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Kevin Buzzard
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This answer pertains to Michael's comment above.

Let $c$ be $e^{\pi\sqrt{163}}$. It is well-known that $c$ is close to an integer. More precisely, $c$ is about $10^{-12}$ from an integer of size about $10^{17}$, so (squaring $n+\epsilon$) there's no reason for $c^2$ to be close to an integer (just from these facts alone). But it is, and here's a cheap reason why.

Set $q=e^{2\pi i\tau}$ with $\tau=(1+\sqrt{-163})/2$. Then we know from general theory that $j(\tau)=1/q+744+196884q+\ldots$ is an integer, and hence (because $q$ is tiny) that $-1/q$ (which is Ramanujan's constant) is also close to an integer.

But just take this result $1/q+744+196884q+\ldots\in\mathbb{Z}$ and square it. We get $1/q^2+1488/q+ 947304 + 335950912q +\ldots\in\mathbb{Z}$. Now we know $q$ is tiny, and we know $1488/q$ is close to being an integer (but not as close as $q$ is), hence $1/q^2$ is close to being an integer (but not as close as $1/q$ is).

Now rinse and repeat.

But unfortunately this cheap argument doesn't seem to show that $c^5$ is close to an integer, because the power series expansion of $j^5$ involves terms like $1410274829033621720q$, and $q$ is about $10^{-17}$ but this huge integer multiple of $q$ isn't much less than 1 any more so this cheap approach breaks down.

Maybe it's better to do the job properly, and think about what explicit class field theory says about $j(5\tau)$.

Let $c$ be $e^{\pi\sqrt{163}}$. It is well-known that $c$ is close to an integer. More precisely, $c$ is about $10^{-12}$ from an integer of size about $10^{17}$, so (squaring $n+\epsilon$) there's no reason for $c^2$ to be close to an integer (just from these facts alone). But it is, and here's a cheap reason why.

Set $q=e^{2\pi i\tau}$ with $\tau=(1+\sqrt{-163})/2$. Then we know from general theory that $j(\tau)=1/q+744+196884q+\ldots$ is an integer, and hence (because $q$ is tiny) that $-1/q$ (which is Ramanujan's constant) is also close to an integer.

But just take this result $1/q+744+196884q+\ldots\in\mathbb{Z}$ and square it. We get $1/q^2+1488/q+ 947304 + 335950912q +\ldots\in\mathbb{Z}$. Now we know $q$ is tiny, and we know $1488/q$ is close to being an integer (but not as close as $q$ is), hence $1/q^2$ is close to being an integer (but not as close as $1/q$ is).

Now rinse and repeat.

But unfortunately this cheap argument doesn't seem to show that $c^5$ is close to an integer, because the power series expansion of $j^5$ involves terms like $1410274829033621720q$, and $q$ is about $10^{-17}$ but this huge integer multiple of $q$ isn't much less than 1 any more so this cheap approach breaks down.

Maybe it's better to do the job properly, and think about what explicit class field theory says about $j(5\tau)$.

This answer pertains to Michael's comment above.

Let $c$ be $e^{\pi\sqrt{163}}$. It is well-known that $c$ is close to an integer. More precisely, $c$ is about $10^{-12}$ from an integer of size about $10^{17}$, so (squaring $n+\epsilon$) there's no reason for $c^2$ to be close to an integer (just from these facts alone). But it is, and here's a cheap reason why.

Set $q=e^{2\pi i\tau}$ with $\tau=(1+\sqrt{-163})/2$. Then we know from general theory that $j(\tau)=1/q+744+196884q+\ldots$ is an integer, and hence (because $q$ is tiny) that $-1/q$ (which is Ramanujan's constant) is also close to an integer.

But just take this result $1/q+744+196884q+\ldots\in\mathbb{Z}$ and square it. We get $1/q^2+1488/q+ 947304 + 335950912q +\ldots\in\mathbb{Z}$. Now we know $q$ is tiny, and we know $1488/q$ is close to being an integer (but not as close as $q$ is), hence $1/q^2$ is close to being an integer (but not as close as $1/q$ is).

Now rinse and repeat.

But unfortunately this cheap argument doesn't seem to show that $c^5$ is close to an integer, because the power series expansion of $j^5$ involves terms like $1410274829033621720q$, and $q$ is about $10^{-17}$ but this huge integer multiple of $q$ isn't much less than 1 any more so this cheap approach breaks down.

Maybe it's better to do the job properly, and think about what explicit class field theory says about $j(5\tau)$.

Post Undeleted by Kevin Buzzard
rewrite
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Kevin Buzzard
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Here's an explanation of Michael's observationLet (it's too long to be a comment, so it'll have to$c$ be an answer...)

