Exercise · ZW-CONVERGENT-OF-A-CONTINUED-FRACTION-007 · ★★☆ Intermediate

If \( [0;2,3,4] \) has convergents \( p_n/q_n \), what is \( q_3 \)?

Choose one option.

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  • C. \( 30 \)

Explanation

With \( q_0=1, q_1=2 \), \( q_2=3\cdot 2+1=7 \) and \( q_3=4\cdot 7+2=30 \), the value is \( 30 \). The option \( 23 \) uses the quotient \( a_2=3 \) instead of \( a_3=4 \).

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Review the concept: Convergent of a continued fraction

A convergent of a continued fraction \( [a_0; a_1, a_2, \ldots] \) is the rational number \( p_n/q_n \) obtained by truncating the expansion at the term \( a_n \).

\[\frac{p_n}{q_n}=[a_0;a_1,\ldots,a_n],\quad p_n=a_np_{n-1}+p_{n-2},\\q_n=a_nq_{n-1}+q_{n-2}\]

More practice problems: convergent of a continued fraction

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