Floor and ceil of fraction

Dependencies: None

Let $a, b \in \mathbb{Z}$ and $b > 0$. Then \[ \left\lceil \frac{a}{b} \right\rceil = \left\lfloor \frac{a-1}{b} \right\rfloor + 1 \] Equivalently, \[ \left\lfloor \frac{a}{b} \right\rfloor = \left\lceil \frac{a+1}{b} \right\rceil - 1 \]

Proof

\begin{align} & t = \left\lfloor \frac{a}{b} \right\rfloor \\ &\implies t \le \frac{a}{b} < t+1 \\ &\implies bt \le a < bt+b \tag{$b > 0$} \\ &\implies bt \le a \le bt+b-1 \tag{$a, b \in \mathbb{Z}$} \\ &\implies bt+1 \le a+1 \le bt+b \\ &\implies bt < a+1 \le bt+b \\ &\implies t < \frac{a+1}{b} \le t+1 \\ &\implies \left\lceil \frac{a+1}{b} \right\rceil = t+1 = \left\lfloor \frac{a}{b} \right\rfloor + 1 \end{align} This gives us \[ \left\lfloor \frac{a}{b} \right\rfloor = \left\lceil \frac{a+1}{b} \right\rceil - 1 \] Replace $a$ by $a-1$ to get \[ \left\lceil \frac{a}{b} \right\rceil = \left\lfloor \frac{a-1}{b} \right\rfloor + 1 \]

Dependency for: None

Info:

Transitive dependencies: None