Mathematics and Statistics 10(3): 477-485, 2022 http://www.hrpub.org
DOI: 10.13189/ms.2022.100303
On Some Properties of Fabulous Fraction Tree
A. Dinesh Kumar
1,*
, R. Sivaraman
2
1
Department of Mathematics, Khadir Mohideen College (Affiliated to Bharathidasan University), Adhirampattinam, Tamil Nadu, India
2
Department of Mathematics, Dwaraka Doss Goverdhan Doss Vaishnav College, Chennai, India
Received February 28, 2022; Revised March 26, 2022; Accepted April 29, 2022
Cite This Paper in the following Citation Styles
(a): [1]A. Dinesh Kumar, R. Sivaraman , "On Some Properties of Fabulous Fraction Tree," Mathematics and Statistics,
Vol. 10, No. 3, pp. 477-485, 2022. DOI: 10.13189/ms.2022.100303.
(b):A. Dinesh Kumar, R. Sivaraman(2022).On Some Properties of Fabulous Fraction Tree. Mathematics and Statistics,
10(3), 477-485. DOI: 10.13189/ms.2022.100303.
Copyright©2022 by authors, all rights reserved. Authors agree that this article remains permanently open access under the
terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License 4.0 International License
Abstract Among several properties that real numbers
possess, this paper deals with the exciting formation of
positive rational numbers constructed in the form of a Tree,
in which every number has two branches to the left and
right from the root number. This tree possesses all positive
rational numbers. Hence it consists of infinite numbers. We
call this tree “Fraction Tree”. We will formally introduce
the Fraction Tree and discuss several fascinating properties
including proving the one-one correspondence between
natural numbers and the entries of the Fraction Tree. In this
paper, we shall provide the connection between the entries
of the fraction tree and Fibonacci numbers through some
specified paths. We have also provided ideas relating the
terms of the Fraction Tree with that of continued fractions.
Five interesting theorems related to the entries of the
Fraction Tree are proved in this paper. The simple rule that
is used to construct the Fraction Tree enables us to prove
many mathematical properties in this paper. In this sense,
one can witness the simplicity and beauty of making deep
mathematics through simple and elegant formulations. The
Fraction Tree discussed in this paper which is technically
called Stern-Brocot Tree has profound applications in
Science as diverse as in clock manufacturing in the early
days. In particular, Brocot used the entries of the Fraction
Tree to decide the gear ratios of mechanical clocks used
several decades ago. A simple construction rule provides
us with a mathematical structure that is worthy of so many
properties and applications. This is the real beauty and
charm of mathematics.
Keywords Fraction Tree, Levels of the Tree, Binary
Expansions, One – One Correspondence, Fibonacci
Sequence, Continued Fractions
1. Introduction
The concept of Fraction Tree was first discovered
independently by Moritz Stern in 1858 and AchilleBrocot
in 1861. While Stern was a German Number Theorist,
Brocot was a French clockmaker. So, the Fraction Tree
which we discuss in this paper is known as “Stern-Brocot
Tree” in mathematics literature. The Fraction Tree
possesses tremendous beauty in the realm of mathematics
and was equipped with several unexpected applications
both in mathematics and with other branches of science.
We will discuss several aspects of this fascinating Fraction
Tree and discuss a few of its applications. For knowing
more about Fraction Trees see [1–4].
2. Definition
Let a, b> 0 be integers. Then will be a Fraction (either
proper fraction or mixed fraction). In fact, such a number
will be a positive rational number.
Starting with we generate two new numbers
and called left child and right child of
respectively. (2.1)
We can view Figure 1, to understand this creation rule
more precisely.
a
b
a
b
a
a b +
a b
b
+ a
b