Proving the rationals are dense in R












10














I know this is a common proof. I'm following Rudin's proof and I'm following everything except for one step.



Suppose $x, y in Bbb R$ and $x < y$. Then there exists an $n in Bbb N$ such that $n(y-x) > 1$.



Again by the Archimedean property, there exist $m_{1}, m_{2} in Bbb N$ such that $m_{1} > nx$ and $m_{2} > -nx$, i.e.
$$
-m_{2} < nx < m_{1}
$$



From here, Rudin says there must be an $m in Bbb Z$ with $-m_{2} le m le m_{1}$ and that
$$
m-1 le nx < m
$$



I'm confused about these two steps. If $-m_{2} < nx < m_{1}$, then isn't $-m_{2} < m_{1}$?



edit: to be clear, I follow everything up until the introduction of $m$.










share|cite|improve this question




















  • 1




    He seems to be using the Well-Ordering principle
    – Prahlad Vaidyanathan
    Sep 28 '13 at 15:07










  • What if $x=0$ ...?
    – Michael Hoppe
    Sep 28 '13 at 15:57










  • @PrahladVaidyanathan I see, thanks. But to me, the well-ordering principle would suggest the following: by Archimedean property, the set $left{m_{1} in Bbb N: m_{1} > nxright}$ is not empty. And by the well-ordering property, there is an $m in Bbb N$ such that $m > nx$ and $nx > m-1$, so $m-1 < nx < m$. We know that $ny > 1 + nx$, so combining the inequalities gives $nx < m < ny$. Is this not enough?
    – asdfghjkl
    Sep 28 '13 at 16:54












  • I guess I'm just confused what the $m_{2}$ is for
    – asdfghjkl
    Sep 28 '13 at 16:57










  • not sure if you have this same issue (even after accepting an answer), but the whole proof Rudin presents seems rather random and as if it comes out of no where. I have no intuition on why he introduces $m_1, m_2$. Sure $m_1 > nx$, $m_2 > -nx$, it feels as if I have no conceptual idea of why one would do this. Why is he doing this beyond the "it works". I am nearly 100% this formal proof comes out from conveying some conceptual idea and just making it formal. If you understand where it comes from, please provide your own answer and clarify it! It still a mystery for me.
    – Pinocchio
    Dec 25 '16 at 19:35


















10














I know this is a common proof. I'm following Rudin's proof and I'm following everything except for one step.



Suppose $x, y in Bbb R$ and $x < y$. Then there exists an $n in Bbb N$ such that $n(y-x) > 1$.



Again by the Archimedean property, there exist $m_{1}, m_{2} in Bbb N$ such that $m_{1} > nx$ and $m_{2} > -nx$, i.e.
$$
-m_{2} < nx < m_{1}
$$



From here, Rudin says there must be an $m in Bbb Z$ with $-m_{2} le m le m_{1}$ and that
$$
m-1 le nx < m
$$



I'm confused about these two steps. If $-m_{2} < nx < m_{1}$, then isn't $-m_{2} < m_{1}$?



edit: to be clear, I follow everything up until the introduction of $m$.










share|cite|improve this question




















  • 1




    He seems to be using the Well-Ordering principle
    – Prahlad Vaidyanathan
    Sep 28 '13 at 15:07










  • What if $x=0$ ...?
    – Michael Hoppe
    Sep 28 '13 at 15:57










  • @PrahladVaidyanathan I see, thanks. But to me, the well-ordering principle would suggest the following: by Archimedean property, the set $left{m_{1} in Bbb N: m_{1} > nxright}$ is not empty. And by the well-ordering property, there is an $m in Bbb N$ such that $m > nx$ and $nx > m-1$, so $m-1 < nx < m$. We know that $ny > 1 + nx$, so combining the inequalities gives $nx < m < ny$. Is this not enough?
    – asdfghjkl
    Sep 28 '13 at 16:54












  • I guess I'm just confused what the $m_{2}$ is for
    – asdfghjkl
    Sep 28 '13 at 16:57










  • not sure if you have this same issue (even after accepting an answer), but the whole proof Rudin presents seems rather random and as if it comes out of no where. I have no intuition on why he introduces $m_1, m_2$. Sure $m_1 > nx$, $m_2 > -nx$, it feels as if I have no conceptual idea of why one would do this. Why is he doing this beyond the "it works". I am nearly 100% this formal proof comes out from conveying some conceptual idea and just making it formal. If you understand where it comes from, please provide your own answer and clarify it! It still a mystery for me.
    – Pinocchio
    Dec 25 '16 at 19:35
















10












10








10


2





I know this is a common proof. I'm following Rudin's proof and I'm following everything except for one step.



Suppose $x, y in Bbb R$ and $x < y$. Then there exists an $n in Bbb N$ such that $n(y-x) > 1$.



Again by the Archimedean property, there exist $m_{1}, m_{2} in Bbb N$ such that $m_{1} > nx$ and $m_{2} > -nx$, i.e.
$$
-m_{2} < nx < m_{1}
$$



From here, Rudin says there must be an $m in Bbb Z$ with $-m_{2} le m le m_{1}$ and that
$$
m-1 le nx < m
$$



I'm confused about these two steps. If $-m_{2} < nx < m_{1}$, then isn't $-m_{2} < m_{1}$?



edit: to be clear, I follow everything up until the introduction of $m$.










share|cite|improve this question















I know this is a common proof. I'm following Rudin's proof and I'm following everything except for one step.



Suppose $x, y in Bbb R$ and $x < y$. Then there exists an $n in Bbb N$ such that $n(y-x) > 1$.



Again by the Archimedean property, there exist $m_{1}, m_{2} in Bbb N$ such that $m_{1} > nx$ and $m_{2} > -nx$, i.e.
$$
-m_{2} < nx < m_{1}
$$



From here, Rudin says there must be an $m in Bbb Z$ with $-m_{2} le m le m_{1}$ and that
$$
m-1 le nx < m
$$



I'm confused about these two steps. If $-m_{2} < nx < m_{1}$, then isn't $-m_{2} < m_{1}$?



edit: to be clear, I follow everything up until the introduction of $m$.







real-analysis rational-numbers






share|cite|improve this question















share|cite|improve this question













share|cite|improve this question




share|cite|improve this question








edited Sep 28 '13 at 15:07

























asked Sep 28 '13 at 15:03









asdfghjkl

4311518




4311518








  • 1




    He seems to be using the Well-Ordering principle
    – Prahlad Vaidyanathan
    Sep 28 '13 at 15:07










