On a problem of K. Mahler: Diophantine approximation and Cantor sets

Let K denote the middle third Cantor set and . Given a real, positive function ψ let denote the set of real numbers x in the unit interval for which there exist infinitely many such that |x − p/q| < ψ(q). The analogue of the Hausdorff measure version of the Duffin–Schaeffer conjecture is established for . One of the consequences of this is that there exist very well approximable numbers, other than Liouville numbers, in K—an assertion attributed to K. Mahler. Explicit examples of irrational numbers satisfying Mahler’s assertion are also given. Dedicated to Maurice Dodson on his retirement—finally!