When does the floor function inequality hold?

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    Function Inequality
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SUMMARY

The floor function inequality, represented as [x] ≥ x - 1, is established as a true statement, although equality never occurs. The floor function [x] yields the greatest integer less than or equal to x, and the inequality holds strictly as [x] > x - 1. The discussion confirms that while the equality condition is not met, the original claim remains valid as a weaker assertion.

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Let [x] be the floor function i.e. it produces the integral part of x. So for example if x = 1.5 then [x] = 1. I recently saw the claim

$$[x] \geq x - 1$$

The strict part of the inequality makes perfect sense, but when does equality occur? Does it even occur at all? I have not been able to find an example. Maybe the claim is false?
 
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sweatingbear said:
Let [x] be the floor function i.e. it produces the integral part of x. So for example if x = 1.5 then [x] = 1. I recently saw the claim

$$[x] \geq x - 1$$

The strict part of the inequality makes perfect sense, but when does equality occur? Does it even occur at all? I have not been able to find an example. Maybe the claim is false?

Hi sweatingbear!

You are right that equality cannot occur.
However, the claim is still true.
Consider that:
$$[x] > x - 1 \quad\Rightarrow\quad [x] \geq x - 1$$
It's just a weaker statement. Still true though.
 

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