How can one prove that if x is an integer greater than 2, then x/(x-1) is a not an integer?











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How can one prove that if x is an integer greater than 2, then x/(x-1) is a not integer?



Intuitively I can see this is true but how to prove it?










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  • 2




    Presumably you mean "not an integer"
    – Henry
    Nov 27 at 8:33










  • oops! Yes, "not an integer".
    – pirsquare
    Nov 27 at 8:39

















up vote
0
down vote

favorite












How can one prove that if x is an integer greater than 2, then x/(x-1) is a not integer?



Intuitively I can see this is true but how to prove it?










share|cite|improve this question




















  • 2




    Presumably you mean "not an integer"
    – Henry
    Nov 27 at 8:33










  • oops! Yes, "not an integer".
    – pirsquare
    Nov 27 at 8:39















up vote
0
down vote

favorite









up vote
0
down vote

favorite











How can one prove that if x is an integer greater than 2, then x/(x-1) is a not integer?



Intuitively I can see this is true but how to prove it?










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How can one prove that if x is an integer greater than 2, then x/(x-1) is a not integer?



Intuitively I can see this is true but how to prove it?







elementary-number-theory






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edited Nov 27 at 8:40

























asked Nov 27 at 8:31









pirsquare

379319




379319








  • 2




    Presumably you mean "not an integer"
    – Henry
    Nov 27 at 8:33










  • oops! Yes, "not an integer".
    – pirsquare
    Nov 27 at 8:39
















  • 2




    Presumably you mean "not an integer"
    – Henry
    Nov 27 at 8:33










  • oops! Yes, "not an integer".
    – pirsquare
    Nov 27 at 8:39










2




2




Presumably you mean "not an integer"
– Henry
Nov 27 at 8:33




Presumably you mean "not an integer"
– Henry
Nov 27 at 8:33












oops! Yes, "not an integer".
– pirsquare
Nov 27 at 8:39






oops! Yes, "not an integer".
– pirsquare
Nov 27 at 8:39












3 Answers
3






active

oldest

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up vote
5
down vote



accepted










$$dfrac x{x-1}=1+dfrac1{x-1} $$



So, $x-1(ne0)$ must divide $1implies x-1=pm1$






share|cite|improve this answer




























    up vote
    2
    down vote













    Since one answer has already been given, here is a slightly different way of proceeding (there are tweaks which can be made to fill out the proof, if necessary)



    $$frac x{x-1}-1=frac 1{x-1}gt0$$



    $$2-frac x{x-1}=frac {x-2}{x-1}gt 0$$



    So $frac x{x-1}$ lies strictly between the consecutive integers $1$and $2$, and the second of the inequalities shows explicitly why the condition $xgt 2$ comes in.






    share|cite|improve this answer




























      up vote
      2
      down vote













      The function $f(x)=frac{x}{x-1}$ is decreasing for $xin (2,+infty)$ and bounded $1<f(x)<2$.



      Indeed, for $2<x_1<x_2$:
      $$1<frac{x_2}{x_2-1}<frac{x_1}{x_1-1}<2.$$






      share|cite|improve this answer





















        Your Answer





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        3 Answers
        3






        active

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        3 Answers
        3






        active

        oldest

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        active

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        active

        oldest

        votes








        up vote
        5
        down vote



        accepted










        $$dfrac x{x-1}=1+dfrac1{x-1} $$



        So, $x-1(ne0)$ must divide $1implies x-1=pm1$






        share|cite|improve this answer

























          up vote
          5
          down vote



          accepted










          $$dfrac x{x-1}=1+dfrac1{x-1} $$



          So, $x-1(ne0)$ must divide $1implies x-1=pm1$






          share|cite|improve this answer























            up vote
            5
            down vote



            accepted







            up vote
            5
            down vote



            accepted






            $$dfrac x{x-1}=1+dfrac1{x-1} $$



            So, $x-1(ne0)$ must divide $1implies x-1=pm1$






            share|cite|improve this answer












            $$dfrac x{x-1}=1+dfrac1{x-1} $$



            So, $x-1(ne0)$ must divide $1implies x-1=pm1$







            share|cite|improve this answer












            share|cite|improve this answer



            share|cite|improve this answer










            answered Nov 27 at 8:34









            lab bhattacharjee

            222k15155273




            222k15155273






















                up vote
                2
                down vote













                Since one answer has already been given, here is a slightly different way of proceeding (there are tweaks which can be made to fill out the proof, if necessary)