  • What if $x=0$ ...?
    – Michael Hoppe
    Sep 28 '13 at 15:57










  • @PrahladVaidyanathan I see, thanks. But to me, the well-ordering principle would suggest the following: by Archimedean property, the set $left{m_{1} in Bbb N: m_{1} > nxright}$ is not empty. And by the well-ordering property, there is an $m in Bbb N$ such that $m > nx$ and $nx > m-1$, so $m-1 < nx < m$. We know that $ny > 1 + nx$, so combining the inequalities gives $nx < m < ny$. Is this not enough?
    – asdfghjkl
    Sep 28 '13 at 16:54












  • I guess I'm just confused what the $m_{2}$ is for
    – asdfghjkl
    Sep 28 '13 at 16:57










  • not sure if you have this same issue (even after accepting an answer), but the whole proof Rudin presents seems rather random and as if it comes out of no where. I have no intuition on why he introduces $m_1, m_2$. Sure $m_1 > nx$, $m_2 > -nx$, it feels as if I have no conceptual idea of why one would do this. Why is he doing this beyond the "it works". I am nearly 100% this formal proof comes out from conveying some conceptual idea and just making it formal. If you understand where it comes from, please provide your own answer and clarify it! It still a mystery for me.
    – Pinocchio
    Dec 25 '16 at 19:35
















  • 1




    He seems to be using the Well-Ordering principle
    – Prahlad Vaidyanathan
    Sep 28 '13 at 15:07










  • What if $x=0$ ...?
    – Michael Hoppe
    Sep 28 '13 at 15:57










  • @PrahladVaidyanathan I see, thanks. But to me, the well-ordering principle would suggest the following: by Archimedean property, the set $left{m_{1} in Bbb N: m_{1} > nxright}$ is not empty. And by the well-ordering property, there is an $m in Bbb N$ such that $m > nx$ and $nx > m-1$, so $m-1 < nx < m$. We know that $ny > 1 + nx$, so combining the inequalities gives $nx < m < ny$. Is this not enough?
    – asdfghjkl
    Sep 28 '13 at 16:54












  • I guess I'm just confused what the $m_{2}$ is for
    – asdfghjkl
    Sep 28 '13 at 16:57










  • not sure if you have this same issue (even after accepting an answer), but the whole proof Rudin presents seems rather random and as if it comes out of no where. I have no intuition on why he introduces $m_1, m_2$. Sure $m_1 > nx$, $m_2 > -nx$, it feels as if I have no conceptual idea of why one would do this. Why is he doing this beyond the "it works". I am nearly 100% this formal proof comes out from conveying some conceptual idea and just making it formal. If you understand where it comes from, please provide your own answer and clarify it! It still a mystery for me.
    – Pinocchio
    Dec 25 '16 at 19:35










1




1




He seems to be using the Well-Ordering principle
– Prahlad Vaidyanathan
Sep 28 '13 at 15:07




He seems to be using the Well-Ordering principle
– Prahlad Vaidyanathan
Sep 28 '13 at 15:07












What if $x=0$ ...?
– Michael Hoppe
Sep 28 '13 at 15:57




What if $x=0$ ...?
– Michael Hoppe
Sep 28 '13 at 15:57












@PrahladVaidyanathan I see, thanks. But to me, the well-ordering principle would suggest the following: by Archimedean property, the set $left{m_{1} in Bbb N: m_{1} > nxright}$ is not empty. And by the well-ordering property, there is an $m in Bbb N$ such that $m > nx$ and $nx > m-1$, so $m-1 < nx < m$. We know that $ny > 1 + nx$, so combining the inequalities gives $nx < m < ny$. Is this not enough?
– asdfghjkl
Sep 28 '13 at 16:54






@PrahladVaidyanathan I see, thanks. But to me, the well-ordering principle would suggest the following: by Archimedean property, the set $left{m_{1} in Bbb N: m_{1} > nxright}$ is not empty. And by the well-ordering property, there is an $m in Bbb N$ such that $m > nx$ and $nx > m-1$, so $m-1 < nx < m$. We know that $ny > 1 + nx$, so combining the inequalities gives $nx < m < ny$. Is this not enough?
– asdfghjkl
Sep 28 '13 at 16:54














I guess I'm just confused what the $m_{2}$ is for
– asdfghjkl
Sep 28 '13 at 16:57




I guess I'm just confused what the $m_{2}$ is for
– asdfghjkl
Sep 28 '13 at 16:57












not sure if you have this same issue (even after accepting an answer), but the whole proof Rudin presents seems rather random and as if it comes out of no where. I have no intuition on why he introduces $m_1, m_2$. Sure $m_1 > nx$, $m_2 > -nx$, it feels as if I have no conceptual idea of why one would do this. Why is he doing this beyond the "it works". I am nearly 100% this formal proof comes out from conveying some conceptual idea and just making it formal. If you understand where it comes from, please provide your own answer and clarify it! It still a mystery for me.
– Pinocchio
Dec 25 '16 at 19:35






not sure if you have this same issue (even after accepting an answer), but the whole proof Rudin presents seems rather random and as if it comes out of no where. I have no intuition on why he introduces $m_1, m_2$. Sure $m_1 > nx$, $m_2 > -nx$, it feels as if I have no conceptual idea of why one would do this. Why is he doing this beyond the "it works". I am nearly 100% this formal proof comes out from conveying some conceptual idea and just making it formal. If you understand where it comes from, please provide your own answer and clarify it! It still a mystery for me.
– Pinocchio
Dec 25 '16 at 19:35












4 Answers
4






active

oldest

votes


















7














Yes, $-m_2<m_1$, but we knew this anyway: $m_1$ and $m_2$ are positive integers, so $-m_2$ is negative and $m_1$ is positive.



Rudin introduces both $m_1$ and $m_2$ in order to avoid having to split the argument into cases depending on whether $x>0$, $x=0$, or $x<0$. If you simply take $m_1$ to be the minimal such that $m_1>nx$, you’re in trouble if $x$ is negative: $m_1=1$, which doesn’t do what you want.



