# Proof that Q is countable

1. Sep 11, 2006

Is this proof OK?.. Thanks in advance.

So, we have to proove that the set Q of all rational numbers is countable.
Let's first look at strictly positive rational numbers. We can form the sets
$$S_{i}=\left\{s_{i1}, s_{i2}, \dots \right\}=\left\{\frac{1}{i}, \frac{2}{i}, \dots \right\}$$. The union of these sets equals the set of strictly positive rational numbers. Now, we automatically know that some rational number $$\frac{k}{l}$$ is an element of the set $$S_{l}$$, and, since there is a 1-1 mapping between every set $$S_{i}$$ and the set of natural numbers N, we conclude $$s_{lk}=\frac{k}{l} \in S_{l}$$. Now, since $$f(k, l) = \frac{k}{l}$$ is a 1-1 mapping defined on $$N\times N$$, and since $$N\times N$$ is countable, we conclude that the set of all strictly positive rational numbers is countable. Further on, there obviously exists a 1-1 mapping between this set and the set of all strictly negative rational numbers. Hence, the set of all strictly negative rational numbers
is countable, too. So, the union of the set of strictly positive, strictly negativerational numbers, and the set containing only zero {0}, is countable, since a finite or countable union of a finite or countable family of finite or countablesets is finite or countable.

P.S. Sorry the thread appeared twice, but I had some posting problems (as well as editing problems, logging on problems, etc.. contacted admin. )

Last edited: Sep 12, 2006
2. Dec 10, 2009

### Jack Pullen

What about f(1, 2) and f(2, 4)? I don't think f is one-to-one.

3. Dec 11, 2009

### JSuarez

JP is right: your sets Si are not disjoint so, in order to pass from an injective function from each Si to Q, more is needed: you must define an equivalence relation in their union, and then check that you can define f in the equivalence classes.

But why not going the other way around? You have a natural injective function from N to each of the Si's, and Q is the countable union of these; from this you may conclude that Q is countable.

4. Jan 5, 2010

### Jack Pullen

What about the H. L. Royden method of showing countability, showing that the set is the range of a sequence?

5. Mar 25, 2011

### hamzah

OK , you may use f : Q+ to N*N*N such that f(n\m)=(n,m,gcd(n,m))this is an embedding of Q+ in countable set

Last edited: Mar 25, 2011