On a theorem of Fraenkel, Levitt and Shimshoni (Q1069964)

Let \(\alpha\) \(\not\in {\mathbb{Q}}\), \(\alpha >1\). In 1972, \textit{A. S. Fraenkel}, \textit{J. Levitt} and \textit{M. Shimshoni}, ibid. 2, 335-345 (1972; Zbl 0246.10005)] gave a characterization of the positive integers \(K\) which occur in the sequence [n\(\alpha\) ], \(n=1,2,\ldots \). Their criterion uses the expansion of \(K\) with respect to the numerators of the convergents of the regular continued fraction for 1/\(\alpha\). Here a simpler criterion is given, viz.: \(K\) is contained in the sequence [n\(\alpha\) ], \(n=1,2,..\). if and only if \(1-1/\alpha <\{K\alpha \}\). The proof is extremely short and simple. The author uses his theorem to prove the result of Fraenkel, Levitt and Shimshoni and also to prove a result of Beatty from 1926 which states that every natural number occurs once either in the sequence [n\(\alpha\) ], \(n=1,2,..\). or in the sequence \([n\alpha /(\alpha -1)],\) \(n=1,2,\ldots \).