Continued fractions with bounded partial quotients (Q4942811)

Let \(\theta\) be a real number with continued fraction expansion \([a_0; a_1, a_2, \dots]\) and \(M=\left(\begin{smallmatrix} a&b\\c&d\end{smallmatrix}\right)\) a matrix with integer entries such that \(|\det(M)|=D\geq 1\). Put \((a\theta+b)/(c\theta+d)=[a_0^\ast; a_1^\ast, a_2^\ast, \dots]\) and \(y_K=[K;\overline{1,K}]=(K+\sqrt{K^2+4K})/2\). \textit{J. C. Lagarias} and \textit{J. O. Shallit} obtained the following result in [J. Théor. Nombres Bordx. 9, 267-279 (1997; Zbl 0901.11024)]. If \(\theta\) has bounded partial quotients with \(a_j\leq K\) for all sufficiently large \(j\), then \(a_j^\ast\leq D(K+2)\) for all sufficiently large \(j\). In this paper the exact bound \(a_j^\ast\leq D-1+[D y_K]\) is given. When \((a-c)(b-d)<0\), if \(a_j\leq K\) for all integers \(j\), then \(a_j^\ast\leq D-1+[D y_K]\) for all integers \(j\). The main tool to prove the result is transducers, which are described in [J. Number Theory 73, 92-121 (1998; Zbl 0929.11066)] by \textit{P. Liardet} and \textit{P. Stambul}.