Solving $4\lfloor x \rfloor=x+\{x\}$. wrong in the solution? Can anyone tell

ceiling-and-floor-functions

$\lfloor x \rfloor$ = Floor Function, and $\{x\}$ denotes fractional part function

Solve for $x$
$$4\lfloor x \rfloor= x + \{x\}$$

$ x = \lfloor x \rfloor + \{x\}$

$\implies x – \{x\} = \lfloor x \rfloor$

$\implies 4x – 4\{x\} = x + \{x\}$

$\implies 3x = 5\{x\}$

Note that ,

$\implies 0 \leq \{x\}<1$

$\implies 0 \leq 5\{x\} < 5 \iff 0 \leq 3x <5 \iff\boxed{ 0 \leq x < \dfrac{5}{3}}$

But the answer is $ x = 0$

Best Answer

You have correctly deduced that $\color{blue}{0\leq x<\frac 53}$. To get the solution, the given equation $4\lfloor x\rfloor=x+\{x\}$ must also be satisfied.

Note that $x=1$ does not satisfy the given equation. If $x>1$, then $\lfloor x\rfloor=1$ and hence $4=x+\{x\}<\frac 53+1=8/3$ (by the blue colored inequality) , which is not possible.

Hence it follows that $0\leq x<1$.

Since, $\lfloor x\rfloor=0$, it follows that $\color{red}{x+\{x\}=0}$ (due to the given equation).

The identity $x=\lfloor x\rfloor+\{x\}$ gives $x=\{x\}$, which along-with the red-colored equation gives: $x=0$.

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