TITLE: Prove that $\sum_{i=1}^{\frac{n-1}{2}}\left\lfloor\frac{mi}{n}+\frac{1}{2}\right\rfloor$ is an even number
QUESTION [5 upvotes]: Let $m$, $n$ be positive odd numbers such that $\gcd(m,n)=1$. Show that
$$\sum_{i=1}^{\frac{n-1}{2}}\left\lfloor\dfrac{mi}{n}+\dfrac{1}{2}\right\rfloor$$
is an even number, where $\lfloor{x}\rfloor$ is the largest integer not greater than $x$.
My try:
$$\sum_{i=1}^{\frac{n-1}{2}}\left\lfloor\dfrac{mi}{n}+\dfrac{1}{2}\right\rfloor=\left\lfloor\dfrac{m}{n}+\dfrac{1}{2}\right\rfloor+\left\lfloor\dfrac{2m}{n}+\dfrac{1}{2}\right\rfloor+\cdots+\left\lfloor\dfrac{m(n-1)}{2n}+\dfrac{1}{2}\right\rfloor$$
Then I can't it. Thank you for your help.

REPLY [4 votes]: Note $[x+\frac{1}{2}]=[2x]-[x]$
$$\sum_{i=1}^{\frac{n-1}{2}}\left\lfloor\dfrac{mi}{n}+\dfrac{1}{2}\right\rfloor=\sum_{i=1}^{\frac{n-1}{2}}(\left\lfloor2x\right\rfloor-\lfloor x\rfloor)\\=\sum_{i\ge \frac{n-1}{2},i\equiv0\pmod{2}}\left\lfloor x \right\rfloor-\sum_{i\le \frac{n-1}{2},i\equiv1\pmod{2}}\left\lfloor x \right\rfloor\\=\sum_{i\ge \frac{n-1}{2},i\equiv0\pmod{2}}\left\lfloor x \right\rfloor+\sum_{i\le \frac{n-1}{2},i\equiv1\pmod{2}}\left\lfloor -x+1 \right\rfloor \\ \equiv 2\sum_{i\ge \frac{n-1}{2},i\equiv0\pmod{2}}\left\lfloor x \right\rfloor \pmod{2}\\ \equiv0\pmod{2}$$

I hope you don't mind me trying to clarify what you have above:
$$
\begin{align}
\sum_{i=1}^{\frac{n-1}{2}}\left\lfloor\frac{mi}{n}+\frac12\right\rfloor
&=\sum_{i=1}^{\frac{n-1}{2}}\left\lfloor\frac{2mi}{n}\right\rfloor
-\sum_{i=1}^{\frac{n-1}{2}}\left\lfloor\frac{mi}{n}\right\rfloor\\
&=\sum_{\substack{i=2\\i\text{ even}}}^{n-1}\left\lfloor\frac{mi}{n}\right\rfloor
-\sum_{i=1}^{\frac{n-1}{2}}\left\lfloor\frac{mi}{n}\right\rfloor\\
&=\sum_{\substack{i\gt n/2\\i\text{ even}}}\left\lfloor\frac{mi}{n}\right\rfloor
-\sum_{\substack{i\lt n/2\\i\text{ odd}}}\left\lfloor\frac{mi}{n}\right\rfloor\\
&=\sum_{\substack{i\gt n/2\\i\text{ even}}}\left\lfloor\frac{mi}{n}\right\rfloor
-\sum_{\substack{i\gt n/2\\i\text{ even}}}\left\lfloor\frac{m(n-i)}{n}\right\rfloor\\
&=\sum_{\substack{i\gt n/2\\i\text{ even}}}\left\lfloor\frac{mi}{n}\right\rfloor
-\sum_{\substack{i\gt n/2\\i\text{ even}}}\left\lfloor m-\frac{mi}{n}\right\rfloor\\
&=\sum_{\substack{i\gt n/2\\i\text{ even}}}\left\lfloor\frac{mi}{n}\right\rfloor
-\sum_{\substack{i\gt n/2\\i\text{ even}}}\left(m-1-\left\lfloor\frac{mi}{n}\right\rfloor\right)\tag{$\ast$}\\
&=2\sum_{\substack{i\gt n/2\\i\text{ even}}}\left(\left\lfloor\frac{mi}{n}\right\rfloor-\frac{m-1}{2}\right)
\end{align}
$$
$(\ast)$ is true as long as $\frac{mi}{n}\not\in\mathbb{Z}$.