Certain numbers can be approximated well by certain rationals; specifically, the convergents of the continued fraction are the bestapproximations by rational numbers having denominators less than a certain bound. For example, the approximation is the best rational approximation among rational numbers with denominator up to 56. Also, some numbers can be approximated more readily than others. Dirichlet proved in 1840 that the least readily approximable numbers are the rational numbers, in the sense that for every irrational number there exists infinitely many rational numbers approximating it to a certain degree of accuracy that only finitely many such rational approximations exist for rational numbers. Specifically, he proved that for any number there are infinitely many pairs of relatively prime numbers such that if and only if is irrational. 51 years later, Hurwitz further improved Dirichlet's approximation theorem by a factor of, improving the right-hand side from to for irrational numbers: The above result is best possible since the golden ratio is irrational but if we replace by any larger number in the above expression then we will only be able to find finitely many rational numbers that satisfy the inequality for. Furthermore, he showed that among the irrational numbers, the least readily approximable numbers are those of the form where is the golden ratio, and. If we omit these numbers, just as we omitted the rational numbers in Dirichlet's theorem, then we can improve the number by 2. Again this new bound is best possible in the new setting, but this time the number square root of 2|, and numbers equivalent to it, limits the bound. If we don't allow those numbers then we can again increase the number on the right hand side of the inequality from 2 to /5, for which the numbers equivalent to limits the bound. The numbers generated show how well these numbers can be approximated, can can be seen as a property of the real numbers. However, instead of considering Hurwitz's theorem as a property of the real numbers except certain special numbers, we can consider it as a property of each excluded number. Thus, the theorem can be interpreted as "numbers equivalent to, or are among the least readily approximable irrational numbers." This leads us to consider how accurately each number can be approximated by rationals - specifically, by how much can the factor in Dirichlet's approximation theorem be increased to from 1 for that specific number.
Definition
Mathematically, the Markov constant of irrational is defined as. If the set does not have an upper bound we define. Alternatively, it can be defined as where is defined as the closest integer to.
Properties and results
implies that for all. If is its continued fraction expansion then. From the above, if then. This implies that if and only if is not bounded. In particular, if is a quadratic irrationality. In fact, the lower bound for can be strengthened to, the tightest possible. The values of for which are families of quadratic irrationalities having the same period, and the values of for these are limited to Lagrange numbers. There are uncountably many numbers for which, no two of which have the same ending; for instance, for each number where,. If where then. In particular if them. The set forms the Lagrange spectrum. It contains the interval where F is Freiman's constant. Hence, if then there exists irrational whose Markov constant is.
Numbers having a Markov constant less than 3
Burger et al. provides a formula for which the quadratic irrationality whose Markov constant is the nth Lagrange number: where is the nthMarkov number, and is the smallest positive integer such that. Nicholls provides a geometric proof of this, providing a method that these numbers can be systematically found.
Examples
Markov constant of a number
Since, As because the continued fraction representation of is unbounded.
Numbers having Markov constant less than 3
Consider ; Then. By trial and error it can be found that. Then
