The use of the sequence \(F_ n (z)= f_ n \circ{} \cdot \cdot \cdot \circ{} f_ 1(z)\) in computing fixed points of continued fractions, products, and series (Q1181549)

The main result is as follows. a) Let \(f(n)\) \((n\geq 1)\) be a sequence of functions analytic in a simply connected region and continuous over the closure \(S'\) of \(S\). b) Assume that a compact set \(\Omega\subseteq S\) for which \(f(n\mid S)\subseteq\Omega\) \((n\geq 1)\) exists. c) Assume that the sequence \(\alpha(n)\) \((n\geq 1)\) of fixed points of \(f(n)\) in \(\Omega\) converges to \(\alpha\). d) Define the composition functions \(F(n)\) \((n\geq 1)\) by setting \(F(1\mid z)=f(1\mid z)\), \(F(2\mid z)=f(2\mid f(1\mid z)),\dots\). Then \(F(n \mid z)\to\alpha\) uniformly as \(z\) ranges over \(S'\). As a slightly more accessible corollary to this result, replace (c) by the assumption that the \(f(n)\) converge to \(f\) over \(S'\). Then \(F(n\mid z)\to \alpha=f(\alpha)\) as before. Three cases relating to continued fractions, infinite products and sums are considered. In each of them \(S\) is the region \(| z| < R\). (A) Let the functions \(a(n),b(n)\) \((n\geq 1)\), analytic in \(S\) and continuous on its boundary, be such that, setting \(h(n,z\mid w)=a(n\mid z)/\{b(n\mid z)+w\}\), \(| h(n,z\mid w)| \leq r< R\) for \(| w| \leq r\) and \(| h(n,z\mid 0)|\leq r\), both for all \(z\) in \(S'\). Set \(f(n\mid z)=h(1,z\mid h(2,z|\dots| h(n,z\mid 0)\dots))\). (B) Let the functions \(\mu(j)\) \((j\geq 1)\) be such that \(\{\sum|\mu(j\mid z)| (1\leq j\leq \infty)\}\leq \ln (r)\) for some \(r<R\) and all \(z\in S'\). Set \(f(n\mid z)=\prod\{1-\mu(j\mid z)\}\) \((1\leq j\leq n)\). (C) Let the functions \(g(i)\) \((i\geq 1)\) be such that, setting \(f(n\mid z)=\sum g(i\mid z)\) \((1\leq i\leq n)\), \(f(n\mid z)\leq r<R\) for all \(z\in S'\). In each of the cases (A-C) the relevant \(f(n)\) converge to a corresponding function \(f\) over \(S'\) and the corollary may be applied. The theory is illustrated by numerical examples.