Once you have $-m_2<nx<m_1$, you can use the well-ordering principle to set



$$k_0=min{kinBbb N:-m_2+k>nx};;$$



${kinBbb N:-m_2+k>nx}$ is non-empty, because it contains $m_1-(-m_2)$ so the well-ordering principle ensures that $k_0$ exists. Now let $m=-m_2+k_0$, and you can easily check that $m-1le nx<m$.






share|cite|improve this answer





















  • Thank you! this helps a lot
    – asdfghjkl
    Oct 2 '13 at 18:04










  • @asdfghjkl: You’re welcome!
    – Brian M. Scott
    Oct 2 '13 at 19:46










  • sorry if this is really obvious, but what is the trouble if x is negative? if x is negative, say $x=-1$, and $m_1=1$, then $m_1 > nx iff 1 > -n$ which is clearly true if $n in mathbb N$. No? Or am I missing something? I think I don't understand why he wants to avoid cases and how cases even arise in the proof.
    – Pinocchio
    Dec 25 '16 at 18:45










  • @Pinocchio: In order for the argument to work, we need to find the smallest integer $m$ such that $m>nx$. If $nx$ is positive, the well-ordering principle takes care of this. If $nx$ is negative, however, using the well-ordering principle to get the smallest member of $Bbb N$ greater than $nx$ merely gives us $1$, and $1$ is not the smallest integer greater than $nx$. If $nx=-pi$, for instance, we need $m$ to be $-3$, not $1$, or the rest of the argument won’t work.
    – Brian M. Scott
    Dec 25 '16 at 19:03






  • 1




    @Pinocchio: The basic idea is the one that works when $x>0$: use the well-ordering principle to find the smallest $minBbb N$ such that $nx<m$, note that $m-1le nx<m$, and proceed from there. There are then two choices: split the argument into cases, or find some way to apply this idea even when $x<0$. Rudin chose the latter approach. He doesn’t have $0<nx$, so he finds a $-m_2<nx$. Then he uses the fact that ${kinBbb Z:k>-m_2x}$ ‘looks like’ $Bbb N$, just shifted left by $m_2$. This lets him find least elements of non-empty subsets of ${kinBbb Z:k>-m_2x}$ by shifting the sets ...
    – Brian M. Scott
    Dec 25 '16 at 19:38



















7














The whole proof seems to hinge on (1) Archimedian property, and (2) well ordering principle. While Rudin states and proves Archimedian property, just prior to the proof that we are discussing, well ordering principle is not mentioned by Rudin anywhere in his book, neither before nor after the current proof. Assuming something that is not stated anywhere in the book, is not a good proof strategy, especially in subjects like real analysis.






share|cite|improve this answer





















  • This question had an accepted answer, I don't see how yours adds anything to it.
    – Silvia Ghinassi
    Mar 29 '16 at 15:36






  • 1




    @SilviaGhinassi it adds something by pointing out Rudin doesn't mention the WOP, which seems like a useful remark.
    – Charlie Parker
    Dec 24 '16 at 16:15








  • 2




    I was actually baffled by this! Thanks for pointing out this insanity!
    – Jack
    Feb 10 '18 at 4:01










  • @Silvia I don't see how your comment contributes anything.
    – orange
    Dec 10 '18 at 9:08



















3














The proof seems rather oddly written. I find it more intuitive to note that $nx-ny>1$ implies there must be an integer between $ny$ and $nx$. Look at $m=lfloor nyrfloor+1$.






share|cite|improve this answer





















  • I’m pretty sure that that argument isn’t available to Rudin at that point in the book, because he hasn’t shown that $nx-ny>1$ implies that there is an integer between $ny$ and $nx$ or justified the existence of $lfloor xrfloor$ for an arbitrary $xinBbb R$. He’s trying to be extremely rigorous.
    – Brian M. Scott
    Sep 28 '13 at 19:29










  • @BrianM.Scott We can be rigorous by defining $lfloor xrfloor$ using WOP, cannot we?
    – Pedro Tamaroff
    Sep 28 '13 at 19:35












  • That’s essentially what Rudin is doing in this argument, though he actually gets $lfloor xrfloor+1$.
    – Brian M. Scott
    Sep 28 '13 at 19:37










  • @BrianM.Scott Aha. That's why I said it is oddly written. I don't feel like correcting Rudin or anything, just saying it can be made clearer.
    – Pedro Tamaroff
    Sep 28 '13 at 19:40












  • I also find the proof to be extremely oddly written and super confusing. Having that if $ny -nx > 1$ implies there is some integer between $nx$ and $ny$ and just finding it (say $m$) and dividing by $n$ finds our rational $x<frac{m}{n}<y$ is more obvious. Isn't it super simple to prove that a $m$ does exist if $ny -nx > 1$?
    – Pinocchio
    Dec 25 '16 at 19:24



















0














I agree with Pedro above.



Choose $n >1/(b-a)$ so that $an > bn +1$.



Then we can prove there is a k in Z with an < k < bn because:
Let $k = min{m in Z : an le m}$ This is nonempty by Archimedian thingy
(and we can easily prove that nonempty bounded below sets of integers have a min element
using the fact that nonempty sets of $N$ have a min element)



Then $an le k < bn$ (first $anle k$ by def and $k < bn$ because if $k ge bn$ then $kge bn > an +1$ implies $k-1 >an$ which would contradict minimality)



Then $ale k/n < b$ ($n ge 1$)






share|cite|improve this answer























    Your Answer





    StackExchange.ifUsing("editor", function () {
    return StackExchange.using("mathjaxEditing", function () {
    StackExchange.MarkdownEditor.creationCallbacks.add(function (editor, postfix) {
    StackExchange.mathjaxEditing.prepareWmdForMathJax(editor, postfix, [["$", "$"], ["\\(","\\)"]]);
    });
    });
    }, "mathjax-editing");

    StackExchange.ready(function() {
    var channelOptions = {
    tags: "".split(" "),
    id: "69"
    };
    initTagRenderer("".split(" "), "".split(" "), channelOptions);

    StackExchange.using("externalEditor", function() {
    // Have to fire editor after snippets, if snippets enabled
    if (StackExchange.settings.snippets.snippetsEnabled) {
    StackExchange.using("snippets", function() {
    createEditor();
    });
    }
    else {
    createEditor();
    }
    });

    function createEditor() {
    StackExchange.prepareEditor({
    heartbeatType: 'answer',
    autoActivateHeartbeat: false,
    convertImagesToLinks: true,
    noModals: true,
    showLowRepImageUploadWarning: true,
    reputationToPostImages: 10,
    bindNavPrevention: true,
    postfix: "",
    imageUploader: {
    brandingHtml: "Powered by u003ca class="icon-imgur-white" href="https://imgur.com/"u003eu003c/au003e",
    contentPolicyHtml: "User contributions licensed under u003ca href="https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/"u003ecc by-sa 3.0 with attribution requiredu003c/au003e u003ca href="https://stackoverflow.com/legal/content-policy"u003e(content policy)u003c/au003e",
    allowUrls: true
    },
    noCode: true, onDemand: true,
    discardSelector: ".discard-answer"
    ,immediatelyShowMarkdownHelp:true
    });


    }
    });














    draft saved

    draft discarded


















    StackExchange.ready(
    function () {
    StackExchange.openid.initPostLogin('.new-post-login', 'https%3a%2f%2fmath.stackexchange.com%2fquestions%2f507899%2fproving-the-rationals-are-dense-in-r%23new-answer', 'question_page');
    }
    );

    Post as a guest















    Required, but never shown

























    4 Answers
    4






    active

    oldest

    votes








    4 Answers
    4






    active

    oldest

    votes









    active

    oldest

    votes






    active

    oldest

    votes









    7














    Yes, $-m_2<m_1$, but we knew this anyway: $m_1$ and $m_2$ are positive integers, so $-m_2$ is negative and $m_1$ is positive.



