For each positive real number , define Let be a positive integer. A set has the property that: for each real , Determine, with proof, the smallest possible size of .
Solution
Answer: Solution: For each , picking gives so must contain . Now we show that works; this set has elements. Suppose satisfy , and suppose for the sake of contradiction that . Since we may increase by a small amount without affecting , we may assume is irrational. Let satisfy . By Beatty's Theorem, and are complement sets in . Let be the maximal element of that is not in . Then for some integer . Consider , which must be an element of . Clearly, , and since , , so is also an element of that is not in . This contradicts the maximality of , and we are done.
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