Art of Problem Solving

Floor function: Difference between revisions

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The greatest integer function, also known as the '''floor function''', gives the greatest integer less than or equal to its argument.  The floor of <math>x</math> is usually denoted by <math>\lfloor x \rfloor</math> or <math>[x]</math>.  Note that this function is ''not'' the same as rounding or "dropping everything after the decimal point" in general.
The greatest integer function, also known as the '''floor function''', gives the greatest integer less than or equal to its argument.  The floor of <math>x</math> is usually denoted by <math>\lfloor x \rfloor</math> or <math>[x]</math>.  The action of this function is the same as "rounding down."  On a [[positive]] argument, this function is the same as "dropping everything after the decimal point," but this is ''not'' true for negative values.


For example:
For example:

Revision as of 11:51, 29 June 2006

The greatest integer function, also known as the floor function, gives the greatest integer less than or equal to its argument. The floor of $x$ is usually denoted by $\lfloor x \rfloor$ or $[x]$. The action of this function is the same as "rounding down." On a positive argument, this function is the same as "dropping everything after the decimal point," but this is not true for negative values.

For example:

  • $\lfloor 3.14 \rfloor = 3$
  • $\lfloor 5 \rfloor = 5$
  • $\lfloor -3.2 \rfloor = -4$

See Also