Aren't they the same value?

0.33 < m n < 1 3 0.33 < \dfrac {m}{n} < \dfrac {1}{3}

Find the smallest positive integer n n such that there exists an integer m m for which the inequality above is fulfilled.


The answer is 103.

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5 solutions

Sharky Kesa
Jul 2, 2015

Since 33 100 < m n \dfrac{33}{100} < \dfrac{m}{n} , we have 100 m > 33 n 100m > 33n and therefore 100 m 33 n + 1 100m \geq 33n+1 .

Since m n < 1 3 \dfrac{m}{n} < \dfrac{1}{3} , we obtain n > 3 m n > 3m and therefore n 3 m + 1 n \geq 3m+1 .

Hence 100 m 33 ( 3 m + 1 ) + 1 = 99 m + 34 100m \geq 33(3m+1)+1 = 99m + 34 and m 34 m \geq 34 .

Therefore n 3 × 34 + 1 = 103. n \geq 3 \times 34 + 1 = 103.

Since 33 100 < 34 103 < 1 3 \dfrac {33}{100} < \dfrac {34}{103} < \dfrac {1}{3} , the least n n is 103.

Moderator note:

If you are familiar with the Farey sequence, can you immediately write down 2 equations (not inequalities) that m , n m, n must satisfy?

Quickly check that 33 100 \dfrac{33}{100} and 1 3 \dfrac{1}{3} are adjacent in a Farey sequence since 33 × 3 100 × 1 = 1 |33\times 3-100\times 1| = 1 .

Then we know that the number with the smallest denominator between 33 100 \dfrac{33}{100} and 1 3 \dfrac{1}{3} is 33 + 1 100 + 3 = 34 103 \dfrac{33+1}{100+3}=\dfrac{34}{103} .

Daniel Liu - 5 years, 11 months ago

really cool!

이채 린 - 5 years, 10 months ago

If you simplify the equality, you get 99 n < m < 100 n 99n < m < 100n . Using this, can't I say that m m is at least 199 (because when n = 1 n=1 , m m can't exist).

Aryan Gaikwad - 5 years ago

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You forgot to multiply the middle term by 300.

Sharky Kesa - 5 years ago

Cant it be 1/2

Raj kishore Agrawal - 5 years, 1 month ago
Paul Walter
Jul 8, 2015

Taking reciprocals of everything, we have 3 < n m < 3 1 33 3 < \frac{n}{m} < 3 \frac{1}{33} .

Multiplying both sides by m m we get 3 m < n < 3 m + m 33 3m < n < 3m + \frac{m}{33} .

It is obvious that if we want to fit an integer n n between 3 m 3m and 3 m + m 33 3m +\frac{m}{33} (keeping in mind that 3 m 3m is an integer), then m 34 m \geq 34 .

Value m = 34 m=34 yields n = 103 n=103 (and obviously larger m m yields larger n n ).

Jason Zou
Jul 2, 2015

Multiplying the inequality by 3 n 3n gives

. 99 n < 3 m < n .99n<3m<n

That means there must be an integer that is divisible by 3 3 between . 99 n .99n and n n . Since n = 100 n=100 gives 99 99 and 100 100 , we know that for an integer to be between . 99 n .99n and n n , n 101 n \geq 101 . The smallest integer that is divisible by 3 3 and greater than 100 100 is 102 102 , which is between . 99 103 .99*103 and 103 103 .

Thus, our answer is 103 \boxed{103}

Based on the fact that for b>a, n>0, a b < a + n b + n w e h a v e : 1 3 = . 333333333. So we need .33< m n < . 333333 . 33 = 33 100 < 33 + 1 100 + 3 = . 3300970874 < 1 3 33 + 1 100 + 3 = 34 103 A N S W E R 103 , If we had . 33 < m n < . 330095 , we would have gone for more refinement as follows. 33 + 1 2 100 + 3 2 = . 330049 , a n d . . . t h e n 2 ( 33 + 1 2 ) 2 ( 100 + 3 2 ) = 67 203 = . 3300492611 By refining fraction to be added and compensating. Note:- By this, we are securing our lower bound for minimum value. Fractions has to be as reciprocal of integers only. \text{Based on the fact that for b>a, n>0, } \dfrac a b <\dfrac {a+n}{b+n} we~have:-\\ \dfrac 1 3 =.333333333.~\text{So we need .33< }\dfrac m n <.333333\\.33=\dfrac {33}{100}< \dfrac {33+1}{100+3}=.3300970874<\dfrac 1 3\\ \therefore~\dfrac {33+1}{100+3}=\dfrac {34}{103} ~ ~ ANSWER~~\color{#D61F06}{103},\\~~\\~~\\\text {If we had }.33< \dfrac m n <.330095,\text{ we would have gone for more} \\ \text{ refinement as follows.}\\\dfrac{33+\frac 1 2 }{100+\frac 3 2 } =.330049, ~~and...then ~\dfrac{2*(33+\frac 1 2) }{2*(100+\frac 3 2 )} \\=\dfrac{67 }{203} =.3300492611~~~~~\text{By refining fraction to be added and}\\\text {compensating. Note:- By this, we are securing our lower bound for} \\ \text{ minimum value. Fractions has to be as reciprocal of integers only. }

Jun Arro Estrella
Aug 13, 2015

Mediant fraction inequality states that : a/b<(a+c)/(b+d)<c/d

It's not necessarily the median

Aryan Gaikwad - 5 years ago

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