### Small Steps

Two problems about infinite processes where smaller and smaller steps are taken and you have to discover what happens in the limit.

# Eyes Down

##### Stage: 5 Challenge Level:

Thank you to Alan of Madras College for this solution.

If $x$ is a real number then $x = a + b$ where $a$ is an integer and $b$ is a real number such that $0 \leq b < 1$. Here $a$ is the integer part of $x$ and we write $a = [x]$. We have to consider whether $[2x]$; $2[x]$ and $[x + 1/2 ] + [x - 1/2 ]$ can ever be equal and whether they can take three different values.

If $1/2 \leq b < 1$ then $[2x]= 2a + 1$.

If $0 \leq b < 1/2$ then $[2x]= 2a$.

For any $b$, $2[x] = 2a$.

If $1/2 \leq b < 1$ then $[x+ 1/2 ] = a + 1$ and $[x - 1/2 ] = a$ and so $[x + 1/2 ] + [x - 1/2 ] = 2a + 1$.
If $0 \leq b < 1/2$ then $[x+ 1/2 ] = a$ and $[x - 1/2 ] = a - 1$ and so $[x + 1/2 ] + [x - 1/2 ] = 2a - 1$.

$\bullet$ Case 1: $\; 0 \leq b < 1/2$

$[2x]= 2a = 2[x]$

but $[2x] \neq [x + 1/2 ] + [x - 1/2 ]$.

$\bullet$ Case 2: $\; 1/2 \leq b < 1$

$[2x]= 2a + 1 = [x + 1/2 ] + [x - 1/2]$

but $[2x] \neq 2[x]$.

Hence it is impossible for all of $[2x]$; $2[x]$ and $[x + 1/2 ] + [x - 1/2 ]$ to be equal but they can never take three different values.