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I was teaching floor function equation in my class . I asked my students to solve $\lfloor x\rfloor+2x=1$ by $x=n+p ,\\\space n=\lfloor x\rfloor ,\space 0 \leq p <1 $

all of my student make the same mistake . their solution was $$x=n+p \to \lfloor x\rfloor+2x=1\\ n+(2n+2p)=1 \to \begin{cases}3n=1 \to n=\dfrac13 \\p=0 \end{cases}$$and $\dfrac13$ does not belong to $Z\\$

$\large After$ that I solved it by below methods $$x=n+p \to \lfloor x\rfloor+2x=1\\ 3n+2p=1 \to (1) \to \begin{cases}3n=1 \to n=\dfrac13 \\p=0 \end{cases}\\ (2) \to \begin{cases}3n=0 \to n=\dfrac13 \\2p=1 \to p=\dfrac12 \checkmark \end{cases} \to x=n+p=0+\dfrac12=\dfrac12\\$$ For better thinking ,I did this $$\lfloor x\rfloor+2x=1 \to \lfloor x\rfloor=1-2x \to 1-2x =k \in Z\\x=\dfrac{1-k}{2} \to \\\lfloor \dfrac{1-k}{2}\rfloor=k\\ k \leq \dfrac{1-k}{2} enter image description here

$$\\ \to x=\dfrac12\\$$ That class terminated .One of my student come to me and asked for $\large more \space Idea(s)$ to solve this (and like this problem ).I said I think and answer...

Now I am asking for other solution (s) If exist ? or other observation .(k-12 class)

Thanks in advanced .

2 Answers 2

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First $\left \lfloor x\right \rfloor=1-2x$
In other hand by floor property $$\left \lfloor x\right \rfloor\leq x <\left \lfloor x\right \rfloor+1$$ or $$1-2x\leq x < 1+1-2x$$ add +2x then $$1\leq 3x < 2$$ or $$\frac{1}{3}\leq x< \frac{2}{3}$$ But any way $\left \lfloor x\right \rfloor = 0$. So $$\left \lfloor x\right \rfloor+2x=1$$ becomes $$2x=1$$ so $$x=\frac{1}{2}$$

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    That is a very smart solution – 2017-01-27
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I would do like your first solution : $$\left\lfloor x\right\rfloor+2x=1\iff 3n+2p=1\iff 2p=3n-1$$ and using $0\le p<1$, so that $0\le 2p<2$, remains only solutions $2p=0$ or $2p=1$...

When manipulating floor function, I always think the better idea for students is to give a value to $\left\lfloor x\right\rfloor$, like you do with $x=n+p$.

But the functional approach is interesting, too. Just solving $\left\lfloor x\right\rfloor=1-2x$ is not very easy when you want to be rigorous.