Published online by Cambridge University Press: 09 December 2011
Let θ be a real number greater than 1, and let (()) be the fractional part function. Then, θ is said to be a Z-number if there is a non-zero real number λ such that ((λθn)) < for all n ∈ ℕ. Dubickas (A. Dubickas, Even and odd integral parts of powers of a real number, Glasg. Math. J., 48 (2006), 331–336) showed that strong Pisot numbers are Z-numbers. Here it is proved that θ is a strong Pisot number if and only if there exists λ ≠ 0 such that ((λα)) < for all. Also, the following characterisation of Pisot numbers among real numbers greater than 1 is shown: θ is a Pisot number ⇔ ∃ λ ≠ 0 such thatfor allan ∈ {0,1}, N ∈ ℕ}, where ‖λα‖ = min{((λα)), 1 − ((λα))}.