    Rudin introduces both $m_1$ and $m_2$ in order to avoid having to split the argument into cases depending on whether $x>0$, $x=0$, or $x<0$. If you simply take $m_1$ to be the minimal such that $m_1>nx$, you’re in trouble if $x$ is negative: $m_1=1$, which doesn’t do what you want.



    Once you have $-m_2<nx<m_1$, you can use the well-ordering principle to set



    $$k_0=min{kinBbb N:-m_2+k>nx};;$$



    ${kinBbb N:-m_2+k>nx}$ is non-empty, because it contains $m_1-(-m_2)$ so the well-ordering principle ensures that $k_0$ exists. Now let $m=-m_2+k_0$, and you can easily check that $m-1le nx<m$.






    share|cite|improve this answer





















    • Thank you! this helps a lot
      – asdfghjkl
      Oct 2 '13 at 18:04










    • @asdfghjkl: You’re welcome!
      – Brian M. Scott
      Oct 2 '13 at 19:46










    • sorry if this is really obvious, but what is the trouble if x is negative? if x is negative, say $x=-1$, and $m_1=1$, then $m_1 > nx iff 1 > -n$ which is clearly true if $n in mathbb N$. No? Or am I missing something? I think I don't understand why he wants to avoid cases and how cases even arise in the proof.
      – Pinocchio
      Dec 25 '16 at 18:45










    • @Pinocchio: In order for the argument to work, we need to find the smallest integer $m$ such that $m>nx$. If $nx$ is positive, the well-ordering principle takes care of this. If $nx$ is negative, however, using the well-ordering principle to get the smallest member of $Bbb N$ greater than $nx$ merely gives us $1$, and $1$ is not the smallest integer greater than $nx$. If $nx=-pi$, for instance, we need $m$ to be $-3$, not $1$, or the rest of the argument won’t work.
      – Brian M. Scott
      Dec 25 '16 at 19:03






    • 1




      @Pinocchio: The basic idea is the one that works when $x>0$: use the well-ordering principle to find the smallest $minBbb N$ such that $nx<m$, note that $m-1le nx<m$, and proceed from there. There are then two choices: split the argument into cases, or find some way to apply this idea even when $x<0$. Rudin chose the latter approach. He doesn’t have $0<nx$, so he finds a $-m_2<nx$. Then he uses the fact that ${kinBbb Z:k>-m_2x}$ ‘looks like’ $Bbb N$, just shifted left by $m_2$. This lets him find least elements of non-empty subsets of ${kinBbb Z:k>-m_2x}$ by shifting the sets ...
      – Brian M. Scott
      Dec 25 '16 at 19:38
















    7














    Yes, $-m_2<m_1$, but we knew this anyway: $m_1$ and $m_2$ are positive integers, so $-m_2$ is negative and $m_1$ is positive.



    Rudin introduces both $m_1$ and $m_2$ in order to avoid having to split the argument into cases depending on whether $x>0$, $x=0$, or $x<0$. If you simply take $m_1$ to be the minimal such that $m_1>nx$, you’re in trouble if $x$ is negative: $m_1=1$, which doesn’t do what you want.



    Once you have $-m_2<nx<m_1$, you can use the well-ordering principle to set



    $$k_0=min{kinBbb N:-m_2+k>nx};;$$



    ${kinBbb N:-m_2+k>nx}$ is non-empty, because it contains $m_1-(-m_2)$ so the well-ordering principle ensures that $k_0$ exists. Now let $m=-m_2+k_0$, and you can easily check that $m-1le nx<m$.






    share|cite|improve this answer





















    • Thank you! this helps a lot
      – asdfghjkl
      Oct 2 '13 at 18:04










    • @asdfghjkl: You’re welcome!
      – Brian M. Scott
      Oct 2 '13 at 19:46










    • sorry if this is really obvious, but what is the trouble if x is negative? if x is negative, say $x=-1$, and $m_1=1$, then $m_1 > nx iff 1 > -n$ which is clearly true if $n in mathbb N$. No? Or am I missing something? I think I don't understand why he wants to avoid cases and how cases even arise in the proof.
      – Pinocchio
      Dec 25 '16 at 18:45










    • @Pinocchio: In order for the argument to work, we need to find the smallest integer $m$ such that $m>nx$. If $nx$ is positive, the well-ordering principle takes care of this. If $nx$ is negative, however, using the well-ordering principle to get the smallest member of $Bbb N$ greater than $nx$ merely gives us $1$, and $1$ is not the smallest integer greater than $nx$. If $nx=-pi$, for instance, we need $m$ to be $-3$, not $1$, or the rest of the argument won’t work.
      – Brian M. Scott
      Dec 25 '16 at 19:03






    • 1




      @Pinocchio: The basic idea is the one that works when $x>0$: use the well-ordering principle to find the smallest $minBbb N$ such that $nx<m$, note that $m-1le nx<m$, and proceed from there. There are then two choices: split the argument into cases, or find some way to apply this idea even when $x<0$. Rudin chose the latter approach. He doesn’t have $0<nx$, so he finds a $-m_2<nx$. Then he uses the fact that ${kinBbb Z:k>-m_2x}$ ‘looks like’ $Bbb N$, just shifted left by $m_2$. This lets him find least elements of non-empty subsets of ${kinBbb Z:k>-m_2x}$ by shifting the sets ...
      – Brian M. Scott
      Dec 25 '16 at 19:38














    7












    7








    7






    Yes, $-m_2<m_1$, but we knew this anyway: $m_1$ and $m_2$ are positive integers, so $-m_2$ is negative and $m_1$ is positive.



    Rudin introduces both $m_1$ and $m_2$ in order to avoid having to split the argument into cases depending on whether $x>0$, $x=0$, or $x<0$. If you simply take $m_1$ to be the minimal such that $m_1>nx$, you’re in trouble if $x$ is negative: $m_1=1$, which doesn’t do what you want.



    Once you have $-m_2<nx<m_1$, you can use the well-ordering principle to set



    $$k_0=min{kinBbb N:-m_2+k>nx};;$$



    ${kinBbb N:-m_2+k>nx}$ is non-empty, because it contains $m_1-(-m_2)$ so the well-ordering principle ensures that $k_0$ exists. Now let $m=-m_2+k_0$, and you can easily check that $m-1le nx<m$.






    share|cite|improve this answer












    Yes, $-m_2<m_1$, but we knew this anyway: $m_1$ and $m_2$ are positive integers, so $-m_2$ is negative and $m_1$ is positive.



