Proving Negative Real Numbers Using Contradiction

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zoxee
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Prove by contradiction that a real number that is less than every positive real number cannot be positive

having troubles with this

could someone give me a small hint to get started?
 
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zoxee said:
Prove by contradiction that a real number that is less than every positive real number cannot be positive

having troubles with this

could someone give me a small hint to get started?

Suppose [itex]x > 0[/itex] is such that every positive real number is greater than or equal to [itex]x[/itex]. What then is [itex]x/2[/itex]?
 
pasmith said:
Suppose [itex]x > 0[/itex] is such that every positive real number is greater than or equal to [itex]x[/itex]. What then is [itex]x/2[/itex]?

I'm sorry but I can't seem to proceed even with this hint :(
 
zoxee said:
I'm sorry but I can't seem to proceed even with this hint :(

Given that [itex]x[/itex] is a positive real number, is [itex]x/2[/itex] a positive real number?
 
I wouldn't even bother with x/2. Suppose x is positive. Can it then be "less than every positive number"
 
zoxee said:
Prove by contradiction that a real number that is less than every positive real number cannot be positive

having troubles with this

could someone give me a small hint to get started?

Please check your PMs. The PF Rules require that you show some effort before we offer tutorial help.