# $\left\lfloor x\right\rfloor + \left\lfloor n - x\right\rfloor = n -1$ [closed]

For any integer n and any real number x, if x is not integer then

$$\left\lfloor x\right\rfloor + \left\lfloor n - x\right\rfloor = n -1$$

How to prove this argument?

## closed as off-topic by Did, user99914, Daniel W. Farlow, iadvd, Claude LeiboviciSep 8 '16 at 4:40

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## 3 Answers

Note that $\lfloor n-x\rfloor = n+\lfloor -x\rfloor$ and it should be easy to complete.

Denote $x = i.f$ where $i$ is the integral part of $x$ and $f$ is the fraction part. Because $x$ is not an integer, we know $0 < 0.f < 1$. Therefore, $$\color{blue}{\lfloor x \rfloor} + \color{red}{\lfloor n - x \rfloor} = \color{blue}{\lfloor i.f \rfloor} + \color{red}{\lfloor n - i - 0.f \rfloor} = \color{blue}{i} + \color{red}{n-i-1} = n - 1$$

Since $x$ is not an integer, there is an integer $m$ such that $$m < x < m + 1.$$ It follows additionally that $$n - m - 1 < n - x < n-m.$$ In conclusion, $$\lfloor x \rfloor + \lfloor n - x \rfloor = (m) + (n - m - 1) = n- 1.$$