OFFSET
0,1
COMMENTS
The real solution r of the cubic equation r^3 + r^2 + r - 1 = 0 is the reciprocal of the tribonacci constant A058265. If the four sides of a quadrilateral form a geometric progression 1:r:r^2:r^3 where r is the common ratio then r is limited to the range 1/t < r < t where t is the tribonacci constant. More generally if f(n) is the n-th step Fibonacci constant then a polygon of n+1 sides can have sides in a geometric progression 1:r:r^2:...:r^n if the common ratio r is limited to the range 1/f(n) < r < f(n).
From Wolfdieter Lang, Aug 22 2022: (Start)
The roots of this cubic are obtained from the roots of y^3 + (2/3)*y - 34/27 after subtracting 1/3. The y-roots are y1 = (u_p^(1/3) + u_m^(1/3)*e_m)/3, y2 = (e_m*u_p^(1/3) + u_m^(1/3))/3 and y3 = e_p*(u_p^(1/3) + u_m^(1/3))/3. Here u_p = 17 + 3*sqrt(33), u_m = 17 - 3*sqrt(33), e_p = -(1 + sqrt(3)*i) and e_m = -(1 - sqrt(3)*i), where i = sqrt(-1).
The roots of the x-cubic are then x1, the present real solution, and x2 = y2 - 1/3 = -0.771844506... + 1.11514250...*i and the complex conjugate x3 = y3 - 1/3. (End)
LINKS
G. C. Greubel, Table of n, a(n) for n = 0..10000
Joerg Arndt, Matters Computational (The Fxtbook), section 38.9, A function encoding the Hilbert curve, page 748, y_1.
FORMULA
Equals (1/3)*(-1-2/(17+3*sqrt(33))^(1/3) + (17+3*sqrt(33))^(1/3)).
Equals (1/3)*(u_p^(1/3) + u_m^(1/3)*e_m - 1), with u_p = 17 + 3*sqrt(33), u_m = 17 - 3*sqrt(33), and e_m = -(1 - sqrt(3)*i), with i = sqrt(-1). - Wolfdieter Lang, Aug 22 2022
Equals hypergeom([1/4,1/2,3/4],[2/3,4/3],16/27)/2. - Gerry Martens, Jul 13 2023
EXAMPLE
0.543689012692076361570855971801747986525203297650983935240...
MATHEMATICA
N[Reduce[r+r^2+r^3==1, r], 100]
RealDigits[(1/3)*(-1 -2/(17+3*Sqrt[33])^(1/3) +(17+3*Sqrt[33])^(1/3)), 10, 100][[1]] (* G. C. Greubel, Feb 06 2019 *)
RealDigits[Root[r^3+r^2+r-1, 1], 10, 120][[1]] (* Harvey P. Dale, May 18 2023 *)
PROG
(PARI) polrootsreal(r^3 + r^2 + r - 1)[1] \\ Charles R Greathouse IV, Apr 14 2014
(Magma) SetDefaultRealField(RealField(100)); (1/3)*(-1 -2/(17 +3*Sqrt(33))^(1/3) +(17+3*Sqrt(33))^(1/3)); // G. C. Greubel, Feb 06 2019
(Sage) numerical_approx((1/3)*(-1 -2/(17+3*sqrt(33))^(1/3) +(17+ 3*sqrt(33))^(1/3)), digits=100) # G. C. Greubel, Feb 06 2019
CROSSREFS
KEYWORD
nonn,cons
AUTHOR
Frank M Jackson, Aug 26 2011
STATUS
approved