OFFSET
0,1
COMMENTS
Let r and b be positive real numbers. We define an Engel expansion of r to the base b to be a (possibly infinite) nondecreasing sequence of positive integers [a(0), a(1), a(2), ...] such that we have the series representation r = b/a(0) + b^2/(a(0)*a(1)) + b^3/(a(0)*a(1)*a(2)) + .... Depending on the values of r and b such an expansion may not exist, and if it does exist it may not be unique.
When b = 1 we recover the ordinary Engel expansion of r. See A181565 and A230601 for some predictable Engel expansions to a base b other than 1.
In the particular case that the base b >= 1 and 0 < r < b then we can find an Engel expansion of r to the base b using the following algorithm:
Choose values for r and b.
Define the map f(x) (which depends on the base b) by f(x) = x/b*ceiling(b/x) - 1 and let f^(n)(x) denote the n-th iterate of the map f(x), with the convention that f^(0)(x) = x.
For n = 0, 1, 2, ... define the integer a(n) = ceiling(b/f^(n)(r)) until f^n(r) = 0.
When b >= 1 and 0 < r < b the sequence a(n) produced by this algorithm provides an Engel expansion of r to the base b.
For the present sequence we apply this algorithm with r := 1 and with the base b := Pi.
We can also get an alternating series representation for r in powers of b (still assuming b >= 1 and 0 < r < b), called a Pierce series expansion of r to the base b, by running the above algorithm but now with input values -r and base b. See A232326.
LINKS
Eric Weisstein's World of Mathematics, Engel Expansion
Wikipedia, Engel Expansion
FORMULA
a(n) = ceiling(Pi/f^(n)(1)), where f^(n)(x) denotes the n-th iterate of the map f(x) = x/Pi*(ceiling(Pi/x)) - 1, with the convention that f^(0)(x) = x.
Engel series expansion of 1 to the base Pi:
1 = Pi/4 + Pi^2/(4*12) + Pi^3/(4*12*72) + Pi^4/(4*12*72*2111) + ....
The associated power series F(z) := 1 - ( z/4 + z^2/(4*12) + z^3/(4*12*72) + z^4/(4*12*72*2111) + ...) has a zero at z = Pi. Truncating the series F(z) to n terms produces a polynomial F_n(z) with rational coefficients which has a real zero close to Pi. See below for an example.
EXAMPLE
Truncation F_5(z) = 1 - ( z/4 + z^2/(4*12) + z^3/(4*12*72) + z^4/(4*12*72*2111) + z^5/(4*12*72*2111*14265) ). The polynomial has a positive real zero at z = 3.14159 26535 (9...), which agrees with Pi to 10 decimal places.
Comparison of generalized Engel expansions of 1 to the base Pi.
A232325: Engel series expansion of 1 to the base Pi
1 = Pi/4 + Pi^2/(4*12) + Pi^3/(4*12*72) + Pi^4/(4*12*72*2111) + ....
A232326: Pierce series expansion of 1 to the base Pi
1 = Pi/3 - Pi^2/(3*69) + Pi^3/(3*69*310) - Pi^4/(3*69*310*1017) + - ....
Running the algorithm with the input values r = 1 and base -Pi produces the expansion
1 = Pi/3 - Pi^2/(3*70) - Pi^3/(3*70*740) + Pi^4/(3*70*740*6920) + - - + ....
Running the algorithm with the input values r = -1 and base -Pi produces the expansion
1 = Pi/4 + Pi^2/(4*11) - Pi^3/(4*11*73) - Pi^4/(4*11*73*560) + + - - ....
MAPLE
# Define the n-th iterate of the map f(x) = x/b*ceiling(b/x) - 1
map_iterate := proc(n, b, x) option remember;
if n = 0 then
x
else
-1 + 1/b*thisproc(n-1, b, x)*ceil(b/thisproc(n-1, b, x))
end if
end proc:
# Define the terms of the expansion of x to the base b
a := n -> ceil(evalf(b/map_iterate(n, b, x))):
Digits:= 500:
# Choose values for x and b
x := 1: b:= Pi:
seq(a(n), n = 0..19);
CROSSREFS
KEYWORD
nonn,easy
AUTHOR
Peter Bala, Nov 25 2013
STATUS
approved