Exercise · ZW-CONVERGENT-OF-A-CONTINUED-FRACTION-008 · ★★☆ Intermediate

What is the value of \( p_3/q_3 \) for \( [2;1,1,2] \)?

Choose one option.

Show answer
  • B. \( 13/5 \)

Explanation

With \( p_0=2, p_1=3, p_2=5, p_3=2\cdot 5+3=13 \) and \( q_0=1, q_1=1, q_2=2, q_3=2\cdot 2+1=5 \), we obtain \( 13/5 \). The option \( 12/5 \) has an incorrectly computed numerator.

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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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