Challenge involving irrational number

Join the discussion
Ask a follow-up here, or get your own question answered by working scientists, mathematicians and engineers — people, not an autocomplete.
Real named experts · corrections over time · the nuance an AI answer skips
3 replies · 2K views
anemone
Gold Member
MHB
POTW Director
Messages
3,851
Reaction score
115
Let $x$ be an irrational number. Show that there are integers $m$ and $n$ such that $\dfrac{1}{2555}<mx+n<\dfrac{1}{2012}$.
 
Mathematics news on Phys.org
We have $\frac{1}{2012} - \frac{1}{2555} = \frac{ 543}{2012 * 2555}$
Now to keep it simple let p = 2012 * 2555
divide the interval $[0\cdots 1]$ into p equal intervals from 1 to p the $k^{th}$ interval between
$\frac{k-1}{p}$ to $\frac{k}{p}$
Define the function $f(m) = mx - \lfloor mx \rfloor $
Let us find f(k) for k = 1 to p
We shall get p values and there is value in 1st interval.
We shall assert the above statement that there is value in 1st interval.
If there is no value in 1st interval then there are p values and p-1 intervals so 2 values must be in the same interval so say for a and b
So $ | f(a) - f(b) |$ must be in the 1st interval for (a-b)
So there is a value say c such that
$ | f(c) |= \frac{1}{p}$
Now because p = 2012 * 2555
So there exists integer s and t such that
$\frac{1}{2555} < st < rt < \frac{1}{2012}$
So if chose an integer m such that $sc <= m < rc$ then we have
$\frac{1}{2555} < f(c) < \frac{1}{2012}$
Because $f(c) < \frac{1}{p}$
And as $r < p$ we have
$f(mc) < 1$
So $f(m) = mx - \lfloor mx \rfloor $ and choosing $n= - \lfloor mx \rfloor $ we get the result
Hence proved
 
$x$ is irrational then $\mathbb{Z} + x \mathbb{Z}$ is dense so :
$$\exists m,n \in \mathbb{Z}, \dfrac{1}{2555} < m x + n < \dfrac{1}{2012}$$
 
Reply
  • Like
Likes   Reactions: dextercioby
ALI ALI said:
$x$ is irrational then $\mathbb{Z} + x \mathbb{Z}$ is dense

If I had to guess, proving this is the main point of the challenge.
 
Reply
  • Like
Likes   Reactions: dextercioby, Office_Shredder and topsquark