MA 506: Assignment 3

Instructor: Anupam Saikia

pk
1. If Ck = qk is the k-th convergent of the continued fraction [a0 ; a1 , a2 , . . . , an ], and a0 > 0,
show that
pk qk
= [ak ; ak−1 , . . . a1 , a0 ], = [ak ; ak−1 , . . . a1 ].
pk−1 qk−1
pk
2. If qk is the k-th convergent of the continued fraction [1; 2, 3, . . . , n + 1], show that

pn = npn−1 + npn−2 + (n − 1)pn−3 + . . . + 3p1 + 2p0 + (p0 + 1).

3. If r = [a0 ; a1 , a2 , . . . , an ] > 1, show that

1
= [0; a0 , a1 , . . . , an ].
r
pk
4. If Ck = qk is the k-th convergent of the continued fraction [a0 ; a1 , a2 , . . . , an ], show that
k−1
qk ≥ 2 2 , 2 ≤ k ≤ n.

√
5. Express 23 as a (periodic) continued fraction.

√
6. Express n2 − 2 as a (periodic) continued fraction.

7. Show that there exist infinitely many pairs of positive integers (a, b) such that

a2 + (a + 1)2 = b2 + (b + 1)2 + (b + 2)2 .

8. Let a be a positive integer. Determine the continued fraction of the positive root of
x2 − ax − 1 = 0.

9. Show that a periodic continued fraction represents a quadratic surd (i.e., root of a
quadratic polynomial with integer coefficients).

10. A Pythagorean triple consists of positive integers a, b and c such that a2 + b2 = c2 .

Determine all Pythagorean triples (a, b, c) such that a and b are consecutive integers.
(Hint: first show that a = m2 − n2 , b = 2mn and c = m2 + n2 for some choice of m and
n.)

11. Determine the fundamental solution of x2 − (9n2 + 6)y 2 = 1 where n is a natural number.
pn
12. Let x be an irrational number with convergents qn . For n ≥ 1, show that the convergents
are successively closer to x, i.e.,
pn pn−1
| x− | < | x− |.
qn qn−1
 pn
13. Let x be an irrational number with convergents qn . For n ≥ 1, show that the convergents
are successively closer to x, i.e.,
1 pn 1
< | x− | < .
2qn qn+1 qn qn qn+1

14. A natural number n is called triangular if n objects can be arranged in arrays that have
the shape of an equilateral triangle, for example, 1, 3, 6 etc. Determine five triangular
numbers that are perfect squares as well.

15. Determine all non-negative integers a and b such that

   
a a−1
= .
b b+1

16. Show that there are infinitely many positive integers a such that both a + 1 and 3a + 1
are perfect squares.

17. Find all odd cubes which, when increased by the sum of its proper divisors, become a
perfect square (e.g., 73 + (72 + 7 + 1) = 202 ).

18. Observe that 8 = 22 + 22 , 9 = 02 + 32 and 10 = 32 + 1 are three consecutive integers

each of which is a sum of two squares. Show that there are infinitely many such triples
of consecutive integers.

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