Transcendence of numbers related with Cahen's constant (Q2420485): Difference between revisions

Let \( \{S_n\}_{\ge 0} \) be the Sylvester's sequence defined by the recurrence \[ S_0=2, \quad S_{n+1}=S_n^2-S_n+1 \quad \text{for all} \quad n\ge 0. \] It is well known that \( \displaystyle{\sum_{n=0}^{\infty}\frac{1}{S_n}}=1 \). \textit{E. Cahen} in [Nouv. Ann. (3) X. 508--514 (1891; JFM 23.0227.02)] showed that the number \( \displaystyle{C=\sum_{n=0}^{\infty}\dfrac{(-1)^{n}}{S_n-1}} \), is irrational. The number \( C \) is known as Cahen's constant. \textit{J. L. Davison} and \textit{J. O. Shallit} [Monatsh. Math. 111, No. 2, 119--126 (1991; Zbl 0719.11038)] established the transcendence of Cahen's contant. Their result was extended and improved by \textit{P.-G. Becker} [Monatsh. Math. 114, No. 3--4, 183--198 (1992; Zbl 0764.11029)]. In the paper under review, the authors study rationality of functions satisfying certain functional equations and generalize the result of Becker by a variant of Mahler's method.