    Rudin introduces both $m_1$ and $m_2$ in order to avoid having to split the argument into cases depending on whether $x>0$, $x=0$, or $x<0$. If you simply take $m_1$ to be the minimal such that $m_1>nx$, you’re in trouble if $x$ is negative: $m_1=1$, which doesn’t do what you want.



    Once you have $-m_2<nx<m_1$, you can use the well-ordering principle to set



    $$k_0=min{kinBbb N:-m_2+k>nx};;$$



    ${kinBbb N:-m_2+k>nx}$ is non-empty, because it contains $m_1-(-m_2)$ so the well-ordering principle ensures that $k_0$ exists. Now let $m=-m_2+k_0$, and you can easily check that $m-1le nx<m$.







    share|cite|improve this answer












    share|cite|improve this answer



    share|cite|improve this answer










    answered Sep 28 '13 at 19:25









    Brian M. Scott

    455k38505907




    455k38505907












    • Thank you! this helps a lot
      – asdfghjkl
      Oct 2 '13 at 18:04










    • @asdfghjkl: You’re welcome!
      – Brian M. Scott
      Oct 2 '13 at 19:46










    • sorry if this is really obvious, but what is the trouble if x is negative? if x is negative, say $x=-1$, and $m_1=1$, then $m_1 > nx iff 1 > -n$ which is clearly true if $n in mathbb N$. No? Or am I missing something? I think I don't understand why he wants to avoid cases and how cases even arise in the proof.
      – Pinocchio
      Dec 25 '16 at 18:45










    • @Pinocchio: In order for the argument to work, we need to find the smallest integer $m$ such that $m>nx$. If $nx$ is positive, the well-ordering principle takes care of this. If $nx$ is negative, however, using the well-ordering principle to get the smallest member of $Bbb N$ greater than $nx$ merely gives us $1$, and $1$ is not the smallest integer greater than $nx$. If $nx=-pi$, for instance, we need $m$ to be $-3$, not $1$, or the rest of the argument won’t work.
      – Brian M. Scott
      Dec 25 '16 at 19:03






    • 1




      @Pinocchio: The basic idea is the one that works when $x>0$: use the well-ordering principle to find the smallest $minBbb N$ such that $nx<m$, note that $m-1le nx<m$, and proceed from there. There are then two choices: split the argument into cases, or find some way to apply this idea even when $x<0$. Rudin chose the latter approach. He doesn’t have $0<nx$, so he finds a $-m_2<nx$. Then he uses the fact that ${kinBbb Z:k>-m_2x}$ ‘looks like’ $Bbb N$, just shifted left by $m_2$. This lets him find least elements of non-empty subsets of ${kinBbb Z:k>-m_2x}$ by shifting the sets ...
      – Brian M. Scott
      Dec 25 '16 at 19:38


















    • Thank you! this helps a lot
      – asdfghjkl
      Oct 2 '13 at 18:04










    • @asdfghjkl: You’re welcome!
      – Brian M. Scott
      Oct 2 '13 at 19:46










    • sorry if this is really obvious, but what is the trouble if x is negative? if x is negative, say $x=-1$, and $m_1=1$, then $m_1 > nx iff 1 > -n$ which is clearly true if $n in mathbb N$. No? Or am I missing something? I think I don't understand why he wants to avoid cases and how cases even arise in the proof.
      – Pinocchio
      Dec 25 '16 at 18:45










    • @Pinocchio: In order for the argument to work, we need to find the smallest integer $m$ such that $m>nx$. If $nx$ is positive, the well-ordering principle takes care of this. If $nx$ is negative, however, using the well-ordering principle to get the smallest member of $Bbb N$ greater than $nx$ merely gives us $1$, and $1$ is not the smallest integer greater than $nx$. If $nx=-pi$, for instance, we need $m$ to be $-3$, not $1$, or the rest of the argument won’t work.
      – Brian M. Scott
      Dec 25 '16 at 19:03






    • 1




      @Pinocchio: The basic idea is the one that works when $x>0$: use the well-ordering principle to find the smallest $minBbb N$ such that $nx<m$, note that $m-1le nx<m$, and proceed from there. There are then two choices: split the argument into cases, or find some way to apply this idea even when $x<0$. Rudin chose the latter approach. He doesn’t have $0<nx$, so he finds a $-m_2<nx$. Then he uses the fact that ${kinBbb Z:k>-m_2x}$ ‘looks like’ $Bbb N$, just shifted left by $m_2$. This lets him find least elements of non-empty subsets of ${kinBbb Z:k>-m_2x}$ by shifting the sets ...
      – Brian M. Scott
      Dec 25 '16 at 19:38
















    Thank you! this helps a lot
    – asdfghjkl
    Oct 2 '13 at 18:04




    Thank you! this helps a lot
    – asdfghjkl
    Oct 2 '13 at 18:04












    @asdfghjkl: You’re welcome!
    – Brian M. Scott
    Oct 2 '13 at 19:46




    @asdfghjkl: You’re welcome!
    – Brian M. Scott
    Oct 2 '13 at 19:46












    sorry if this is really obvious, but what is the trouble if x is negative? if x is negative, say $x=-1$, and $m_1=1$, then $m_1 > nx iff 1 > -n$ which is clearly true if $n in mathbb N$. No? Or am I missing something? I think I don't understand why he wants to avoid cases and how cases even arise in the proof.
    – Pinocchio
    Dec 25 '16 at 18:45




    sorry if this is really obvious, but what is the trouble if x is negative? if x is negative, say $x=-1$, and $m_1=1$, then $m_1 > nx iff 1 > -n$ which is clearly true if $n in mathbb N$. No? Or am I missing something? I think I don't understand why he wants to avoid cases and how cases even arise in the proof.
    – Pinocchio
    Dec 25 '16 at 18:45












    @Pinocchio: In order for the argument to work, we need to find the smallest integer $m$ such that $m>nx$. If $nx$ is positive, the well-ordering principle takes care of this. If $nx$ is negative, however, using the well-ordering principle to get the smallest member of $Bbb N$ greater than $nx$ merely gives us $1$, and $1$ is not the smallest integer greater than $nx$. If $nx=-pi$, for instance, we need $m$ to be $-3$, not $1$, or the rest of the argument won’t work.
    – Brian M. Scott
    Dec 25 '16 at 19:03




    @Pinocchio: In order for the argument to work, we need to find the smallest integer $m$ such that $m>nx$. If $nx$ is positive, the well-ordering principle takes care of this. If $nx$ is negative, however, using the well-ordering principle to get the smallest member of $Bbb N$ greater than $nx$ merely gives us $1$, and $1$ is not the smallest integer greater than $nx$. If $nx=-pi$, for instance, we need $m$ to be $-3$, not $1$, or the rest of the argument won’t work.
    – Brian M. Scott
    Dec 25 '16 at 19:03




