Eulers continued fraction formula

In the analytic theory of continued fractions, Eulers con-

tinued fraction formula is an identity connecting a cer-
tain very general innite series with an innite contin- 1
ued fraction. First published in 1748, it was at rst re- x = r1
garded as a simple identity connecting a nite sum with a 1
nite continued fraction in such a way that the extension r2
1 + r1
[1] r3
to the innite case was immediately apparent. Today
1 + r2
it is more fully appreciated as a useful tool in analytic .
attacks on the general convergence problem for innite 1 + r3 . .
continued fractions with complex elements.
Here equality is to be understood as equivalence, in the
sense that the n'th convergent of each continued fraction
is equal to the n'th partial sum of the series shown above.
So if the series shown is convergent or uniformly con-
1 The original formula vergent, when the ri's are functions of some complex vari-
able z then the continued fractions also converge, or
[2]
Euler derived the formula as connecting a nite sum of converge uniformly.
products with a nite continued fraction.

3 Examples
a0
a0 +a0 a1 +a0 a1 a2 + +a0 a1 a2 an =
a1
1
3.1 The exponential
a2 function
1 + a1
..
The exponential . ez is an entire function with a
function
1 + a2
power series
. . expansion that converges uniformly on every
an1
.
bounded domain in the complex an plane.
1 + an1
1 + an

The identity is easily established by induction on n, and n n
z z
is therefore applicable in the limit: if the expression on ez = 1 + =1+
n! j
the left is extended to represent a convergent innite se- n=1 n=1 j=1
ries, the expression on the right can also be extended to
represent a convergent innite continued fraction. The application of Eulers continued fraction formula is
straightforward:

2 Eulers formula 1
ez = .
z
If ri are complex numbers and x is dened by 1 1
2z
1+z 1
3z
1 + 12 z 1
4z



i 1 + 13 z
.
x=1+ r1 r2 ri = 1 + rj , 1 + 14 z . .
i=1 i=1 j=1

Applying an equivalence transformation that consists of

then this equality can be proved by induction clearing the fractions this example is simplied to

1
2 6 REFERENCES

This continued fraction converges when |z| < 1 because it

1 is equivalent to the series from which it was derived.[3]
ez =
z
1
z 3.3 A continued fraction for
1+z
2z
2+z We can use the previous example involving the principal
3z
3+z branch of the natural logarithm function to construct a
.
4 + z .. continued fraction representation of . First we note that
and we can be certain that this continued fraction con-
verges uniformly on every bounded domain in the com- 1+i 1+i i
plex plane because it is equivalent to the power series for =i log = .
1i 1i 2
ez .
Setting z = i in the previous result, and remembering that
i2 = 1, we obtain immediately
3.2 The natural logarithm
The Taylor series for the principal branch of the natural 4
logarithm in the neighborhood of z = 1 is well known. = .
12
Recognizing that log(a/b) = log(a) - log(b), the following 1+
series is easily derived: 32
2+
52
2+
( ) 72
1+z z3 z5 z 2n+1 2+
log =2 z+ + + = 2 . .
1z 3 5 2n + 1 2 + ..
n=0

This series converges when |z| < 1 and can also be ex-
pressed as a sum of products:[3] 4 See also
[ ] List of topics named after Leonhard Euler
1+z z2 z4
log = 2z 1 + + +
1z 3 5
[ ( 2) 2 ( 2 ) ( 2 ) 5 2 Notes ]
z2 z z z z z
= 2z 1 + + + +
3 3 5/3 3 5/3 7/5
[1] 1748 Leonhard Euler, Introductio in analysin innitorum,
Applying Eulers continued fraction formula to this ex- Vol. I, Chapter 18.
pression shows that
[2] (Wall, 1948, p. 17)

[3] This series converges for |z| = 1, except when z = 1, by

1+z 2z Abels test (applied to the series for log(1 z)).
log =
1z 1 2
3z
1 3 2
5z
1 + 31 z 2 5 2 6 References
7z
1 + 35 z 2 7 2
9z
1 + 57 z 2 H. S. Wall, Analytic Theory of Continued Fractions,
.
1 + 79 z 2 D.. .Van Nostrand Company, Inc., 1948; reprinted
(1973) by Chelsea Publishing Company ISBN 0-
and using an equivalence transformation to clear all the 8284-0207-8.
fractions results in

1+z 2z
log = .
1z z2
1
(3z)2
z2 + 3
(5z)2
3z 2 + 5
(7z)2
5z 2 + 7
.
7z 2 + 9 . .
 3

7 Text and image sources, contributors, and licenses

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