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Radical Obsession: 2004 Project Summary

Christopher L. Chiccone developed a recursive formula for calculating square roots without using radicals. Through research, he found his formula is closely related to Pascal's triangle and the commonly known method of continued fractions for finding square roots. His pattern also relates to Newton's method of using derivatives to converge on square roots. He hopes his simple formula could provide insight into the original development of calculating square roots.

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104 views1 page

Radical Obsession: 2004 Project Summary

Christopher L. Chiccone developed a recursive formula for calculating square roots without using radicals. Through research, he found his formula is closely related to Pascal's triangle and the commonly known method of continued fractions for finding square roots. His pattern also relates to Newton's method of using derivatives to converge on square roots. He hopes his simple formula could provide insight into the original development of calculating square roots.

Uploaded by

uhfste
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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CALIFORNIA STATE SCIENCE FAIR

2004 PROJECT SUMMARY

Name(s) Project Number


Christopher L. Chiccone
S1203
Project Title
Radical Obsession

Abstract
Objectives/Goals
The objective of this report is to explain and present a pattern of numbers that I found, involving radicals
and Pascal's triangle. My goal is also to validate and interpret the meaning of my original convergence. I
also hope to find other alternative patterns that relate to my theory through research.
Methods/Materials
While taking this convergent pattern for example: (1/1, 3/2, 7/5, 17/12, 41/29, 99/70, 239/169, 577/408,
1393/985, 3363/2378 . . . , you can see that the next numerator is made by multiplying the previous
denominator by 2 and then adding that number to the previous numerator. The next denominator is made
by simply adding the previous numerator and denominator together. This pattern converges to the square
root of 2. I then developed a recursive formula that encompassed all numbers and variables. For a/b;
(an-1+xbn-1)/(an-1+bn-1).
Materials:
TI-83 Plus Silver Edition Graphing Calculator
TI-83 Plus Computer Link and Program
Math CAD 2001i Professional
Results
As I continued my research I found that my pattern is closely related to Pascal#s triangle. Also while
using this equation I can put any value I want in for x and receive the square root of that number without
touching the radical symbol on my calculator. I discovered that my equation could be the basis of how
square roots were developed.
Conclusions/Discussion
This convergent pattern is a simple formula and it#s just a matter of following the principles of Algebra
that led me to discover all of the details. I later learned through recent research that my expression is
related almost exactly to the commonly known way of finding square roots and that#s through continued
fractions. My pattern also relates to a method discovered by Newton involving the derivatives of a
parabola that eventually converge to the square roots of numbers.

Summary Statement
To show a method that I created which reveals the basis of how square roots could have been developed.

Help Received
Dr. Fletcher, the chairman of Civil Engineering at the University of the Pacific, helped with continued
research, along with Steve Gallo, math professor at the University of the Pacific and San Joaquin Delta
College.

Ap2/04

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