    1




    1




    @Pinocchio: The basic idea is the one that works when $x>0$: use the well-ordering principle to find the smallest $minBbb N$ such that $nx<m$, note that $m-1le nx<m$, and proceed from there. There are then two choices: split the argument into cases, or find some way to apply this idea even when $x<0$. Rudin chose the latter approach. He doesn’t have $0<nx$, so he finds a $-m_2<nx$. Then he uses the fact that ${kinBbb Z:k>-m_2x}$ ‘looks like’ $Bbb N$, just shifted left by $m_2$. This lets him find least elements of non-empty subsets of ${kinBbb Z:k>-m_2x}$ by shifting the sets ...
    – Brian M. Scott
    Dec 25 '16 at 19:38




    @Pinocchio: The basic idea is the one that works when $x>0$: use the well-ordering principle to find the smallest $minBbb N$ such that $nx<m$, note that $m-1le nx<m$, and proceed from there. There are then two choices: split the argument into cases, or find some way to apply this idea even when $x<0$. Rudin chose the latter approach. He doesn’t have $0<nx$, so he finds a $-m_2<nx$. Then he uses the fact that ${kinBbb Z:k>-m_2x}$ ‘looks like’ $Bbb N$, just shifted left by $m_2$. This lets him find least elements of non-empty subsets of ${kinBbb Z:k>-m_2x}$ by shifting the sets ...
    – Brian M. Scott
    Dec 25 '16 at 19:38











    7














    The whole proof seems to hinge on (1) Archimedian property, and (2) well ordering principle. While Rudin states and proves Archimedian property, just prior to the proof that we are discussing, well ordering principle is not mentioned by Rudin anywhere in his book, neither before nor after the current proof. Assuming something that is not stated anywhere in the book, is not a good proof strategy, especially in subjects like real analysis.






    share|cite|improve this answer





















    • This question had an accepted answer, I don't see how yours adds anything to it.
      – Silvia Ghinassi
      Mar 29 '16 at 15:36






    • 1




      @SilviaGhinassi it adds something by pointing out Rudin doesn't mention the WOP, which seems like a useful remark.
      – Charlie Parker
      Dec 24 '16 at 16:15








    • 2




      I was actually baffled by this! Thanks for pointing out this insanity!
      – Jack
      Feb 10 '18 at 4:01










    • @Silvia I don't see how your comment contributes anything.
      – orange
      Dec 10 '18 at 9:08
















    7














    The whole proof seems to hinge on (1) Archimedian property, and (2) well ordering principle. While Rudin states and proves Archimedian property, just prior to the proof that we are discussing, well ordering principle is not mentioned by Rudin anywhere in his book, neither before nor after the current proof. Assuming something that is not stated anywhere in the book, is not a good proof strategy, especially in subjects like real analysis.






    share|cite|improve this answer





















    • This question had an accepted answer, I don't see how yours adds anything to it.
      – Silvia Ghinassi
      Mar 29 '16 at 15:36






    • 1




      @SilviaGhinassi it adds something by pointing out Rudin doesn't mention the WOP, which seems like a useful remark.
      – Charlie Parker
      Dec 24 '16 at 16:15








    • 2




      I was actually baffled by this! Thanks for pointing out this insanity!
      – Jack
      Feb 10 '18 at 4:01










    • @Silvia I don't see how your comment contributes anything.
      – orange
      Dec 10 '18 at 9:08














    7












    7








    7






    The whole proof seems to hinge on (1) Archimedian property, and (2) well ordering principle. While Rudin states and proves Archimedian property, just prior to the proof that we are discussing, well ordering principle is not mentioned by Rudin anywhere in his book, neither before nor after the current proof. Assuming something that is not stated anywhere in the book, is not a good proof strategy, especially in subjects like real analysis.






    share|cite|improve this answer












    The whole proof seems to hinge on (1) Archimedian property, and (2) well ordering principle. While Rudin states and proves Archimedian property, just prior to the proof that we are discussing, well ordering principle is not mentioned by Rudin anywhere in his book, neither before nor after the current proof. Assuming something that is not stated anywhere in the book, is not a good proof strategy, especially in subjects like real analysis.







    share|cite|improve this answer












    share|cite|improve this answer



    share|cite|improve this answer










    answered Mar 29 '16 at 15:12









    V. Venkata Rao

    7111




    7111












    • This question had an accepted answer, I don't see how yours adds anything to it.
      – Silvia Ghinassi
      Mar 29 '16 at 15:36






    • 1




      @SilviaGhinassi it adds something by pointing out Rudin doesn't mention the WOP, which seems like a useful remark.
      – Charlie Parker
      Dec 24 '16 at 16:15








    • 2




      I was actually baffled by this! Thanks for pointing out this insanity!
      – Jack
      Feb 10 '18 at 4:01










    • @Silvia I don't see how your comment contributes anything.
      – orange
      Dec 10 '18 at 9:08


















    • This question had an accepted answer, I don't see how yours adds anything to it.
      – Silvia Ghinassi
      Mar 29 '16 at 15:36






    • 1




      @SilviaGhinassi it adds something by pointing out Rudin doesn't mention the WOP, which seems like a useful remark.
      – Charlie Parker
      Dec 24 '16 at 16:15








    • 2




      I was actually baffled by this! Thanks for pointing out this insanity!
      – Jack
      Feb 10 '18 at 4:01










    • @Silvia I don't see how your comment contributes anything.
      – orange
      Dec 10 '18 at 9:08
















    This question had an accepted answer, I don't see how yours adds anything to it.
    – Silvia Ghinassi
    Mar 29 '16 at 15:36




    This question had an accepted answer, I don't see how yours adds anything to it.
    – Silvia Ghinassi
    Mar 29 '16 at 15:36




    1




    1




    @SilviaGhinassi it adds something by pointing out Rudin doesn't mention the WOP, which seems like a useful remark.
    – Charlie Parker
    Dec 24 '16 at 16:15






    @SilviaGhinassi it adds something by pointing out Rudin doesn't mention the WOP, which seems like a useful remark.
    – Charlie Parker
    Dec 24 '16 at 16:15






    2




    2




    I was actually baffled by this! Thanks for pointing out this insanity!
    – Jack
    Feb 10 '18 at 4:01




    I was actually baffled by this! Thanks for pointing out this insanity!
    – Jack
    Feb 10 '18 at 4:01












    @Silvia I don't see how your comment contributes anything.
    – orange
    Dec 10 '18 at 9:08




