On a limit problem in Ford circles (Q1096662)

For \(a,b\in [0,1]\) let \(g(a,b):=\{(x,y)\in\mathbb R^2: 0\leq x\leq 1,\;y=ax+b\}\) and let \(V\) denote the union of all Ford circles in \([0,1]\). In this paper, for \(a,b\to 0+\) the asymptotic behavior of \(m(a,b):=\mu (g(a,b)\cap V)\) where \(\mu\) denotes Borel measure is discussed with the restriction \(b/a=O(1)\). Recently the authors succeeded in establishing asymptotic formulas for \(m(a,0)\) and \(m(0,b)\); \(a,b\to 0+\); \textit{H. Müller} [Math. Nachr. 128, 135--140 (1986; Zbl 0599.10025)] and \textit{W. G. Nowak} [Österr. Akad. Wiss. Math.-Naturwiss. Kl. 1985, 133--137 (1985; Zbl 0599.10026)], respectively. The (expected, but somewhat surprising) result \[ m(a,b)=3/\pi+O(a^{1/2}) \tag{*} \] is obtained by carefully carrying out the summation using a classical tool of Van der Corput. Note that (*) improves the order of the \(O\)-term in case of \(m(a,0)\). Further it is indicated that \(m(0,b)=3/\pi+o(a^{1/2})\) still holds. Only the case b/a\(\to \infty\) \((a>0)\) remains open.