Maths Olympiad Prep

Track / Stage 7 / 9 of 300 #1409 of 1964

Problem 1409

National olympiad second round; IMO P1/P4
Number theory Difficulty 7.0 Prove it

Let MM be a set of natural numbers from 11 to 20152015 which are not perfect squares.
a) Prove that for any nMn\in M {n}0.011\{\sqrt{n}\}\geq 0.011
b) Prove that there exists number nMn\in M such that {n}<0.0115\{\sqrt{n}\}<0.0115
Here {y}\{y\} means the fractional part of number yy

This one wants a proof. Work it on paper, then read the official solution and mark yourself. Be honest about it: the record is only any use to you if it is.

Official solution

### Part (a)
We need to prove that for any nM n \in M , {n}0.011 \{\sqrt{n}\} \geq 0.011 .

1. Consider nM n \in M . Since n n is not a perfect square, we can write n=a2+b n = a^2 + b where 0<b<2a 0 < b < 2a and a a is an integer.
2. The fractional part of n \sqrt{n} is given by:
{n}=nn=a2+ba \{\sqrt{n}\} = \sqrt{n} - \lfloor \sqrt{n} \rfloor = \sqrt{a^2 + b} - a
3. We need to show that:
a2+ba0.011 \sqrt{a^2 + b} - a \geq 0.011
4. Using the approximation for small b b :
a2+ba+b2a \sqrt{a^2 + b} \approx a + \frac{b}{2a}
Therefore:
a2+bab2a \sqrt{a^2 + b} - a \approx \frac{b}{2a}
5. Since 0<b<2a 0 < b < 2a , we have:
0<b2a<1 0 < \frac{b}{2a} < 1
6. To ensure b2a0.011 \frac{b}{2a} \geq 0.011 , we need:
b0.022a b \geq 0.022a
7. Since b b is an integer and 0<b<2a 0 < b < 2a , there will always be some b b such that b0.022a b \geq 0.022a . Hence:
a2+ba0.011 \sqrt{a^2 + b} - a \geq 0.011
8. Therefore, for any nM n \in M , {n}0.011 \{\sqrt{n}\} \geq 0.011 .

### Part (b)
We need to prove that there exists a number nM n \in M such that {n}<0.0115 \{\sqrt{n}\} < 0.0115 .

1. Consider n=442+1=1937 n = 44^2 + 1 = 1937 . Since 1937 1937 is not a perfect square, nM n \in M .
2. The fractional part of 1937 \sqrt{1937} is given by:
{1937}=19371937=193744 \{\sqrt{1937}\} = \sqrt{1937} - \lfloor \sqrt{1937} \rfloor = \sqrt{1937} - 44
3. Using the approximation:
193744+1244=44+188 \sqrt{1937} \approx 44 + \frac{1}{2 \cdot 44} = 44 + \frac{1}{88}
4. Therefore:
{1937}188 \{\sqrt{1937}\} \approx \frac{1}{88}
5. We need to show that:
188<0.0115 \frac{1}{88} < 0.0115
6. Calculating:
880.0115=1.012 88 \cdot 0.0115 = 1.012
Since 1.012>1 1.012 > 1 , we have:
188<0.0115 \frac{1}{88} < 0.0115
7. Therefore, there exists n=1937M n = 1937 \in M such that {n}<0.0115 \{\sqrt{n}\} < 0.0115 .

Source: NuminaMath-1.5, licensed Apache-2.0. Statement and solution reproduced as published; topic, difficulty and ordering added by this site.