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
- Let be real. For each natural number , let , the floor of .
- Let . Since is an integer with , we get . So is a natural number.
- For , let . This is an integer.
- We show . Let and . By the characterization of the floor, .
- Multiply by : .
- The integer is at most , so , because is the greatest such integer. Hence .
- Also . The integer is less than the integer , so . Hence .
- For , let . We show by induction on .
- For , . If , then .
- By the characterization of the floor, . Divide by : . So .
- By Bernoulli's inequality with in place of , for each .
- Let . By the Archimedean property, there is with .
- For , step 11 gives , so . With step 10, .
- By the epsilon-N form of the limit, as .
- The partial sums of the series are . By the limit of a sum, with the constant sequence , they tend to .
- So the series converges, and its sum is . That is, , with digits by steps 6 and 7.
Idea
The truncation of to decimal places is . Consecutive truncations differ by one digit, which lies between and . The truncations are within of , so the series converges to .
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.
- Construction of the reals from Cauchy sequences concept
- Element definition
- Integers object
- Mathematical induction concept
- Ordered field definition
- Proposition concept
- Rational numbers object
- Real numbers object
- Sequence definition
- Set bounded above definition
- Set definition
- Ring of integers statement
- Archimedean ordered field definition
- Implication definition
- Predicate definition
- The reals form a field statement
- Real sequence definition
- Supremum definition
- Ordered pair definition
- The rationals form a field statement
- Universal quantifier definition
- Limit of a sequence definition
- Series definition
- Completeness axiom statement
- Cartesian product definition
- Subset definition
- The rationals form an ordered field statement
- Convergent sequence definition
- Partial sum definition
- Decimal expansion definition
- Binary relation definition
- Order on the reals definition
- Convergent series definition
- Antisymmetric relation definition
- Reflexive relation definition
- Transitive relation definition
- Sum of a series definition
- Preorder definition
- Partial order definition
- Total order definition
- Proof that the reals form an ordered field, with the Cauchy sequence construction proof
- The reals form an ordered field statement
- Absolute value definition
- Proof of Bernoulli's inequality by induction proof
- Proof of the approximation property of the supremum proof
- Proof of the triangle inequality for real numbers proof
- Proof of the epsilon-N definition of the limit of a sequence proof
- Bernoulli's inequality statement
- Approximation property of the supremum statement
- Triangle inequality statement
- Epsilon-N definition of the limit of a sequence statement
- Proof that the reals are Archimedean from the completeness axiom proof
- Proof of the limit of a sum of sequences proof
- The reals are Archimedean statement
- Limit of a sum of sequences statement
- Floor function definition
- Proof that there is a natural number n with 1/n below any positive epsilon proof
- Proof of the characterization of the floor proof
- There is a natural number n with 1/n below any positive epsilon statement
- Characterization of the floor statement
- 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
- Web https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Decimal_representation, Finite decimal approximations
About this page
| Tag | XQ15CYZQZW |
|---|---|
| URI | m2://XQ15CYZQZW |
| Kind | proof |
| Writing | W0 stub |
| MSC | 11A63 |
| Proves | Every real number has a decimal expansion |
| Uses | Decimal 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 |
| Methods | Mathematical induction |
| Changed | 4 November 2026 |
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