Are There More Real Numbers Than Rational Numbers Without Complex Set Theory?

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SUMMARY

The discussion centers on the comparison of the cardinality of real numbers versus rational numbers, emphasizing that rational numbers are countable while real numbers are uncountable. The Cantor diagonal argument is mentioned as a traditional proof method, but the original poster seeks a more straightforward approach. The conclusion is that while the Cantor diagonal argument is widely accepted, alternative proofs may exist but are not detailed in the discussion.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of countable vs. uncountable sets
  • Familiarity with Cantor's diagonal argument
  • Basic knowledge of real numbers and rational numbers
  • Introductory concepts in set theory
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  • Study the properties of countable and uncountable sets
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dmatador
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I am trying to figure out a way to prove this without using much set theory (i know that the rationals are countable and the reals are not). is there a way to show that there are more reals than rationals in a more straightforward proof?
 
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