Cornell University
Library
Cornell UniversityLibrary

eCommons

Help
Log In(current)
  1. Home
  2. Cornell Computing and Information Science
  3. Computer Science
  4. Computer Science Technical Reports
  5. Random Fibonacci sequences and the number 1.13198824...

Random Fibonacci sequences and the number 1.13198824...

File(s)
97-1650.pdf (483.63 KB)
97-1650.ps (965.77 KB)
Permanent Link(s)
https://hdl.handle.net/1813/7304
Collections
Computer Science Technical Reports
Author
Viswanath, Divakar
Abstract

\begin{abstract} For the familiar Fibonacci sequence --- defined by $f_1 = f_2 = 1$, and $f_n = f_{n-1} + f_{n-2}$ for $n greater than 2$ --- $f_n$ increases exponentially with $n$ at a rate given by the golden ratio $(1+\sqrt{5})/2=1.61803398\ldots$. But for a simple modification with both additions and subtractions --- the {\it random} Fibonacci sequences defined by $t_1=t_2=1$, and for $n greater than 2$, $t_n = \pm t_{n-1} \pm t_{n-2}$, where each $\pm$ sign is independent and either $+$ or $-$ with probability $1/2$ --- it is not even obvious if $\abs{t_n}$ should increase with $n$. Our main result is that \begin{equation*} \sqrt[n]{\abs{t_n}} \rightarrow 1.13198824\ldots::: \text{as}::: n \rightarrow\infty \end{equation*} with probability $1$. Finding the number $1.13198824\ldots$ involves the theory of random matrix products, Stern-Brocot division of the real line, a fractal-like measure, a computer calculation, and a rounding error analysis to validate the computer calculation. \end{abstract}

Date Issued
1997-10
Publisher
Cornell University
Keywords
computer science
•
technical report
Previously Published as
http://techreports.library.cornell.edu:8081/Dienst/UI/1.0/Display/cul.cs/TR97-1650
Type
technical report

Site Statistics | Help

About eCommons | Policies | Terms of use | Contact Us

copyright © 2002-2026 Cornell University Library | Privacy | Web Accessibility Assistance