MAA Writing Awards

Side-and-Diagonal Numbers

by F. V. Waugh

Year of Award: 1968

Publication Information: Mathematics Magazine, vol. 40, 1967, pp. 74-83

Summary:  The article deals with the history of rational approximations to irrational numbers, a_n/b_n. Under appropriate conditions the the numbers a_n are called "diagonal numbers" and the denominators b_n are called "side numbers."

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About the Author: (from Mathematics Magazine, vol. 40, (1967)) F.V. Waugh was in Arlington , VA at the time of publication and Margaret W. Maxfield was in Gainesville, FL.