SOLUTION: If a natural number is written as the sum of three natural numbers, show that one of the numbers in the sum must be less than or equal to one third of the original natural number.

Algebra ->  Algebra  -> Triangles -> SOLUTION: If a natural number is written as the sum of three natural numbers, show that one of the numbers in the sum must be less than or equal to one third of the original natural number.      Log On

Ad: Algebrator™ solves your algebra problems and provides step-by-step explanations!
Ad: Algebra Solved!™: algebra software solves algebra homework problems with step-by-step help!

   

Question 166087This question is from textbook Heart of Mathmatics
: If a natural number is written as the sum of three natural numbers, show that one of the numbers in the sum must be less than or equal to one third of the original natural number.This question is from textbook Heart of Mathmatics

Answer by stanbon(48535) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
On second thought:
If the natural number is a multiple of three, it can be written
as a sum of three numbers, each of which is one-third the original
number. If that sum is not used, one of the numbers in the sum
must be less than one-third the original number.
------------
If the natural number is not a multiple of three, at least one
of the numbers in the sum must be less than one-third the original
number.
------------
Stan H.
Cheers,