Is my proof correct? => Exercise 11.4.41: `Show that ⌊log_2(n)⌋ is Θ(log_2(n))`.
Exercise 11.4.41:
Show that ⌊log_2(n)⌋ is Θ(log_2(n)).
Proof:
Let integer n>=1.
⌊log_2(n)⌋ <= log_2(n) < ⌊log_2(n)⌋ + 1 by definition of floor
So, ⌊log_2(n)⌋ <= log_2(n) and log_2(n) < ⌊log_2(n)⌋ + 1
Notice:
⌊log_2(n)⌋ > log_2(n) - 1
= log_2(sqrt(n)) + log_2(sqrt(n)) - 1
= log_2(sqrt(n)) + log_2(sqrt(n)) - log_2(sqrt(n)) for n>=4
= log_2(n^(1/2)) + log_2(n^(1/2)) - log_2(n^(1/2))
= (1/2)log_2(n) + (1/2)log_2(n) - (1/2)log_2(n)
= (1/2)[log_2(n) + log_2(n) - log_2(n)]
= (1/2)[log_2(n^2) - log_2(n)]
= (1/2)[log_2[(n^2)/n]]
= (1/2)log_2(n)
Let A=1/2, B=1, k=4.
Then Alog_2(n) <= ⌊log_2(n)⌋ <= Blog_2(n) for each integer n>=k.
Therefore, ⌊log_2(n)⌋ is Θ(log_2(n)).
QED
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Is my proof correct?
Posted Sep 14, 2026, 7:55 PM UTC
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