This article describes some activities for approximating irrational numbers with partial sums of infinite series
that have been used with preservice elementary teachers and adapted for the TI-Nspire™. The idea for the
article came from an 8th grader's question about how people knew the correct digits of π. Before discussing
irrational numbers, some examples of rational numbers approximated by an infinite series are given.
Information using the TI-Nspire™ to facilitate student understanding, including keystrokes is presented. This
is followed by a discussion of approximating π using one of Euler's well-known series. Finally, there is also
a discussion of the limitations of technology in displaying decimal approximations beyond the number of
significant digits stored in the Nspire

Jones, Dustin

Klespis, Mark

KnowledgeBank at OSU

Page 17Ohio Journal of School Mathematics | No. 63 • Spring, 2011OCTMExploring Irrational Numbers with TI-Nspire™This article describes some activities for approximating irrational numbers with partial sums of inifi nite series that have been used with preservice elementary teachers and adapted for the TI-Nspire™.  The idea for the article came from an 8th grader’s question about how people knew the correct digits of π.  Before discussing irrational numbers, some examples of rational numbers approximated by an infi nite series are given. Information using the TI-Nspire™ to facilitate student understanding, including keystrokes is presented.  This is followed by a discussion of approximating π using one of Euler’s well-known series.  Finally, there is also a discussion of the limitations of technology in displaying decimal approximations beyond the number of signifi cant digits stored in the Nspire.BackgroundTh e fi rst author presented methods of exploring irrational numbers using calculators (both four-function and graphers) and spreadsheets in 1999 at the 12th International Conference on Technology in Collegiate Mathematics (ICTCM).  With the addition of the TI-Nspire™ handheld computer to the tools available to teachers and students, we were inspired to revisit this topic and demonstrate the linked representations within the handheld device. Below, the fi rst author recounts the origin of his ideas for this topic:In 1980, I was in my second year of teaching mathematics at Anthony High School in Anthony, Texas – a small town north of El Paso, situated on the border of Texas and New Mexico. I was the sole mathematics teacher for grades 8 through 12. In order to brighten up a very drab classroom, I used some money to buy math posters – one of which showed π calculated to 2,000 decimal places. Most students were suitably awed by this “big” number until I mentioned it was just a little bit bigger than three and that most of the digits were to the right of the decimal. I reminded students π was an irrational number and thus had a non-repeating and non-terminating decimal representation. One of my eighth graders asked, “If there’s no pattern to the decimals, how do they know what number comes next?” Th is is a fairly deep question for a junior high school student to ask. Th e remainder of this paper describes some activities that have been used over the years with preservice elementary teachers so that they could give a meaningful answer to this question, should one of their students ever ask it.First StepsTh e key to developing a knowledge base to answer this question lies with the idea that irrational numbers can be approximated by partial sums of an infi nite series of rational numbers.  And before preservice teachers can be convinced of that, they fi rst need to be convinced that it is possible that rational numbers can be represented that way. More importantly, by having the students use technology (the TI-Nspire™ in this case) to do the computations, they also need to understand the inherent limitations of their tools to develop a complete understanding of how subsequent digits in π can appear.Th e following is an excerpt from a Mark Klespis and Dustin Jones, Sam Houston State UniversityPage 18 Ohio Journal of School Mathematics | No. 63 • Spring, 2011OCTMOne of my eighth graders asked, “If there’s no pattern to the decimals, how do they know what number comes next?” While on cell B2, press menu, 3: Data, 3: Fill Down. Move the dashed rectangle down to cell B11, and press Enter. Th is will copy the formula down the column, but keep the cell references relative so that cell B11 contains the formula =B10+A11.It will display a value very close to 1, as shown in Figure 3.student activity book (Klespis, 1997) edited by the fi rst author and modifi ed for use with the TI-Nspire™. Students are asked to examine the following sequence of fractions, to describe the pattern in the denominators, and to calculate the decimal equivalent of each fraction in the sequence.12 ,14 ,18 ,116 ,132 ,164 ,1128 ,1256 ,1512 ,11024 ,12048 (∗)Th ey are then asked to compute the sum of the following related series:12 +14 +18 +116 +132 +164 +1128 +1256+1512 +11024 +12048Once this is done, we ask, “What simple, well-known number does the sum of this series approach?” Our past students have had little diffi  culty determining that the sum gets close to 1. Students are then asked to fi nd the well-known limits of additional series such as 13 +19 +127 +181 +1243 +1729 +12187 + . . .or14 +116 +164 +1256 +11024 +14096 +116384 + . . .as well as those that start with 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, and 110. Th ey are to look for patterns and generalize their results. On the TI-Nspire™, a Lists & Spreadsheet page can facilitate this process. When placed in the formula area of column A, the command = seqn(u(n−1)2 ,12 , 11)places the fi rst 11 terms of the sequence (*) in that column (See Figure 1).Fig 1 The TI-Nspire™ seqn commandTo obtain the partial sums of the series in column B, type =A1 in cell B1 and the formula = B1+A2 in cell B2 (See Figure 2).Fig 2 Calculating partial sumsFig 3 Fill down feature of TI-Nspire™By editing the formula in column A, prospective teachers can easily investigate other series. Th e example shown on the left in Figure 4 is based on a geometric series with initial term and ratio both equal to 19. On a calculator page, we can fi nd an equivalent fraction by pressing menu, 2: Number, 2: Approximate to Fraction (See Figure 4). Page 19Ohio Journal of School Mathematics | No. 63 • Spring, 2011OCTMthat π4 = 1− 13 + 15 − 17 + 19 − 111 + . . .