If you look at the proof using the $j$$e^{\pi\sqrt{163}}$. It is well-functionknown that Ramanujan's constant (let's call it $c$) is very close to an integer, then the same proof shows that $c^n$ is close to an integer for small $n$. Note that I'm not saying "if $x$ is close to an integer then so is $x^2$"More precisely, and indeed this doesn't apply to $c$: $c$ is about 10^17 and if $n$ is the nearest$10^{-12}$ from an integer to $c$ then $|c-n|$ isof size about $10^{-12}$$10^{17}$, and just from these facts alone one wouldn't expect thatso (squaring $n+\epsilon$) there's no reason for $c^2$ isto be close to an integer (just from these facts alone). But it is, and thehere's a cheap reason is that ifwhy.

Set $q=e^{2\pi i\tau}$ with $\tau=(1+\sqrt{-163})/2$ then. Then we know from general theory that $1/q+744+196884q+\ldots$$j(\tau)=1/q+744+196884q+\ldots$ is an integer, and hence (because $q$ is tiny) that $-1/q$ (which is Ramanujan's constant) is also close to an integer.

But just take this result $1/q+744+196884q+\ldots\in\mathbb{Z}$ and square it. We get $1/q^2+1488/q+ 947304 + 335950912q +\ldots\in\mathbb{Z}$. Now we know $q$ is tiny, and we know $1488/q$ is close to being an integer (but not as close as $q$ is), hence $1/q^2$ is close to being an integer (but not as close as $1/q$ is).

RinseNow rinse and repeat. Upshot (if I've got

But unfortunately this right):cheap argument doesn't seem to show that $c^5$ is close to an integer, and, indeedbecause the power series expansion of $j^5$ involves terms like $1410274829033621720q$, if you work outand $q$ is about $10^{-17}$ but this huge integer on a computermultiple of $q$ isn't much less than 1 any more so this cheap approach breaks down.

Maybe it's 744 away frombetter to do the one written abovejob properly, and think about what explicit class field theory says about $j(5\tau)$.

Here's an explanation of Michael's observation (it's too long to be a comment, so it'll have to be an answer...)

If you look at the proof using the $j$-function that Ramanujan's constant (let's call it $c$) is very close to an integer, then the same proof shows that $c^n$ is close to an integer for small $n$. Note that I'm not saying "if $x$ is close to an integer then so is $x^2$", and indeed this doesn't apply to $c$: $c$ is about 10^17 and if $n$ is the nearest integer to $c$ then $|c-n|$ is about $10^{-12}$, and just from these facts alone one wouldn't expect that $c^2$ is close to an integer. But it is, and the reason is that if $q=e^{2\pi i\tau}$ with $\tau=(1+\sqrt{-163})/2$ then we know from general theory that $1/q+744+196884q+\ldots$ is an integer, and hence (because $q$ is tiny) that $-1/q$ (which is Ramanujan's constant) is also close to an integer.

But just take this result $1/q+744+196884q+\ldots\in\mathbb{Z}$ and square it. We get $1/q^2+1488/q+ 947304 + 335950912q +\ldots\in\mathbb{Z}$. Now we know $q$ is tiny, and we know $1488/q$ is close to being an integer (but not as close as $q$ is), hence $1/q^2$ is close to being an integer (but not as close as $1/q$ is).

Rinse and repeat. Upshot (if I've got this right): $c^5$ is close to an integer, and, indeed, if you work out this integer on a computer it's 744 away from the one written above.

Let $c$ be $e^{\pi\sqrt{163}}$. It is well-known that $c$ is close to an integer. More precisely, $c$ is about $10^{-12}$ from an integer of size about $10^{17}$, so (squaring $n+\epsilon$) there's no reason for $c^2$ to be close to an integer (just from these facts alone). But it is, and here's a cheap reason why.

Set $q=e^{2\pi i\tau}$ with $\tau=(1+\sqrt{-163})/2$. Then we know from general theory that $j(\tau)=1/q+744+196884q+\ldots$ is an integer, and hence (because $q$ is tiny) that $-1/q$ (which is Ramanujan's constant) is also close to an integer.

But just take this result $1/q+744+196884q+\ldots\in\mathbb{Z}$ and square it. We get $1/q^2+1488/q+ 947304 + 335950912q +\ldots\in\mathbb{Z}$. Now we know $q$ is tiny, and we know $1488/q$ is close to being an integer (but not as close as $q$ is), hence $1/q^2$ is close to being an integer (but not as close as $1/q$ is).

Now rinse and repeat.

