Tanja Schindler Teoria Ergodica 29 Oct 2020

Exercise 1 (5 points). Prove that for Lebesgue-a.e. x ∈ [0, 1], the geometric mean
of the integer numbers a1 , . . . , an , . . . in the continued fraction expansion of x con-
verges to a real number: in other words, there exists b ∈ R such that limn→∞ (a1 ·
a2 · · · an )1/n = b. Determine the value of b. (Exercise 3.2.4 in Viana & Oliveira
Foundations of Ergodic Theory)

Exercise 2 (5 points). Let (M, B, µ) be a probability measure space and let B be

generated by a semi-algebra A. Let f : M → M be a µ-invariant transformation.
Assume that for all A ∈ A which fulfill µ (A4f −1 A) = 0 we already have µ(A) = 0
or µ(A) = 1. Can we conclude that f is ergodic?
Remark: A semi-algebra S fulfilling the following properties:

• ∅ ∈ S,

• if A, B ∈ S, then A ∩ B ∈ S,

• if A ∈ S, then there
U exist a finite number of pairwise disjoint sets B1 , . . . , Bn ∈ S
such that Ac = ni=1 Bi .

(There exist also a number of other - equivalent - definitions on how to define a

semi-algebra.)

Exercise 3 (5 points). Give an alternative proof of Proposition 4.2.1. Assume that

θ is irrational. Let A be an invariant set with positive measure. Recalling that the
orbit {Rθn (a) : n ∈ Z} of every a ∈ S 1 is dense in S 1 , show that no point of S 1 is a
density point of Ac . Conclude that µ(A) = 1. (Exercise 4.2.6 in Viana & Oliveira
Foundations of Ergodic Theory)

Exercise 4 (5 points). Let (M, B, µ) be a probability measure space and f : M → M

a µ-preserving transformation. Further, let (ϕn )n∈N be a subadditive sequence of
functions with respect to the transformation f . We call the time constant of (ϕn )n∈N
the number
Z
ϕn
lim dµ
n→∞ n
when it exists. Assuming that the limit does exist and is finite, show that we may
write ϕn = ψn + γn for each n ∈ N, in such a way that (ψn )n∈N is an additive sequence
and (γn )n∈N is a subadditive sequence with time constant equal to zero. (Exercise
3.3.5 in Viana & Oliveira Foundations of Ergodic Theory)

Please hand in your assignment by Tuesday, 10 Nov.

Please name your file ”surname.assignment2”.
The first four exercises are mandatory, the fifth is an extra challenge giving bonus
points.
Tanja Schindler Teoria Ergodica 29 Oct 2020

Exercise 5 (Bonus question: 5 bonus points). We look at the sequence {7n }n∈N ,
i.e. 7, 49, 343, 2401, . . . presented in the base 10-expansion. We let an be the second
digit of 7n+1 in base 10-expansion (we start with the first number which has a second
digit). The first entries P of this sequence are given by a1 = 9, a2 = 4, a3 = 4, . . ..
Does the limit limn→∞ nj=1 δ{aj =k} /n exist for k ∈ {0, . . . , 9} and if so what is its
value?

Please hand in your assignment by Tuesday, 10 Nov.

Please name your file ”surname.assignment2”.
The first four exercises are mandatory, the fifth is an extra challenge giving bonus
points.