Just Some Fractional Parts

{ x } + { 1 x } = 1 2016 \large\{x\} + \left\{\frac{1}{x}\right\} = \frac{1}{2016}

How many positive rational solutions are there to the equation above?

Notation : { } \{ \cdot \} denotes the fractional part function .

1 2 3 4 6 More than 6

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1 solution

Utkarsh Dwivedi
May 14, 2016

Relevant wiki: Floor and Ceiling Functions - Problem Solving

First, we must acknowledge that if a positive rational number x x satisfies this so should 1 x \frac {1}{x} . And so we proceed as :

As x x is positive and rational, suppose : x = a y + b a x=\frac {ay+b}{a} ; 0 b < a 0\leq b <a where x > 1 x>1 and is in its simplest form.

{ a y + b a \frac {ay+b}{a} } + + { a a y + b \frac {a}{ay+b} } = = 1 2016 b a + a a y + b = 1 2016 \frac {1}{2016} \Rightarrow \frac {b}{a}+\frac {a}{ay+b}=\frac {1}{2016}

2016 [ b ( a y + b ) + a ] = a ( a y + b ) \Rightarrow 2016 [b (ay+b)+a] = a (ay+b)

If b 0 b\neq0 , clearly, a y + b ay+b does not divide [ b ( a y + b ) + a ] [b (ay+b)+a] ( a y + b ) 2016 \Rightarrow (ay+b)|2016 because H C F ( [ b ( a y + b ) + a ] , ( a y + b ) ) = 1 HCF([b (ay+b)+a],(ay+b))=1 (based on assumptions)

& as a a does not divide b ( a y + b ) b (ay+b) so it does not divide [ b ( a y + b ) + a ] [b (ay+b)+a] a 2016 \Rightarrow a|2016

So H C F ( a , ( a y + b ) ) 1 HCF(a, (ay+b))\neq1\rightarrow Not Possible.

Hence , b = 0 b=0 then x = 2016 x=2016 or its reciprocal x = 1 2016 x=\frac {1}{2016} (in which case x < 1 x <1 )

What do you exactly say the solutions are sir.?

Rishabh Tiwari - 5 years, 1 month ago

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Can you be a bit more specific ? (And no need for sir :))

Utkarsh Dwivedi - 5 years ago

@Rishabh Tiwari The only solutions are x = 2016 , 1 2016 . x = 2016, \frac{1}{2016}.

If you'd like more explanation from @UTKARSH DWIVEDI , you should mention which part of the solution is confusing to you. E.g., where did you follow until, and which steps became unclear?

Eli Ross Staff - 5 years, 1 month ago

Plz explain it further.

Rishabh Tiwari - 5 years, 1 month ago

@UTKARSH DWIVEDI can you explain why the HCF was 1?

Anik Mandal - 5 years ago

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Hi, Anik, I think you mean - "Why H C F ( [ b ( a y + b ) + a ] , ( a y + b ) ) = 1 HCF([b (ay+b)+a], (ay+b))=1 ?". Well, I already mentioned a y + b a \frac {ay+b}{a} is in its simplest form so a y + b ay+b and a a are coprime and a < a y + b a<ay+b so a y + b ay+b in any case can't divide [ b ( a y + b ) + a ] [b(ay+b)+a] .

Utkarsh Dwivedi - 5 years ago

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