannot possibly hold for any number, by showing that if the statement were to hold for a number, then the same would be true for a smaller number, leading to an infinite descent and ultimately a contradiction. [2]
The theory of continued fractions allows us to compute the best approximations of a real number: for the second definition, they are the convergents of its expression as a regular continued fraction. [ 3 ] [ 4 ] [ 5 ] For the first definition, one has to consider also the semiconvergents .
A method analogous to piece-wise linear approximation but using only arithmetic instead of algebraic equations, uses the multiplication tables in reverse: the square root of a number between 1 and 100 is between 1 and 10, so if we know 25 is a perfect square (5 × 5), and 36 is a perfect square (6 × 6), then the square root of a number greater than or equal to 25 but less than 36, begins with ...
An irreducible fraction (or fraction in lowest terms, simplest form or reduced fraction) is a fraction in which the numerator and denominator are integers that have no other common divisors than 1 (and −1, when negative numbers are considered). [1]
The continued fraction of has the form [; ,,, ¯]. Since the period has length 4 {\displaystyle 4} , which is an even number, the convergent producing the fundamental solution is obtained by truncating the continued fraction right before the end of the first occurrence of the period: [ 2 ; 1 , 1 , 1 ] = 8 3 {\displaystyle [2;\ 1,1,1]={\frac {8 ...
In elementary algebra, root rationalisation (or rationalization) is a process by which radicals in the denominator of an algebraic fraction are eliminated.. If the denominator is a monomial in some radical, say , with k < n, rationalisation consists of multiplying the numerator and the denominator by , and replacing by x (this is allowed, as, by definition, a n th root of x is a number that ...
This equation is basically Pell's equation or the negative Pell equation and its solutions can be obtained similarly using the continued fraction expansion of . Whether or not x 2 − Δ y 2 = −4 has a solution determines whether or not the class group of K is the same as its narrow class group , or equivalently, whether or not there is a ...
In the case of two nested square roots, the following theorem completely solves the problem of denesting. [2]If a and c are rational numbers and c is not the square of a rational number, there are two rational numbers x and y such that + = if and only if is the square of a rational number d.