A contribution to the Diophantine approximations of real numbers (Q950674)

The author gives an overview of some Diophantine approximation results obtainable by using the pigeonhole principle or which are related to continued fractions. There are three classes of theorems: I: Approximations with arbitrary large denominators: There is an infinite number of rational approximations \(A/B\) of \(r\) such that \(| r-\frac AB| <c(B)\), where \(c(B)\) is an upper bound depending on \(B\). II: Approximations with bounded large denominators: For any \(M\) there exists a rational approximation \(A/B\), \(B\leq M\), of \(r\) such that \(| r-\frac AB| <c(B)\), where \(c(B)\) is as above. III: Approximation algorithms: algorithmic ways for determining the ``best'' such approximations, where the natural denominator \(B\) (and eventually also the integer numerator \(A\)) are elements of a certain finite subset of \(\mathbb N\) (resp. of \(\mathbb Z\)). After some introductory remarks he states for type I the famous Hurwitz bound \(| r-\frac AB| <\frac1{\sqrt{5}B^ 2}\) for irrational \(r\in\mathbb R\setminus\mathbb Q\) and two results of \textit{R. M. Robinson} [Duke Math. J. 7, 354--359 (1940; Zbl 0024.25201, JFM 66.0183.03)] the second of which was first given by \textit{W. T. Scott} [Bull. Am. Math. Soc. 46, 124--129 (1940; Zbl 0022.30803)]. The motivation for this study arose in the construction of a mechanical clock with astronomical indicators (moon phases, siderial day, tropical year et al.) requiring cog-wheels with a special turning ratio that leads to the basic problem in Diophantine approximation. The author is teacher for mathematics and astronomy at the canton school in Solothurn, Switzerland.