# Proof of an identity verified by integer part function

Formula$$\sum_{k=0}^{n-1}\lfloor{x+\dfrac{k}{n}}\rfloor=\lfloor nx \rfloor$$

where $\lfloor a \rfloor$ means the integer part function, sometimes called "floor" function (ex.: $\lfloor 3.4\rfloor=3).$

is one of the fundamental properties of integer part function.

I have to establish it but I have no idea of even how to start.

Can you help me ?

• start by supposing $\frac{i}{n}\leq x-[x] < \frac{i+1}{n}$, then compute both sides – Petite Etincelle Aug 19 '16 at 20:50

Using the change of variable $u=nx$, the desired identity is equivalent to showing
$$f(u)=\lfloor u\rfloor-\sum_{k=0}^{n-1}\left\lfloor u+k\over n\right\rfloor=0$$
for all $u$.
It's easy to see that $f(u)=0$ for $0\le u\lt1$. But we also have
\begin{align} f(u+1)&=\lfloor u+1\rfloor-\sum_{k=0}^{n-1}\left\lfloor u+1+k\over n\right\rfloor\\ &=\lfloor u+1\rfloor-\sum_{k=1}^{n}\left\lfloor u+k\over n\right\rfloor\\ &=\lfloor u+1\rfloor-\sum_{k=0}^{n-1}\left\lfloor u+k\over n\right\rfloor+\left\lfloor u+0\over n\right\rfloor-\left\lfloor u+n\over n\right\rfloor\\ &=\lfloor u\rfloor+1-\sum_{k=0}^{n-1}\left\lfloor u+k\over n\right\rfloor+\left\lfloor u\over n\right\rfloor-\left(\left\lfloor u\over n\right\rfloor+1\right)\\ &=\lfloor u\rfloor-\sum_{k=0}^{n-1}\left\lfloor u+k\over n\right\rfloor\\ &=f(u) \end{align}
so the function $f$ is periodic with period $1$, hence simply repeats the constant value $0$ from the interval $0\le u\lt1$.