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Source. Algorithm 3.1 and the verification after it, preprint p. 6; the abstract and the introduction, pp. 1--2. Read on the rendered pages.

Statement

Algorithm 3.1 (p. 6) takes a monotonically non-decreasing sequence of positive integers {bn}n=1∞\{b_n\}_{n=1}^{\infty} such that T=∑n=1∞bn2−nT=\sum_{n=1}^{\infty}b_n2^{-n} converges, and a real number S∈(T3,T]S\in(\frac T3,T]. It sets S1=SS_1=S and TN=∑n=N∞bn2−(n−N)T_N=\sum_{n=N}^{\infty}b_n2^{-(n-N)}, and defines, for n=1,2,…n=1,2,\ldots,

an={2if 13Tn<Sn≤12Tn,3if 14Tn<Sn≤13Tn,4if 16Tn<Sn≤14Tn,Sn+1=anSn−bn.a_n=\begin{cases} 2 & \text{if } \frac13T_n<S_n\le\frac12T_n,\\ 3 & \text{if } \frac14T_n<S_n\le\frac13T_n,\\ 4 & \text{if } \frac16T_n<S_n\le\frac14T_n, \end{cases} \qquad S_{n+1}=a_nS_n-b_n .

The verification on the same page shows that every ana_n is defined and lies in {2,3,4}\{2,3,4\} and that

∑n=1∞bna1…an=S.\sum_{n=1}^{\infty}\frac{b_n}{a_1\ldots a_n}=S .

So every real number in (T/3,T](T/3,T], rational or not, is the value of such a series with all denominators in {2,3,4}\{2,3,4\}.

Why it works (p. 6)

Since T1=2TT_1=2T, the starting value lies in (16T1,12T1](\frac16T_1,\frac12T_1]. The choice of ana_n puts anSna_nS_n in (23Tn,Tn](\frac23T_n,T_n]. Since Tn=bn+12Tn+1T_n=b_n+\frac12T_{n+1} and the monotonicity of bnb_n gives Tn+1≥2bn+1≥2bnT_{n+1}\ge2b_{n+1}\ge2b_n, the new value Sn+1S_{n+1} falls again in (16Tn+1,12Tn+1](\frac16T_{n+1},\frac12T_{n+1}]. The partial sums differ from SS by SN+1/(a1⋯aN)S_{N+1}/(a_1\cdots a_N), which is at most the tail ∑n>Nbn2−n\sum_{n>N}b_n2^{-n} of TT, and so tends to 00.

In the paper

The abstract announces the result for "every monotonic sequence {bn}n=1∞\{b_n\}_{n=1}^{\infty}" with a rational value of the series, and the introduction (p. 2) for any monotonic sequence of positive integers with "a wanted value in a prescribed interval"; the algorithm as printed treats non-decreasing sequences with TT convergent. The introduction uses it to show that "Some growth condition on {an}n=1∞\{a_n\}_{n=1}^{\infty} and {bn}n=1∞\{b_n\}_{n=1}^{\infty} is needed" for criteria of the kind the paper proves, in which the sum is irrational unless bn/(an−1)b_n/(a_n-1) is eventually constant. The Remark before it (p. 6) gives the case bn=1b_n=1: uncountably many bounded sequences ana_n with ∑1/(a1⋯an)=7/11\sum1/(a_1\cdots a_n)=7/11.

Relation to problem 251

With bn=pnb_n=p_n, the nn-th prime, the series TT is the constant ∑pn/2n\sum p_n/2^n of problem 251, and the case S=TS=T of the algorithm returns an=2a_n=2 for every nn. Every other number of (T/3,T](T/3,T], among them infinitely many rationals, is ∑pn/(a1⋯an)\sum p_n/(a_1\cdots a_n) for some sequence with all an∈{2,3,4}a_n\in\{2,3,4\}; such a sequence is bounded and is not covered by the growth conditions of Theorem 5.1 or Theorem 6.1. The algorithm says nothing about whether TT itself is rational.

Bears on. #251 (context: the problem's constant is the right end of the interval; every other value in it, rationals included, is a sum of pn/(a1⋯an)p_n/(a_1\cdots a_n) with all ana_n in {2,3,4}\{2,3,4\}; nothing about the constant itself).