Analysis and representation of π through

continuous fractions
Introduction

One of the concepts that by duty are always taught in

schools is Pi, some institutions more in-depth than
others. In fact, and as is taught in school, Pi is the
number obtained by dividing the length of a circle by its
diameter, however this form, although it is the best
known, is not the only one that exists to obtain said
value. There are different ways to get to this number,
some of those quite peculiar given the patterns that may
occur in the middle of this process. For my exploration,
I decided to represent pi utilizing continuous fractions,
analyzing the way in which these fractions reach this value, studying the different
patterns that are generated in the different ways of representing pi through
continuous fractions.

Why did I chose this topic?

I chose this subject, given that throughout the baccalaureate one of the concepts
that have been most worked on in mathematics is the number pi and I find
interesting to get to know about the different forms this number could be found.
Adding to this, pi is a number that has lead to a lot of math peculiarities, and the way
it is obtain by fractions, and the patterns seen through this, is one of the most
interesting characteristics found in this equations. Another thing that made me
choose this exploration, was the fact that I have never worked with what is known as
continued fractions, which would be a challenge when conducting this investigation. I
do not do this exploration because I do not believe that pi could be obtain through
continued fractions, but because I found really interesting to analyse the patterns
that are found in this process, and the way this fractions get to work, in a process as
obtaining pi as a result.

How Im I going to do it?

I'm going to search about different ways to obtain the value of pi through continued
fractions, and at first I will test the formula, adding one by one the parts of the
fraction (following the pattern previously search), and making the procedure, until I
get to a value nearly related to pi value. After this, I will graph some of the results of
the parts of the continued fraction im testing as a linear function, and in the same
cartesian plane I will graph pi, as a linear function too, then I will analyze the
behaviour of the graph, and by this get to know the way the continued fraction tends
to get to the value needed (pi). I will do this with all the patterns and continued
fractions I decide to test, and at the end I will proceed to give a breve comparison
between the different continued fractions.

Concepts for the exploration

As I mentioned earlier in this research, the purpose is to analyse the way the value
of pi is obtain through continued fractions, and how do this behave. To be able to do
a proper investigation and analysis it is necessary to know about the subject and the
concepts involved in this exploration. Showing up next in the documente, there
would be a brief explanation about some of the basic concepts, as the origin of pi,
which codifies by an “irrational number”, a “continuous fraction”, among others,
needed to develop in a correct and certain manner this exploration, and after it will
continue with the processes previously explained, their analysis, the reflection this
will lead to and finally the conclusion.

Origin of π

As we are going to work with this value throughout the exploration, it is necessary to
know a little more about this and its provenance. The first legitimate reference that
we have of what we now know as pi belongs to the Greek mathematician
Archimedes who, working with the polygons, managed to reach the approximation of
this mathematical figure, proclaiming that he was at a value between 223/71 and 22 /
7, however, given the difficulties of the time to be able to deepen the subject, he did
not do more research. Later William Jones began using the Greek letter to refer to
that value, since π refers to "P" and given that over time it is discovered that this
value is obtained by dividing the circumference of a circle by its diameter, he decides
to use it as an abbreviation of the word perimeter since it is something that relates
directly to the circular geometric figures (Exploratorium, 2019)

Irrational numbers

In order to continue, the term "irrational numbers" will be explained, since pi is

defined as such, and also due to only this type of numbers can be represented by
the use of continuous fractions .Irrational numbers cannot be expressed as a
coefficient of whole numbers, therefore they cannot be exact or periodic decimals.
These numbers are defined as: "The set of numbers whose decimal expression has
infinite non-periodic decimal figures." Said set is designated with the letter I.
Examples of irrational numbers are 2, π, e ... Since its exact value cannot be known
(that's why they are designated with letters or symbols).
Continuous Fractions

Continuous fractions are usually used to represent irrational numbers, in these they
can be identified, as in a common fraction, or numerator and a denominator,
however, in the latter there is a sum, between a rational number and a fraction,
which It has in its denominator the same pattern, so it happens continuously in these
fractions, since they are used in representation of numbers whose decimals are
infinite, these do not usually have an end either. For this investigation, these
fractions will be used to verify whether or not π is irrational. About this figure there
are several formulas, including several continuous fractions, which will be used in

this exploration will be as follows:

Limits

“Limits describe how a function behaves near a point, instead of at that point. This
simple yet powerful idea is the basis of all of calculus” (Khan Academy, 2017). As
was just exposed in the previously explanation, limits are used to describe how a
function act near an specific point, I will use this to try to define the behaviour of the
continuous fractions I will be testing, and the way they get to become each time
closer to the value of pi.

Mathematical Processes

After this info was explain I will get to the analysis of the formulas, as it was explain
in the first part of the exploration. To begin with I will evaluate this continuous
fraction.
As it was told at the introduction, the fractions that represent pi follow some
interesting patterns, and as it could be evidence this fraction is surprisingly
symmetric following the pattern (with the exception of the first part of the fraction
seen) of dividing the numerator into 2 plus the next odd number that follows the
sequence, raise to the second power.

Now, I will show the way some of this processes would be done and the results
obtained.

4 4
1. π=
1+1 2
2
= =2

4 4 4
π= = = =3,666
2. 1+(
1 2
)
1
1+( )
2
1,0909
2+32 11

4
3. π=
1+¿ ¿

4
4. π=
1+¿ ¿

4
5. π=
1+¿ ¿

Now, I will add a table with some more of the results of this process, specifically until
the result gets somewhere really near to pi.

