OFFSET
1,1
COMMENTS
Decimal expansion of the solution to n/x = x-n for n-3. n/x = x-n with n=1 gives the Golden Ratio = 1.6180339887...
n/x = x-n ==> x^2 - n*x - n = 0 ==> x = (n + sqrt(n^2 + 4*n)) / 2 (Positive Root) n = 3: x = (3 + sqrt(21))/2 = 3.79128784747792...
x=3.7912878474... is the shape of a rectangle whose geometric partition (as at A188635) consists of 3 squares, then 1 square, then 3 squares, etc., matching the continued fraction of x, which is [3,1,3,1,3,1,3,1,3,1,...]. (See the Mathematica program below.) - Clark Kimberling, May 05 2011
x appears to be the limit for n to infinity of the ratio of the number of even numbers that take n steps to reach 1 to the number of odd numbers that take n steps to reach 1 in the Collatz iteration. As A005186(n-1) is the number of even numbers that take n steps to reach 1, this means x = lim A005186(n-1)/A176866(n). - Markus Sigg, Oct 20 2020
From Wolfdieter Lang, Sep 02 2022: (Start)
This integer in the quadratic number field Q(sqrt(21)) equals the (real) cube root of 27 + 6*sqrt(21) = 54.4954541... . See Euler, Elements of Algebra, Article 748 or Algebra (in German) p. 306, Kapitel 12, 187.
Subtracting 3 from the present number gives the (real) cube root of
-27 + 6*sqrt(21) = 0.4954541... . (End)
REFERENCES
Leonhard Euler, Vollständige Anleitung zur Algebra, (1770), Reclam, Leipzig, 1883, p.306, Kapitel 12, 187.
LINKS
Chai Wah Wu, Table of n, a(n) for n = 1..10000
Leonhard Euler, Elements of Algebra, p. 244, Article 748.
FORMULA
Equals (27 + 6*sqrt(21))^(1/3). - Wolfdieter Lang, Sep 01 2022
EXAMPLE
3.79128784747792...
MATHEMATICA
FromContinuedFraction[{3, 1, {3, 1}}]
ContinuedFraction[%, 20]
RealDigits[N[%%, 120]] (*A090458*)
N[%%%, 40]
RealDigits[(3 + Sqrt[21])/2, 10, 50][[1]] (* G. C. Greubel, Jul 03 2017 *)
PROG
(PARI) solve(x=3, 4, x^2-3*x-3) \\ Charles R Greathouse IV, Oct 04 2011
(PARI) (3+sqrt(21))/2 \\ Charles R Greathouse IV, Oct 04 2011
CROSSREFS
KEYWORD
AUTHOR
Felix Tubiana, Feb 05 2004
EXTENSIONS
Additional comments from Rick L. Shepherd, Jul 02 2004
STATUS
approved