*Proof* 1. Nonexistence. Assume that there exists such a positive integer n. Let x be an irrational number. Since the terms of the sequence {x}, {2x}, … are distinct and densely distributed in the interval (0,1), there exist infinitely many positive integers d satisfying
{dx}=min{{ax}∣a=1,2,…,d}.
Arrange these d in an infinite increasing sequence d1<d2<….
We will now show that for all n=di−1 (i≥2), we always have
min{{kx}∣k=1,…,n}={di−1x}≥di1.
Suppose that this inequality does not hold, then di⋅{di−1x}≤1. Thus,
{di−1dix}={di⋅⌊di−1x⌋+di⋅{di−1x}}=di⋅{di−1x}.
On the other hand,
{didi−1x}={di−1⌊dix⌋+di−1{dix}}≤di−1{dix}.
Combining the above two equations, we obtain di−1⋅{dix}≥di⋅{di−1x}. However, di−1<di and {dix}<{di−1x}, which leads to a contradiction!
Therefore, n=di−1 satisfies the given condition, and there are infinitely many such n. □
*Proof* 2. Nonexistent. If there is no irrational number x satisfying the condition, then there exists n0∈Z+ such that for any n≥n0, there exists k∈{1,…,n} such that {kx}<n+11. Since x is an irrational number, for any k∈Z+, {kx}=0. For n0, there exist k0∈{1,…,n0} and ℓ0∈Z such that
0<k0x−ℓ0<n0+11.
Without loss of generality, assume that k0 and ℓ0 are coprime. Otherwise, we can replace k0 and ℓ0 with gcd(k0,ℓ0)k0 and gcd(k0,ℓ0)ℓ0 respectively, and the condition still holds.
Let n1=⌊k0x−ℓ01⌋>n0. Then there exist k1∈{1,…,n1} and ℓ1∈Z such that
0<k1x−ℓ1<n1+11<k0x−ℓ0.
Similarly, we can assume that k1 and ℓ1 are coprime. Since k0 is coprime with ℓ0 and k1 is coprime with ℓ1, we have k0ℓ0=k1ℓ1. Therefore,
1≤∣k0ℓ1−k1ℓ0∣=∣k1(k0x−ℓ0)−k0(k1x−ℓ1)∣<max{k1(k0x−ℓ0),k0(k1x−ℓ1)}(because k1(k0x−ℓ0)>0,k0(k1x−ℓ1)>0)≤max{n1k1,n1+1k0}≤1(because k0x−ℓ01≥n1, hence k0x−ℓ0≤n11.)
This leads to a contradiction. □
*Proof 3.* For any irrational number x, the fractional part {kx} is distinct and densely distributed in the interval (0,1). Hence, there exist infinitely many positive integers m satisfying:
{mx}<{kx},∀k=1,2,…,m−1.
For each such m≥2, let β be the smallest value among {x}, {2x}, ..., {(m−1)x}. Thus, for k=1,2,…,m−1, we have {kx}≥β, which implies that there are no integers in the open intervals (kx−β,kx).
Consider the points O:(0,0), A:(m,mx), B:(m,mx−β), C:(0,−β) on the coordinate plane. The parallelogram OABC does not contain any lattice points in its interior, and on its boundary, there are exactly three lattice points: O, D:(m,⌊mx⌋), and E:(r,rx−β)=(r,⌊rx⌋).
The lattice triangle △ODE has no lattice points inside or on its boundary, except for the vertices. By Pick's theorem, its area is 21. Therefore, the area of the parallelogram OABC is ≥2S△ODE=1. On the other hand, the area of this parallelogram is m×β=m×{rx}≥1. Hence, β≥m1, and for k=1,2,…,m−1, we have
{kx}≥{rx}≥m1.
Therefore, n=m−1 satisfies the given condition. There are infinitely many such n, implying that no irrational number x satisfies the condition. □