Irrational numbers of constant type -- a new characterization (Q1383490)

Given an irrational number \(\alpha\) and a positive integer \(m\), the distinct fractional parts of \(\alpha, 2\alpha, \dots,\) \(m\alpha\) determine a partition of the interval [0,1]. There are at most three kinds of lengths by the Three Distance Theorem. Defining \(d_\alpha(m)\) and \(d' _\alpha(m)\) to be the maximum and minimum lengths, respectively, of the subintervals of the partition corresponding to the integer \(m\), it is shown that the sequence \((d_\alpha(m)/ d'_\alpha(m))_{m=1}^\infty\) is bounded if and only if \(\alpha\) is of constant type; namely, the continued fraction expansion of \(\alpha\) has bounded partial quotients.