But unfortunately this cheap argument doesn't seem to show that $c^5$ is close to an integer, because the power series expansion of $j^5$ involves terms like $1410274829033621720q$, and $q$ is about $10^{-17}$ but this huge integer multiple of $q$ isn't much less than 1 any more so this cheap approach breaks down.

Maybe it's better to do the job properly, and think about what explicit class field theory says about $j(5\tau)$.

Post Deleted by Kevin Buzzard
clarification of what I was answering; deleted 2 characters in body
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Kevin Buzzard
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Here's an explanation of Michael's observation (it's too long to be a comment, so it'll have to be an answer...)

If you look at the proof using the $j$-function that Ramanujan's constant (let's call it $c$) is very close to an integer, then the same proof shows that $c^n$ is close to an integer for small $n$. Note that I'm not saying "if $x$ is close to an integer then so is $x^2$", and indeed this doesn't apply to $c$: $c$ is about 10^17 and if $n$ is the nearest integer to $c$ then $|c-n|$ is about $10^{-12}$, and just from these facts alone one wouldn't expect that $c^2$ is close to an integer. But it is, and the reason is that if $q=e^{2\pi i\tau}$ with $\tau=(1+\sqrt{-163})/2$ then we know from general theory that $1/q+744+196884q+\ldots$ is an integer, and hence (because $q$ is tiny) that $-1/q$ (which is Ramanujan's constant) is also close to an integer.

But just take this result $1/q+744+196884q+\ldots\in\mathbb{Z}$ and square it. We get $1/q^2+1488/q+ 947304 + 335950912q +\ldots\in\mathbb{Z}$. Now we know $q$ is tiny, and we know $1488/q$ is close to being an integer (but not as close as $q$ is), hence $1/q^2$ is close to being an integer (but not as close as $1/q$ is).

Rinse and repeat. Upshot (if I've got this right): $c^5$ is close to an integer, and, indeed, if you work out this integer on a computer it's 744 away from the one you writewritten above.

If you look at the proof using the $j$-function that Ramanujan's constant (let's call it $c$) is very close to an integer, then the same proof shows that $c^n$ is close to an integer for small $n$. Note that I'm not saying "if $x$ is close to an integer then so is $x^2$", and indeed this doesn't apply to $c$: $c$ is about 10^17 and if $n$ is the nearest integer to $c$ then $|c-n|$ is about $10^{-12}$, and just from these facts alone one wouldn't expect that $c^2$ is close to an integer. But it is, and the reason is that if $q=e^{2\pi i\tau}$ with $\tau=(1+\sqrt{-163})/2$ then we know from general theory that $1/q+744+196884q+\ldots$ is an integer, and hence (because $q$ is tiny) that $-1/q$ (which is Ramanujan's constant) is also close to an integer.

But just take this result $1/q+744+196884q+\ldots\in\mathbb{Z}$ and square it. We get $1/q^2+1488/q+ 947304 + 335950912q +\ldots\in\mathbb{Z}$. Now we know $q$ is tiny, and we know $1488/q$ is close to being an integer (but not as close as $q$ is), hence $1/q^2$ is close to being an integer (but not as close as $1/q$ is).

Rinse and repeat. Upshot (if I've got this right): $c^5$ is close to an integer, and, indeed, if you work out this integer on a computer it's 744 away from the one you write above.

Here's an explanation of Michael's observation (it's too long to be a comment, so it'll have to be an answer...)

If you look at the proof using the $j$-function that Ramanujan's constant (let's call it $c$) is very close to an integer, then the same proof shows that $c^n$ is close to an integer for small $n$. Note that I'm not saying "if $x$ is close to an integer then so is $x^2$", and indeed this doesn't apply to $c$: $c$ is about 10^17 and if $n$ is the nearest integer to $c$ then $|c-n|$ is about $10^{-12}$, and just from these facts alone one wouldn't expect that $c^2$ is close to an integer. But it is, and the reason is that if $q=e^{2\pi i\tau}$ with $\tau=(1+\sqrt{-163})/2$ then we know from general theory that $1/q+744+196884q+\ldots$ is an integer, and hence (because $q$ is tiny) that $-1/q$ (which is Ramanujan's constant) is also close to an integer.

But just take this result $1/q+744+196884q+\ldots\in\mathbb{Z}$ and square it. We get $1/q^2+1488/q+ 947304 + 335950912q +\ldots\in\mathbb{Z}$. Now we know $q$ is tiny, and we know $1488/q$ is close to being an integer (but not as close as $q$ is), hence $1/q^2$ is close to being an integer (but not as close as $1/q$ is).

Rinse and repeat. Upshot (if I've got this right): $c^5$ is close to an integer, and, indeed, if you work out this integer on a computer it's 744 away from the one written above.

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Kevin Buzzard
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