# of Result 8 3,267
trial 9 3,03
1 2 10 3,236
2 3,666 11 3,050
3 2,8 12 3,225
4 3,261 13 3,075
5 2,939 14 3,213
6 3,309 15 3,141
7 3,001
Here there are the first 10 values graph as linear functions in different colors, and in
black, it graph the value of pi.

Graph of the first 15 values of the first continuous fraction

evaluated join with the value of pi graph as a linear function.

Zoom in of the same graph

Analysis of the first fraction:

As it could be seen, this fraction start to get close to pi on a range between 2 and 4,
and alternating between values that overpass π and values that goes under it. It is
also possible to observe that the fraction tends to get close to pi faster from the left
side (the values that are under π ) and that it start to get really close to pi, after you
get to add the 15th odd number to the fraction.

Second fraction:

The second continuous fraction I will evaluate is this one:

As it could be seen, this fraction also has a pattern over the one is construct, this
consist (except in the first part) of the denominator of the fractions being the odd
number that follows the pattern (1,3,5,7,9…), added to the number that follows in the
normal sequence (1,2,3,4,5,6…).
Just as in the first fraction evaluated, I will show some of the processes that would
be done in this fraction.

4 4
1. π=
1+1 2
2
= =2

4 4 4
π= = = =3,5
2. 1+(
1 2
)
1
1+( )
2
1,142
3+22 7

4 4 4 4
π= = = = =3,066
1 2
1 2
1 2
1,304
3. 1+(
22
) 1+(
22
) 1+(
3,285
)
3+( ) 3+( )
5+3 2 14
 4.
4 4 4 4 4
π= = = = = =3,156
1 2
1 2
1 2
12
1,267
1+( 2
) 1+( 2
) 1+( 2
) 1+( )
2 2 2 3,741
3+( ) 3+( ) 3+( )
32 32 5,391
5+( ) 5+( )
7 +4 2 23

5.
4 4 4 4
π= 2
= 2
= 2
= =
1 1 1 12
1+( ) 1+( ) 1+( ) 1+( ) 1+(
22 22 22 22 3
3+( 2
) 3+( 2
) 3+( 2
) 3+( )
3 3 3 6,204
5+( 2
) 5+( 2
) 5+( )
4 4 7,470
7 +( ) 7+( )
9+5
2
34

Now, as it was done with the first fraction, it would be add a table with the next
values of the results until there is a value that approximates to pi.

# of Result 4 3,066
trial 5 3,156
1 4 6 3,138
2 2 7 3,142
3 3,5 8 3,141

Here there are this values graph as linear functions (graph in different colors), as
well as the value of pi graph (seen as a black line) in the same Cartesian plane.

Graph of the first 10 values of the second continuous fraction

evaluated with the value of pi.
Zoom in of the same graph

Zoom of the last functions that were graph and pi.

Analysis of the second fraction:

As it could be seen, this fraction start to get close to pi on a range between 2 and 4
as well alternating between values that are greater and smaller than π. Another thing
that could be seen in this fraction and its behavior, is that it tends to get really close
to pi, after the trial number is almost exactly pi, and if it is true that the function tends
to get near to pi by both sides, it gets closer from the left, which means, it gets closer
from lower values of pi than from the greater ones.

Analysis and comparison of both fractions:

As I mention previously in each analysis, both fractions start to surround the value of
pi from a range between 2 and 4, and progressively get closer to this value, until they
eventually get a really certain value of pi. Even though, both fractions get to do
almost the same thing, since their purpose is to represent pi, there are some really
evident differences in the way this happens. The first thing to realize is the fact that
both fractions oscillate between values that are greater and smaller than pi, but the
second continuous fraction gets to a more certain value of pi faster than the first one
I evaluated. Both fractions get closer to pi faster from the left, but in the second one,
its only needed 8 trials to get a really close approximation to pi, while in the first one
its needed 15 odd numbers, to get somewhere near the value needed, and yet the
result is not as precise as the one obtained in the second one, in fact the result
obtain when you add the 7 odd number to the second continuous fraction its closer
than the result that is obtain with the processes at the first fraction evaluated. This
could be observe in the graphs more precisely, since in the first one it is possible to
observe each result value on the Cartesian plane and yet it is possible to see where
is the line of the pi value, while in the second fraction values are so close to pi, that it
is necessary to get really close to see the different lines. Another thing that is
possible to observe is that the first fraction gets close to pi, but holding a kind of
symmetry, this is more clear when observing the graph of both fractions.

Conclusion:
In conclusion, even though both functions have the same purpose, they don’t behave
in the same form, and they surely share some qualities, but their ways to get to pi
are different. This exploration lead to give me knowledge about the different ways pi
could be obtain, as well as the form continuous fractions work. Pi is a really
important number, since it just doesn’t work for resolving math exercises in school
and college, but it has more than one relevant importance apply in real life, such as
the calculus of the oil a plane needs to an specific trip, which as the earth is a circle,
is done by using pi, as this examples there are many cases in which this number
plays an important role, and this is why it is important and interesting to get to know
more about it, and the different patterns and peculiarities that surround it. In this
investigation I was able to get to know more than the way pi is represented by
continuous fractions, but I was able to realize that no matter that math is part of what
is known as exact sciences there is always more than one way to explain, justify or
get to any value, and as this is important and valuable in math it is in every other
aspect in life.

References

1. Khan Academy. (2017). Limits intro (article) | Khan Academy. Recuperado 23

marzo, 2020, de https://www.khanacademy.org/math/ap-calculus-ab/ab-limits-
new/ab-1-2/a/limits-intro
2. ^DiAmOnD^. (2010, 30 septiembre). Algunas fracciones continuas
interesantes - Gaussianos. Recuperado 24 marzo, 2020, de
https://www.gaussianos.com/algunas-fracciones-continuas-interesantes/