    @Silvia I don't see how your comment contributes anything.
    – orange
    Dec 10 '18 at 9:08











    3














    The proof seems rather oddly written. I find it more intuitive to note that $nx-ny>1$ implies there must be an integer between $ny$ and $nx$. Look at $m=lfloor nyrfloor+1$.






    share|cite|improve this answer





















    • I’m pretty sure that that argument isn’t available to Rudin at that point in the book, because he hasn’t shown that $nx-ny>1$ implies that there is an integer between $ny$ and $nx$ or justified the existence of $lfloor xrfloor$ for an arbitrary $xinBbb R$. He’s trying to be extremely rigorous.
      – Brian M. Scott
      Sep 28 '13 at 19:29










    • @BrianM.Scott We can be rigorous by defining $lfloor xrfloor$ using WOP, cannot we?
      – Pedro Tamaroff
      Sep 28 '13 at 19:35












    • That’s essentially what Rudin is doing in this argument, though he actually gets $lfloor xrfloor+1$.
      – Brian M. Scott
      Sep 28 '13 at 19:37










    • @BrianM.Scott Aha. That's why I said it is oddly written. I don't feel like correcting Rudin or anything, just saying it can be made clearer.
      – Pedro Tamaroff
      Sep 28 '13 at 19:40












    • I also find the proof to be extremely oddly written and super confusing. Having that if $ny -nx > 1$ implies there is some integer between $nx$ and $ny$ and just finding it (say $m$) and dividing by $n$ finds our rational $x<frac{m}{n}<y$ is more obvious. Isn't it super simple to prove that a $m$ does exist if $ny -nx > 1$?
      – Pinocchio
      Dec 25 '16 at 19:24
















    3














    The proof seems rather oddly written. I find it more intuitive to note that $nx-ny>1$ implies there must be an integer between $ny$ and $nx$. Look at $m=lfloor nyrfloor+1$.






    share|cite|improve this answer





















    • I’m pretty sure that that argument isn’t available to Rudin at that point in the book, because he hasn’t shown that $nx-ny>1$ implies that there is an integer between $ny$ and $nx$ or justified the existence of $lfloor xrfloor$ for an arbitrary $xinBbb R$. He’s trying to be extremely rigorous.
      – Brian M. Scott
      Sep 28 '13 at 19:29










    • @BrianM.Scott We can be rigorous by defining $lfloor xrfloor$ using WOP, cannot we?
      – Pedro Tamaroff
      Sep 28 '13 at 19:35












    • That’s essentially what Rudin is doing in this argument, though he actually gets $lfloor xrfloor+1$.
      – Brian M. Scott
      Sep 28 '13 at 19:37










    • @BrianM.Scott Aha. That's why I said it is oddly written. I don't feel like correcting Rudin or anything, just saying it can be made clearer.
      – Pedro Tamaroff
      Sep 28 '13 at 19:40












    • I also find the proof to be extremely oddly written and super confusing. Having that if $ny -nx > 1$ implies there is some integer between $nx$ and $ny$ and just finding it (say $m$) and dividing by $n$ finds our rational $x<frac{m}{n}<y$ is more obvious. Isn't it super simple to prove that a $m$ does exist if $ny -nx > 1$?
      – Pinocchio
      Dec 25 '16 at 19:24














    3












    3








    3






    The proof seems rather oddly written. I find it more intuitive to note that $nx-ny>1$ implies there must be an integer between $ny$ and $nx$. Look at $m=lfloor nyrfloor+1$.






    share|cite|improve this answer












    The proof seems rather oddly written. I find it more intuitive to note that $nx-ny>1$ implies there must be an integer between $ny$ and $nx$. Look at $m=lfloor nyrfloor+1$.







    share|cite|improve this answer












    share|cite|improve this answer



    share|cite|improve this answer










    answered Sep 28 '13 at 15:14









    Pedro Tamaroff

    96.2k10151295




    96.2k10151295












    • I’m pretty sure that that argument isn’t available to Rudin at that point in the book, because he hasn’t shown that $nx-ny>1$ implies that there is an integer between $ny$ and $nx$ or justified the existence of $lfloor xrfloor$ for an arbitrary $xinBbb R$. He’s trying to be extremely rigorous.
      – Brian M. Scott
      Sep 28 '13 at 19:29










    • @BrianM.Scott We can be rigorous by defining $lfloor xrfloor$ using WOP, cannot we?
      – Pedro Tamaroff
      Sep 28 '13 at 19:35












    • That’s essentially what Rudin is doing in this argument, though he actually gets $lfloor xrfloor+1$.
      – Brian M. Scott
      Sep 28 '13 at 19:37










    • @BrianM.Scott Aha. That's why I said it is oddly written. I don't feel like correcting Rudin or anything, just saying it can be made clearer.
      – Pedro Tamaroff
      Sep 28 '13 at 19:40












    • I also find the proof to be extremely oddly written and super confusing. Having that if $ny -nx > 1$ implies there is some integer between $nx$ and $ny$ and just finding it (say $m$) and dividing by $n$ finds our rational $x<frac{m}{n}<y$ is more obvious. Isn't it super simple to prove that a $m$ does exist if $ny -nx > 1$?
      – Pinocchio
      Dec 25 '16 at 19:24


















    • I’m pretty sure that that argument isn’t available to Rudin at that point in the book, because he hasn’t shown that $nx-ny>1$ implies that there is an integer between $ny$ and $nx$ or justified the existence of $lfloor xrfloor$ for an arbitrary $xinBbb R$. He’s trying to be extremely rigorous.
      – Brian M. Scott
      Sep 28 '13 at 19:29










    • @BrianM.Scott We can be rigorous by defining $lfloor xrfloor$ using WOP, cannot we?
      – Pedro Tamaroff
      Sep 28 '13 at 19:35












    • That’s essentially what Rudin is doing in this argument, though he actually gets $lfloor xrfloor+1$.
      – Brian M. Scott
      Sep 28 '13 at 19:37










    • @BrianM.Scott Aha. That's why I said it is oddly written. I don't feel like correcting Rudin or anything, just saying it can be made clearer.
      – Pedro Tamaroff
      Sep 28 '13 at 19:40












    • I also find the proof to be extremely oddly written and super confusing. Having that if $ny -nx > 1$ implies there is some integer between $nx$ and $ny$ and just finding it (say $m$) and dividing by $n$ finds our rational $x<frac{m}{n}<y$ is more obvious. Isn't it super simple to prove that a $m$ does exist if $ny -nx > 1$?
      – Pinocchio
      Dec 25 '16 at 19:24
















