Exercise · ZW-CONVERGENT-OF-A-CONTINUED-FRACTION-010 · ★★★ Advanced

Let \( x=[0;1,2,3,4] \). Compute \( p_4/q_4 \) and determine which option is that convergent.

Choose one option.

Show answer
  • D. \( 30/43 \)

Explanation

With \( p_0=0, p_1=1, p_2=2, p_3=7, p_4=4\cdot 7+2=30 \) and \( q_0=1, q_1=1, q_2=3, q_3=10, q_4=4\cdot 10+3=43 \), the convergent is \( 30/43 \). The option \( 43/30 \) inverts numerator and denominator.

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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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