Mathematical Object

Minkowski's Question-Mark Function

Number Theory

Minkowski's question-mark function, denoted ?(x), maps the rational numbers to the dyadic rationals and irrational quadratic numbers to non-dyadic irrationals, built from the continued-fraction expansion of its argument. It is a continuous, strictly increasing, singular function, meaning its derivative is zero almost everywhere even though the function itself increases across its whole domain. The function provides a bridge between the Stern-Brocot tree's ordering of the rational numbers by continued fractions and the ordinary binary ordering of the real numbers on the unit interval.

Facts
Classification
Object Kind
Function 1
Origin Year
1904 1
defined by Hermann Minkowski in 1904
Connections

Is Kind Of Object

Functions, Concepts
Sources
1. Minkowski's Question-Mark Function (Wikipedia)
  • Object Kind: Function
  • Origin Year: 1904
View the Source
Comments (0)
No comments yet. Be the first to share a thought.
Reader Challenges (0)
No disputes yet. Spotted an error or a better source? Open the first one.

Mathematics Atlas

How Proof Is Made
Sign In
Text size
100%
Theme