    I’m pretty sure that that argument isn’t available to Rudin at that point in the book, because he hasn’t shown that $nx-ny>1$ implies that there is an integer between $ny$ and $nx$ or justified the existence of $lfloor xrfloor$ for an arbitrary $xinBbb R$. He’s trying to be extremely rigorous.
    – Brian M. Scott
    Sep 28 '13 at 19:29




    I’m pretty sure that that argument isn’t available to Rudin at that point in the book, because he hasn’t shown that $nx-ny>1$ implies that there is an integer between $ny$ and $nx$ or justified the existence of $lfloor xrfloor$ for an arbitrary $xinBbb R$. He’s trying to be extremely rigorous.
    – Brian M. Scott
    Sep 28 '13 at 19:29












    @BrianM.Scott We can be rigorous by defining $lfloor xrfloor$ using WOP, cannot we?
    – Pedro Tamaroff
    Sep 28 '13 at 19:35






    @BrianM.Scott We can be rigorous by defining $lfloor xrfloor$ using WOP, cannot we?
    – Pedro Tamaroff
    Sep 28 '13 at 19:35














    That’s essentially what Rudin is doing in this argument, though he actually gets $lfloor xrfloor+1$.
    – Brian M. Scott
    Sep 28 '13 at 19:37




    That’s essentially what Rudin is doing in this argument, though he actually gets $lfloor xrfloor+1$.
    – Brian M. Scott
    Sep 28 '13 at 19:37












    @BrianM.Scott Aha. That's why I said it is oddly written. I don't feel like correcting Rudin or anything, just saying it can be made clearer.
    – Pedro Tamaroff
    Sep 28 '13 at 19:40






    @BrianM.Scott Aha. That's why I said it is oddly written. I don't feel like correcting Rudin or anything, just saying it can be made clearer.
    – Pedro Tamaroff
    Sep 28 '13 at 19:40














    I also find the proof to be extremely oddly written and super confusing. Having that if $ny -nx > 1$ implies there is some integer between $nx$ and $ny$ and just finding it (say $m$) and dividing by $n$ finds our rational $x<frac{m}{n}<y$ is more obvious. Isn't it super simple to prove that a $m$ does exist if $ny -nx > 1$?
    – Pinocchio
    Dec 25 '16 at 19:24




    I also find the proof to be extremely oddly written and super confusing. Having that if $ny -nx > 1$ implies there is some integer between $nx$ and $ny$ and just finding it (say $m$) and dividing by $n$ finds our rational $x<frac{m}{n}<y$ is more obvious. Isn't it super simple to prove that a $m$ does exist if $ny -nx > 1$?
    – Pinocchio
    Dec 25 '16 at 19:24











    0














    I agree with Pedro above.



    Choose $n >1/(b-a)$ so that $an > bn +1$.



    Then we can prove there is a k in Z with an < k < bn because:
    Let $k = min{m in Z : an le m}$ This is nonempty by Archimedian thingy
    (and we can easily prove that nonempty bounded below sets of integers have a min element
    using the fact that nonempty sets of $N$ have a min element)



    Then $an le k < bn$ (first $anle k$ by def and $k < bn$ because if $k ge bn$ then $kge bn > an +1$ implies $k-1 >an$ which would contradict minimality)



    Then $ale k/n < b$ ($n ge 1$)






    share|cite|improve this answer




























      0














      I agree with Pedro above.



      Choose $n >1/(b-a)$ so that $an > bn +1$.



      Then we can prove there is a k in Z with an < k < bn because:
      Let $k = min{m in Z : an le m}$ This is nonempty by Archimedian thingy
      (and we can easily prove that nonempty bounded below sets of integers have a min element
      using the fact that nonempty sets of $N$ have a min element)



      Then $an le k < bn$ (first $anle k$ by def and $k < bn$ because if $k ge bn$ then $kge bn > an +1$ implies $k-1 >an$ which would contradict minimality)



      Then $ale k/n < b$ ($n ge 1$)






      share|cite|improve this answer


























        0












        0








        0






        I agree with Pedro above.



        Choose $n >1/(b-a)$ so that $an > bn +1$.



        Then we can prove there is a k in Z with an < k < bn because:
        Let $k = min{m in Z : an le m}$ This is nonempty by Archimedian thingy
        (and we can easily prove that nonempty bounded below sets of integers have a min element
        using the fact that nonempty sets of $N$ have a min element)



        Then $an le k < bn$ (first $anle k$ by def and $k < bn$ because if $k ge bn$ then $kge bn > an +1$ implies $k-1 >an$ which would contradict minimality)



        Then $ale k/n < b$ ($n ge 1$)






        share|cite|improve this answer














        I agree with Pedro above.



        Choose $n >1/(b-a)$ so that $an > bn +1$.



        Then we can prove there is a k in Z with an < k < bn because:
        Let $k = min{m in Z : an le m}$ This is nonempty by Archimedian thingy
        (and we can easily prove that nonempty bounded below sets of integers have a min element
        using the fact that nonempty sets of $N$ have a min element)



        Then $an le k < bn$ (first $anle k$ by def and $k < bn$ because if $k ge bn$ then $kge bn > an +1$ implies $k-1 >an$ which would contradict minimality)



        Then $ale k/n < b$ ($n ge 1$)







        share|cite|improve this answer














        share|cite|improve this answer



        share|cite|improve this answer








        edited Dec 10 '18 at 6:02









        Hanul Jeon

        17.5k42780




        17.5k42780










        answered Dec 10 '18 at 5:51









        Joe

        1




        1






























            draft saved

            draft discarded




















































            Thanks for contributing an answer to Mathematics Stack Exchange!


            • Please be sure to answer the question. Provide details and share your research!

            But avoid



            • Asking for help, clarification, or responding to other answers.

            • Making statements based on opinion; back them up with references or personal experience.


            Use MathJax to format equations. MathJax reference.


            To learn more, see our tips on writing great answers.





            Some of your past answers have not been well-received, and you're in danger of being blocked from answering.


            Please pay close attention to the following guidance:


            • Please be sure to answer the question. Provide details and share your research!

            But avoid



            • Asking for help, clarification, or responding to other answers.

            • Making statements based on opinion; back them up with references or personal experience.


            To learn more, see our tips on writing great answers.




            draft saved


            draft discarded














            StackExchange.ready(
            function () {
            StackExchange.openid.initPostLogin('.new-post-login', 'https%3a%2f%2fmath.stackexchange.com%2fquestions%2f507899%2fproving-the-rationals-are-dense-in-r%23new-answer', 'question_page');
            }
            );

            Post as a guest















            Required, but never shown





















































            Required, but never shown














            Required, but never shown












            Required, but never shown







            Required, but never shown

































            Required, but never shown














            Required, but never shown












            Required, but never shown







            Required, but never shown







            Popular posts from this blog

            Bressuire

            Cabo Verde

            Gyllenstierna