Egyptian Floor Fractions

Algebra Level 5

x x is a real number that satisfies 1 x = 1 2 x + 1 3 x + 1 5 x \dfrac{1}{\lfloor x \rfloor}=\dfrac{1}{\lfloor 2x \rfloor}+\dfrac{1}{\lfloor 3x \rfloor}+\dfrac{1}{\lfloor 5x \rfloor}

Let the largest possible value of x x be M M , and the smallest possible value of x x be m m . If M + m M+m can be expressed as p q \dfrac{p}{q} for positive coprime integers p , q p,q , then what is p + q p+q ?

Image credit: Wikipedia CJ


The answer is 53.

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1 solution

Daniel Liu
Jul 11, 2014

First off, note that the number x x can be expressed as a + b a+b , where a a is the integer part and b b is the fractional part.

We will then attack this problem by cases:

0 x < 1 5 0 \le x < \dfrac{1}{5}

1 5 x < 1 3 \dfrac{1}{5}\le x < \dfrac{1}{3}

1 3 x < 2 5 \dfrac{1}{3}\le x < \dfrac{2}{5}

2 5 x < 1 2 \dfrac{2}{5}\le x < \dfrac{1}{2}

1 2 x < 3 5 \dfrac{1}{2}\le x < \dfrac{3}{5}

3 5 x < 2 3 \dfrac{3}{5}\le x < \dfrac{2}{3}

2 3 x < 4 5 \dfrac{2}{3}\le x < \dfrac{4}{5}

4 5 x < 1 \dfrac{4}{5}\le x < 1

Case 1: plugging in and simplifying we have 1 a = 1 2 a + 1 3 a + 1 5 a \dfrac{1}{a}=\dfrac{1}{2a}+\dfrac{1}{3a}+\dfrac{1}{5a} which is never true.

Case 2: plugging in and simplifying we have 1 a = 1 2 a + 1 3 a + 1 5 a + 1 \dfrac{1}{a}=\dfrac{1}{2a}+\dfrac{1}{3a}+\dfrac{1}{5a+1} This simplifies to a 1 a ( 5 a 1 ) = 0 \dfrac{a-1}{a(5a-1)}=0 which yields a = 1 a=1 .

Thus, any x x such that x [ 6 5 , 4 3 ) x\in \left[\dfrac{6}{5},\dfrac{4}{3}\right) satisfies the equation.

Case 3, etc, All later cases give non-integral solutions for a a (I don't want to type up all the straightforward calculations) so we can only have x [ 6 5 , 4 3 ) x\in \left[\dfrac{6}{5},\dfrac{4}{3}\right) . Thus m = 6 5 m=\dfrac{6}{5} and M = 4 3 M=\dfrac{4}{3} .

Thus M + m = 38 15 M+m=\dfrac{38}{15} and our answer is 38 + 15 = 53 38+15=\boxed{53} .

Nice problem, but there is an issue with the phrasing. You can let m m be the smallest possible value of x x , but you can't let M M be the largest possible value of x x , because there is no largest value in the interval [ 6 / 5 , 4 / 3 ) [6/5,4/3) . You'll need alternative phrasing, like " M M is the smallest real number such that every possible value of x x satisfies x < M x < M ."

Jon Haussmann - 6 years, 11 months ago

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Yea, I considered that, except (1) it gives a hint and (2) it's a lot of words. I think sacrificing some accuracy for brevity is worth it.

Daniel Liu - 6 years, 11 months ago

I have done with the same method

Ronak Agarwal - 6 years, 11 months ago

Worked the same way for smallest value but turned impatient about the maximum 😒....... This is tedious ! @Daniel Liu do you have a better way out ?? .... Please help

Abhinav Raichur - 6 years, 11 months ago

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This method simultaneously gives the minimum and maximum, so I don't see what your problem is.

Daniel Liu - 6 years, 10 months ago

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@DanielLiu I certainly do not have a problem in solving it... My concern is that, it is more kind of long route! ........... I am requesting you to let out any other method if possible :) {possibly a shorter one} ... thanks :) [im sorry i should have been more clear in my last comment]

Abhinav Raichur - 6 years, 10 months ago

I do this with this way too Hooray

Figel Ilham - 6 years, 10 months ago

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