                $$frac x{x-1}-1=frac 1{x-1}gt0$$



                $$2-frac x{x-1}=frac {x-2}{x-1}gt 0$$



                So $frac x{x-1}$ lies strictly between the consecutive integers $1$and $2$, and the second of the inequalities shows explicitly why the condition $xgt 2$ comes in.






                share|cite|improve this answer

























                  up vote
                  2
                  down vote













                  Since one answer has already been given, here is a slightly different way of proceeding (there are tweaks which can be made to fill out the proof, if necessary)



                  $$frac x{x-1}-1=frac 1{x-1}gt0$$



                  $$2-frac x{x-1}=frac {x-2}{x-1}gt 0$$



                  So $frac x{x-1}$ lies strictly between the consecutive integers $1$and $2$, and the second of the inequalities shows explicitly why the condition $xgt 2$ comes in.






                  share|cite|improve this answer























                    up vote
                    2
                    down vote










                    up vote
                    2
                    down vote









                    Since one answer has already been given, here is a slightly different way of proceeding (there are tweaks which can be made to fill out the proof, if necessary)



                    $$frac x{x-1}-1=frac 1{x-1}gt0$$



                    $$2-frac x{x-1}=frac {x-2}{x-1}gt 0$$



                    So $frac x{x-1}$ lies strictly between the consecutive integers $1$and $2$, and the second of the inequalities shows explicitly why the condition $xgt 2$ comes in.






                    share|cite|improve this answer












                    Since one answer has already been given, here is a slightly different way of proceeding (there are tweaks which can be made to fill out the proof, if necessary)



                    $$frac x{x-1}-1=frac 1{x-1}gt0$$



                    $$2-frac x{x-1}=frac {x-2}{x-1}gt 0$$



                    So $frac x{x-1}$ lies strictly between the consecutive integers $1$and $2$, and the second of the inequalities shows explicitly why the condition $xgt 2$ comes in.







                    share|cite|improve this answer












                    share|cite|improve this answer



                    share|cite|improve this answer










                    answered Nov 27 at 8:47









                    Mark Bennet

                    80.1k981179




                    80.1k981179






















                        up vote
                        2
                        down vote













                        The function $f(x)=frac{x}{x-1}$ is decreasing for $xin (2,+infty)$ and bounded $1<f(x)<2$.



                        Indeed, for $2<x_1<x_2$:
                        $$1<frac{x_2}{x_2-1}<frac{x_1}{x_1-1}<2.$$






                        share|cite|improve this answer

























                          up vote
                          2
                          down vote













                          The function $f(x)=frac{x}{x-1}$ is decreasing for $xin (2,+infty)$ and bounded $1<f(x)<2$.



                          Indeed, for $2<x_1<x_2$:
                          $$1<frac{x_2}{x_2-1}<frac{x_1}{x_1-1}<2.$$






                          share|cite|improve this answer























                            up vote
                            2
                            down vote










                            up vote
                            2
                            down vote









                            The function $f(x)=frac{x}{x-1}$ is decreasing for $xin (2,+infty)$ and bounded $1<f(x)<2$.



                            Indeed, for $2<x_1<x_2$:
                            $$1<frac{x_2}{x_2-1}<frac{x_1}{x_1-1}<2.$$






                            share|cite|improve this answer












                            The function $f(x)=frac{x}{x-1}$ is decreasing for $xin (2,+infty)$ and bounded $1<f(x)<2$.



                            Indeed, for $2<x_1<x_2$:
                            $$1<frac{x_2}{x_2-1}<frac{x_1}{x_1-1}<2.$$







                            share|cite|improve this answer












                            share|cite|improve this answer



                            share|cite|improve this answer










                            answered Nov 27 at 9:06









                            farruhota

                            18.8k2736




                            18.8k2736






























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