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Liouville number

From Encyclopedia of Mathematics
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2020 Mathematics Subject Classification: Primary: 11J [MSN][ZBL]

A real number $\alpha$ such that for any $\nu\geq1$ the inequality

$$\left|\alpha-\frac pq\right|<q^{-\nu}$$

has infinitely many integer solutions $p$ and $q$ satisfying the conditions $q>0$, $(p,q)=1$. The fact that a Liouville number is transcendental (cf. Transcendental number) follows from the Liouville theorem (cf. Liouville theorems). These numbers were studied by J. Liouville [1].

Examples of Liouville numbers are:

$$\alpha_1=\sum_{n=1}^\infty2^{-n!},$$

$$\alpha_2=\sum_{n=1}^\infty(-1)^n2^{-3^n},$$

$$\alpha_3=\sum_{n=1}^\infty(10^{n!})^{-1}.$$

References

  • [1] J. Liouville, "Sur des classes très étendues de quantités dont la valeur n'est ni algébrique, ni même réductible à des irrationelles algébriques", C.R. Acad. Sci. Paris, 18 (1844) pp. 883–885
  • [2] A.O. Gel'fond, "Transcendental and algebraic numbers", Dover, reprint (1960) (Translated from Russian)
  • [a1] O. Perron, "Die Lehre von den Kettenbrüchen", 1, Teubner (1977) Sect. 35
  • [a2] O. Perron, "Irrationalzahlen", Chelsea, reprint (1948)
How to Cite This Entry:
Liouville number. Encyclopedia of Mathematics. URL: http://encyclopediaofmath.org/index.php?title=Liouville_number&oldid=53154
This article was adapted from an original article by S.V. Kotov (originator), which appeared in Encyclopedia of Mathematics - ISBN 1402006098. See original article