Math 2.0

Number theory Proof

Proof that every real number has a decimal expansion, with digits from the floor

Builds on Decimal expansionFloor functionCharacterization of the floorIntegersBernoulli's inequalityThere is a natural number n with 1/n below any positive epsilonEpsilon-N definition of the limit of a sequenceLimit of a sum of sequencesConvergent seriesSum of a series

Proof

  1. Let x≥0x \ge 0 be real. For each natural number kk, let fk=⌊10kx⌋f_k = \floor{10^k x}, the floor of 10kx10^k x.
  2. Let a0=f0=⌊x⌋a_0 = f_0 = \floor{x}. Since 00 is an integer with 0≤x0 \le x, we get a0≥0a_0 \ge 0. So a0a_0 is a natural number.
  3. For k≥1k \ge 1, let dk=fk−10fk−1d_k = f_k - 10 f_{k-1}. This is an integer.
  4. We show 0≤dk≤90 \le d_k \le 9. Let u=10k−1xu = 10^{k-1} x and m=fk−1m = f_{k-1}. By the characterization of the floor, m≤u<m+1m \le u < m + 1.
  5. Multiply by 1010: 10m≤10kx<10m+1010 m \le 10^k x < 10 m + 10.
  6. The integer 10m10 m is at most 10kx10^k x, so 10m≤fk10 m \le f_k, because fkf_k is the greatest such integer. Hence dk≥0d_k \ge 0.
  7. Also fk≤10kx<10m+10f_k \le 10^k x < 10 m + 10. The integer fkf_k is less than the integer 10m+1010m + 10, so fk≤10m+9f_k \le 10 m + 9. Hence dk≤9d_k \le 9.
  8. For K≥0K \ge 0, let sK=a0+∑k=1Kdk10−ks_K = a_0 + \sum_{k=1}^{K} d_k 10^{-k}. We show sK=fK/10Ks_K = f_K / 10^K by induction on KK.
  9. For K=0K = 0, s0=a0=f0s_0 = a_0 = f_0. If sK−1=fK−1/10K−1s_{K-1} = f_{K-1}/10^{K-1}, then sK=fK−1/10K−1+(fK−10fK−1)/10K=fK/10Ks_K = f_{K-1}/10^{K-1} + (f_K - 10 f_{K-1})/10^K = f_K / 10^K.
  10. By the characterization of the floor, fK≤10Kx<fK+1f_K \le 10^K x < f_K + 1. Divide by 10K10^K: sK≤x<sK+10−Ks_K \le x < s_K + 10^{-K}. So 0≤x−sK<10−K0 \le x - s_K < 10^{-K}.
  11. By Bernoulli's inequality with 99 in place of xx, 10K=(1+9)K≥1+9K>K10^K = (1 + 9)^K \ge 1 + 9K > K for each KK.
  12. Let ε>0\varepsilon > 0. By the Archimedean property, there is n≥1n \ge 1 with 1/n<ε1/n < \varepsilon.
  13. For K≥nK \ge n, step 11 gives 10K>K≥n10^K > K \ge n, so 10−K<1/n<ε10^{-K} < 1/n < \varepsilon. With step 10, ∣x−sK∣<ε\abs{x - s_K} < \varepsilon.
  14. By the epsilon-N form of the limit, sK→xs_K \to x as K→∞K \to \infty.
  15. The partial sums of the series ∑k≥1dk10−k\sum_{k \ge 1} d_k 10^{-k} are sK−a0s_K - a_0. By the limit of a sum, with the constant sequence −a0-a_0, they tend to x−a0x - a_0.
  16. So the series converges, and its sum is x−a0x - a_0. That is, x=a0+∑k=1∞dk10−kx = a_0 + \sum_{k=1}^{\infty} d_k 10^{-k}, with digits dk∈{0,…,9}d_k \in \set{0, \dots, 9} by steps 6 and 7.

Idea

The truncation of xx to KK decimal places is ⌊10Kx⌋/10K\floor{10^K x}/10^K. Consecutive truncations differ by one digit, which lies between 00 and 99. The truncations are within 10−K10^{-K} of xx, so the series converges to xx.

Reading path

To understand this page from the ground up, read these 61 pages in order. The foundations come first. The path takes the proofs Proof of the limit of a sum of sequences, Proof of the approximation property of the supremum, Proof that there is a natural number n with 1/n below any positive epsilon, Proof that the reals form an ordered field, with the Cauchy sequence construction, Proof of the triangle inequality for real numbers, Proof of the epsilon-N definition of the limit of a sequence, Proof that the reals are Archimedean from the completeness axiom, Proof of the characterization of the floor, Proof of Bernoulli's inequality by induction.

  1. Construction of the reals from Cauchy sequences concept
  2. Element definition
  3. Integers object
  4. Mathematical induction concept
  5. Ordered field definition
  6. Proposition concept
  7. Rational numbers object
  8. Real numbers object
  9. Sequence definition
  10. Set bounded above definition
  11. Set definition
  12. Ring of integers statement
  13. Archimedean ordered field definition
  14. Implication definition
  15. Predicate definition
  16. The reals form a field statement
  17. Real sequence definition
  18. Supremum definition
  19. Ordered pair definition
  20. The rationals form a field statement
  21. Universal quantifier definition
  22. Limit of a sequence definition
  23. Series definition
  24. Completeness axiom statement
  25. Cartesian product definition
  26. Subset definition
  27. The rationals form an ordered field statement
  28. Convergent sequence definition
  29. Partial sum definition
  30. Decimal expansion definition
  31. Binary relation definition
  32. Order on the reals definition
  33. Convergent series definition
  34. Antisymmetric relation definition
  35. Reflexive relation definition
  36. Transitive relation definition
  37. Sum of a series definition
  38. Preorder definition
  39. Partial order definition
  40. Total order definition
  41. Proof that the reals form an ordered field, with the Cauchy sequence construction proof
  42. The reals form an ordered field statement
  43. Absolute value definition
  44. Proof of Bernoulli's inequality by induction proof
  45. Proof of the approximation property of the supremum proof
  46. Proof of the triangle inequality for real numbers proof
  47. Proof of the epsilon-N definition of the limit of a sequence proof
  48. Bernoulli's inequality statement
  49. Approximation property of the supremum statement
  50. Triangle inequality statement
  51. Epsilon-N definition of the limit of a sequence statement
  52. Proof that the reals are Archimedean from the completeness axiom proof
  53. Proof of the limit of a sum of sequences proof
  54. The reals are Archimedean statement
  55. Limit of a sum of sequences statement
  56. Floor function definition
  57. Proof that there is a natural number n with 1/n below any positive epsilon proof
  58. Proof of the characterization of the floor proof
  59. There is a natural number n with 1/n below any positive epsilon statement
  60. Characterization of the floor statement
  61. Proof that every real number has a decimal expansion, with digits from the floor proof

Where this leads

1 page builds on this one.

Further reading

  1. Web https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Decimal_representation, Finite decimal approximations
About this page
TagXQ15CYZQZW
URIm2://XQ15CYZQZW
Kindproof
WritingW0 stub
MSC11A63
ProvesEvery real number has a decimal expansion
UsesDecimal expansion, Floor function, Characterization of the floor, Integers, Bernoulli's inequality, There is a natural number n with 1/n below any positive epsilon, Epsilon-N definition of the limit of a sequence, Limit of a sum of sequences, Convergent series, Sum of a series
MethodsMathematical induction
Changed4 November 2026

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