Accuracy of Convergents of Continued Fraction Expansion of Irrational Number/Corollary

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Corollary to Accuracy of Convergents of Continued Fraction

Let $x$ be an irrational number.

Let $\left \langle {C_n}\right \rangle$ be the sequence of convergents of $x$.

Let $p_1, p_2, p_3, \ldots$ and $q_1, q_2, q_3, \ldots$ be its numerators and denominators.


Then:

$\forall k \ge 1: \dfrac 1 {q_k q_{k+1}} > \left\vert{x - \dfrac {p_k} {q_k}}\right\vert > \dfrac 1 {2 q_k q_{k+1}}$


Proof

From Accuracy of Convergents of Continued Fraction:

$\forall k \ge 1: \left\vert{x - \dfrac {p_{k+1}} {q_{k+1}}}\right\vert \le \dfrac 1 {q_{k+1} q_{k+2}} \le \dfrac 1 {2 q_k q_{k+1}} < \left\vert{x - \dfrac {p_k} {q_k}}\right\vert$

The last inequality immediately gives:

$\left\vert{x - \dfrac {p_k} {q_k}}\right\vert > \dfrac 1 {2 q_k q_{k+1}}$

The first inequality with $k-1$ gives:

$\dfrac 1 {q_k q_{k+1}} \ge \left\vert{x - \dfrac {p_k} {q_k}}\right\vert$

as desired.

$\blacksquare$