Math 2.0

Number theory Definition

Equidistribution modulo one

Builds on Floor functionLimit of a sequence

Definition

For a real number xx, let {x}=x−⌊x⌋\{x\} = x - \floor{x} be its fractional part, where ⌊x⌋\floor{x} is the floor of xx. A sequence (xn)n≥1(x_n)_{n \ge 1} of real numbers is equidistributed modulo one if for all real a,ba, b with 0≤a<b≤10 \le a < b \le 1, lim⁡N→∞#{n:1≤n≤N, {xn}∈[a,b)}N=b−a.\lim_{N \to \infty} \frac{\#\set{n : 1 \le n \le N, \ \{x_n\} \in [a, b)}}{N} = b - a.

Remarks

Example: for irrational α\alpha, the sequence xn=nαx_n = n\alpha is equidistributed modulo one; this is the equidistribution theorem. Non-example: xn=n/2x_n = n/2 has {xn}∈{0,1/2}\{x_n\} \in \set{0, 1/2}, so for [a,b)=[0.1,0.4)[a, b) = [0.1, 0.4) the count is 00 for every NN, and the limit 00 differs from 0.30.3. Weyl's criterion gives an equivalent form: the sequence is equidistributed modulo one if and only if lim⁡N→∞1N∑n=1Ne2πihxn=0\lim_{N \to \infty} \frac{1}{N} \sum_{n=1}^{N} e^{2\pi i h x_n} = 0 for every nonzero integer hh. Another equivalent form: 1N∑n=1Nf({xn})→∫01f(t) dt\frac{1}{N} \sum_{n=1}^{N} f(\{x_n\}) \to \int_0^1 f(t)\,dt for every continuous function ff on [0,1][0, 1] with f(0)=f(1)f(0) = f(1). Some authors also say uniformly distributed modulo one.

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Further reading

  1. Web https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Equidistributed_sequence
About this page
TagRT62ZAN3JB
URIm2://RT62ZAN3JB
Kinddefinition
WritingW0 stub
MSC11K06, 11J71
DefinesEquidistribution modulo one
UsesFloor function, Limit of a sequence
Changed2 November 2026

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