Prove that the set S={⌊nπ⌋:n=0,1,2,3,…} contains arithmetic progressions of any finite length, but no infinite arithmetic progressions.
Solution
If x is a real number, let {x}=x−⌊x⌋ denote the fractional part of x. Given an integer number m≥3, there exists a positive integer number n such that {nπ}<1/m, for the set {kπ:k=0,1,2,3,…} is dense in the closed unit interval [0,1]. Consequently, ⌊knπ⌋=⌊k⌊nπ⌋⌋+⌊k{nπ}⌋=k⌊nπ⌋+⌊k{nπ}⌋=k⌊nπ⌋,k=1,2,…,m, so ⌊nπ⌋,⌊2nπ⌋,…,⌊mnπ⌋ are m numbers in S in arithmetic progression with ratio ⌊nπ⌋.
Suppose, if possible, that S contains an infinite arithmetic progression ⌊nkπ⌋, k=0,1,2,3,…, with (integral) ratio r, where the nk form a strictly increasing sequence of positive integer numbers. Write nkπ=⌊n0π⌋+kr+{nkπ} to deduce that r is positive and nk+1−nk=πr+{nk+1π}−{nkπ}∈(πr−1,πr+1). The length of this interval is less than 1, so nk+1−nk=n for some positive integer n and all indices k. Hence, nk=n0+kn, so nk/kk→∞n. On the other hand, nk/kk→∞r/π, so π=r/n which contradicts irrationality of π.
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