+(−1)n2n+1 + . . . for n = 0, 1, 2, 3, . . . As with rational numbers, we can use the TI-Nspire™ to investigate this process. We’ll begin by using column A as an index column, and insert =seqn(u(n-1)+1,{0},50) in the formula line for that column. Column B will hold the terms of the sequence if we type = (-1)A/(2A+1) in the formula line (See Th is activity has worked well with prospective elementary teachers. It serves to reinforce their connections between fraction and decimal representations as well as convincing them that rational numbers can be written as a sum of an infi nite series of fractions.It is important to stress here that each new partial sum will cause a change in the decimal representation of the sum of the series.  However, there will be a point where these values do not change.  Th is is due to the fact that many calculators (the TI-Nspire™ included) have memory limitations and for this reason, only store about 13 signifi cant digits in a decimal. Th us, as the number of terms in the series increases, we do not gain any additional precision.Th is technological limitation and how it impacts the question originally posed on the fi rst page of this article will be explored after the next section.Back to πReturning to the original question of how you can determine the digits of π if there is no pattern, we know from Euler This activity has worked well with prospective elementary teachers. It serves to reinforce their connections between fraction and decimal representations.Fig 4 Investigating other seriesFig 5 Terms of Euler’s sequenceFigure 5).Th e partial sums for the series are placed in column C utilizing the Fill Down command. Finally, we use the formula =4Cin column D to display the approximation for π. Portions of this series are shown in Figure 6.  By giving column D a name, such as piapprox (as shown on the second screenshot in Figure 6), we can construct a visual representation of this series. On a Graphs page, press menu, 3: Graph Type, 4: Scatter Plot. Use index as the x-variable and piapprox as the y-variable, and adjust the window using menu, 4: Window/Zoom, 9: Zoom – Data (See Figure 7). Page 20 Ohio Journal of School Mathematics | No. 63 • Spring, 2011OCTMBy plotting the function f1(x) = π as in Figure 8, students note that this series does appear to approach the value of π. Digits of π and Decimal AccuracyTh e previous section shows a decimal approximation of π.  Th e question then The question then becomes, “Just how accurate is the representation?” Most hand-held calculators only store decimals to about thirteen signifi cant digits.becomes,  “Just how accurate is the representation?”  As was mentioned earlier, most hand-held calculators only store decimals to about 13 signifi cant digits.  Certainly computers used by mathematicians or scientists may have greater internal capacity.  Since the key question at the beginning of the paper relates to how one can determine any of the digits in π, it is important for the students to discern that there are changes in the decimal approximation up to Nspire’s accuracy.  Th e more powerful the computer, the farther out in the decimal expansion one can determine the digits of π.  Th e same idea can be generalized to other irrational numbers.Other Irrational NumbersWell-known irrational numbers such as φ, e, or √2 can be represented in a similar manner. In Figures 9 and 10, we investigate the Golden Ratio φ.  On a new spreadsheet page, we begin with the seed numbers 1 and 1 in cells A1 and A2, and the formula =A1+A2 in cell A3. By fi lling down to row 20, we get the fi rst 20 Fibonacci numbers. Placing the formula =A2/A1 in cell B2, and then fi lling down, gives us the ratios of successive Fibonacci numbers.By giving column B a name, such as fi bratio in Figure 9, we can now create a scatterplot (index, fi bratio) (See Figure 10). What is even more interesting is that the ratio will converge to φ for any non-zero seed numbers entered in A1 and A2! Try it!Fig 6 Partial sums approximating piFig 7 Partial sums represented graphicallyFig 8 Illustrating convergence to piPage 21Ohio Journal of School Mathematics | No. 63 • Spring, 2011OCTMSummaryIn these few short pages, we have tried to indicate how the decimal representations of irrational numbers can be approximated using the TI-Nspire™. Th e procedures and programs have been easy enough for preservice teachers to use and there has been the added benefi t of helping many (though not all)  preservice elementary and middle school teachers gain more familiarity with decimal representations of both rational and irrational numbers.Fig 9 Exploring ratios of Fibonacci numbersFig 10 Illustrating convergence to φMARK KLESPIS, k l e s p i s @ s h s u .edu, is a professor of mathematics at Sam Houston State University. He is interested in the mathematical content of textbooks and the use of technology in teaching mathematics.  He enjoys crossword puzzles and soccer, though not at the same time.DUSTY JONES, DLJones@shsu.edu, is an assistant professor of mathematics at Sam Houston State University. His major areas of interest is the mathematical content of textbooks, particularly related to statistics and probability. He also enjoys watching his three young children develop early number concepts.ReferencesKlespis, M. L. (ed.) (1997). Student Activities Manual for Mathematics Courses for Preservice Elementary Teachers. Harcourt, Brace: St. Louis.Keep your face always toward the sunshine - and shadows will fall behind you.- Walt Whitman 

Exploring Irrational Numbers with TI-Nspire™

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Exploring Irrational Numbers with TI-Nspire™

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