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Beatty's theorem (Theorem)

If $p$ and $q$ are positive irrationals such that $$\frac{1}{p}+\frac{1}{q}=1$$ then the sequences \begin{eqnarray*} \{\lfloor np\rfloor\}_{n=1}^\infty&=&\lfloor p\rfloor,\lfloor 2p\rfloor,\lfloor 3p\rfloor,\ldots\\ \{\lfloor nq\rfloor\}_{n=1}^\infty&=&\lfloor q\rfloor,\lfloor 2q\rfloor,\lfloor 3q\rfloor,\ldots\\ \end{eqnarray*}where $\lfloor x\rfloor$ denotes the floor (or greatest integer function) of $x$ constitute a partition of the set of positive integers.

That is, every positive integer is a member exactly once of one of the two sequences and the two sequences have no common terms.




"Beatty's theorem" is owned by drini. [ owner history (1) ]
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See Also: sequence, irrational, partition, floor, ceiling, Beatty sequence, Fraenkel's partition theorem, conjugate index


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proof of Beatty's theorem (Proof) by lieven
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Cross-references: terms, integers, partition, floor, sequences, irrationals, positive
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This is version 2 of Beatty's theorem, born on 2001-11-06, modified 2002-05-15.
Object id is 695, canonical name is BeattysTheorem.
Accessed 3892 times total.

Classification:
AMS MSC11B83 (Number theory :: Sequences and sets :: Special sequences and polynomials)

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