and so on. But we have done something more than merely reascend to the original fraction by means of the quotients. The set of fractions, ¹/₁, ²/₃, ⁷/₁₀, ⁹/₁₃, &c. are continually approaching in value to the original fraction, the first being too great, the second too small, the third too great, and so on alternately, but each one being nearer to the given fraction than any of those before it. Thus, ¹/₁ is too great, and ²/₃ is too small; but ²/₃ is not so much too small as ¹/₁ is too great. And again, ⁷/₁₀, though too great, is not so much too great as ²/₃ is too small.
Moreover, the difference of any of the fractions from the original fraction is never greater than a fraction having unity for its numerator and the product of the denominator and the next denominator for its denominator. Thus, ¹/₁ does not err by so much as ¹/₃, nor ²/₃ by so much as ¹/₃₀, nor ⁷/₁₀ by so much as ¹/₁₃₀, nor ⁹/₁₃ by so much as ¹/₂₉₉, &c.
Lastly, no fraction of a less numerator and denominator can come so near to the given fraction as any one of the fractions in the list. Thus, no fraction with a less numerator than 249, and a less denominator than 358, can come so near to
| 9131 | as | 249 | . |
| 13128 | 358 |
The reader may take any example for himself, and the test of the accuracy of the process is the ultimate return to the fraction begun with. Another test is as follows: The numerator of the difference of any two consecutive approximating fractions ought to be unity. Thus, in our instance, we have ¹⁶/₂₃ and ²⁴⁹/₃₅₈, which, with a common denominator, 23 × 358, have 5728 and 5727 for their numerators.
As another example, let us examine this question: The length of the year is 365·24224 days, which is called in common life 365¼ days. Take the fraction ²⁴²²⁴/₁₀₀₀₀₀, and proceed as in the rule.
- 24224)100000(4, 7, 1, 4, 9, 2
- 2496 3104
- 64 608
- 0 32
| 1 | 7 | 8 | 39 | 359 | 757 |
| 4 | 29 | 33 | 161 | 1482 | 3125 |
and ⁷⁵⁷/₃₁₂₅ is ·24224 in its lowest terms. Hence, it appears that the excess of the year over 365 days amounts to about 1 day in 4 years, which is not wrong by so much as 1 day in 116 years; more accurately, to 7 days in 29 years, which is not wrong by so much as 1 day in 957 years; more accurately still, to 8 days in 33 years, which is not wrong by so much as 1 day in 5313 years; and so on.
This method may be applied to finding fractions nearly equal to the square roots of integers, in the following manner: