Some Properties of the Rationals .... Bloch Ex. 1.5.9 (3)

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Homework Help Overview

The discussion revolves around Exercise 1.5.9 from Ethan D. Bloch's book, which focuses on properties of rational numbers. The original poster is tasked with proving that for positive rational numbers \( r \) and \( s \), if \( r^2 < s \), then there exists a natural number \( k \) such that \( (r + \frac{1}{k})^2 < s \). The context is set within the framework of rational numbers, which have been constructed without assuming the existence of real numbers.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Assumption checking, Mathematical reasoning

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • The original poster attempts to prove the existence of \( k \) by manipulating the inequality \( (r + \frac{1}{k})^2 < s \) and questions the validity of certain steps in their reasoning. Other participants suggest using earlier exercises to inform the proof and propose breaking the problem into two inequalities to facilitate the argument.

Discussion Status

Participants are actively engaging with the problem, exploring different approaches and questioning assumptions. Some have offered guidance on how to structure the proof, while others are considering the implications of the definitions of rational numbers in their reasoning. There is a recognition of the need to establish certain inequalities to support the argument.

Contextual Notes

The discussion highlights the constraints of working within the defined constructs of natural numbers, integers, and rational numbers, without invoking real numbers or their properties. Participants are also considering the implications of definitions and earlier exercises in their attempts to solve the problem.

  • #31
Math Amateur said:
I note that the terms ##a^2dk^2## and ##cb^2k^2## from (4) also appear in (1)
Yes, this is key.
It might help clarify matters if you put those terms on the left and all else on the right in each inequality.
Be careful to keep track of which inequality is known to be true and which you are trying to deduce.
 
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  • #32
haruspex said:
Yes, this is key.
It might help clarify matters if you put those terms on the left and all else on the right in each inequality.
Be careful to keep track of which inequality is known to be true and which you are trying to deduce.
Following your advice ... we have ...

##(1) \Longleftrightarrow a^2k^2d - cb^2k^2 \lt -2abdk - b^2d## ... ... ... ... (5)

and

##(4) \Longleftrightarrow a^2k^2d - cb^2k^2 \le -k^2 ## ... ... ... ... (6)(6) is true by assumption and we are trying to find a condition on ##k \in \mathbb(N)## from (5)BUT ... what step do I take now ... still perplexed as to how to proceed ...

Can you help ... ...?

Peter
 
  • #33
Math Amateur said:
we are trying to find a condition on ##k \in \mathbb(N)## from (5)
You need to come up with a choice for k such that if (6) is true then (5) must be true.
Do you think that will be a large value of k or a small one?
 
  • #34
haruspex said:
You need to come up with a choice for k such that if (6) is true then (5) must be true.
Do you think that will be a large value of k or a small one?
Well ... the size of k doesn't matter in (6) ... .. but in (5) it would be more likely true if k were large ,,, is that right?

Peter
 
Last edited:
  • #35
Math Amateur said:
the size of k doesn't matter in (6)
It does. It might help to focus by calling the terms on the left of the inequalities just "LHS", as an opaque package.
As k increases, what does (6) tell you is happening to the LHS? Compare that with what happens as k increases in (5).
 
  • #36
haruspex said:
It does. It might help to focus by calling the terms on the left of the inequalities just "LHS", as an opaque package.
As k increases, what does (6) tell you is happening to the LHS? Compare that with what happens as k increases in (5).
In (6) the LHS is decreasing as ##-k^2## ...

... but ... when k increases in (5) the LHS decreases (decreases because it's negative) at the lesser rate of k ... ( ! ignoring for the moment that the LHS contains ##k^2## terms )

EDIT I should be talking about the upper bound on the LHS ...

Peter
 
  • #37
Math Amateur said:
In (6) the LHS is decreasing as ##-k^2## ...

... but ... when k increases in (5) the LHS decreases (decreases because it's negative) at the lesser rate of k ... ( ! ignoring for the moment that the LHS contains ##k^2## terms )

EDIT I should be talking about the upper bound on the LHS ...

Peter
Right. So for sufficiently large k ...?
 
  • #38
Q
haruspex said:
Right. So for sufficiently large k ...?
Hi haruspex ... still thinking about this ... ? ...

PeterEDIT: Can you give any further guidance?
 
  • #39
You need inequality (6) to imply inequality (5). What relationship between the two right-hand sides would lead to that implication?
 
  • #40
Well ... we require ##(6) \Longrightarrow (5)## so ... I THINK ...

we require that ##-2abdk - bd^2 \gt k^2##

Is that correct?

Peter
 
  • #41
Math Amateur said:
Well ... we require ##(6) \Longrightarrow (5)## so ... I THINK ...

we require that ##-2abdk - bd^2 \gt k^2##

Is that correct?

Peter
Sign error.
 
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  • #42
haruspex said:
Sign error.
Oh yes ... silly typo ... sorry

Should be ##-2abdk - b^2d \gt -k^2##

or could write it as

##2abdk + b^2d \lt k^2##

Peter
 
  • #43
Math Amateur said:
Oh yes ... silly typo ... sorry

Should be ##-2abdk - b^2d \gt -k^2##

or could write it as

##2abdk + b^2d \lt k^2##

Peter
Good.
Essentially,you can solve this as a quadratic in k.
 
  • #44
We have ##2abdk + b^2d \lt k^2##

##\Longleftrightarrow k^2 - 2abdk - b^2d \gt 0##

Assume for a moment that all variables represent real numbers ... and solve k in

##k^2 - 2abdk - b^2d = 0## ... ... where we take solution for ##k \gt 0##

We get ##k = \frac{ 2abd \pm \sqrt{ 4a^2b^2d^2 - 4(-b^2d) } }{2}##

So take ##k = abd + \sqrt{a^2b^2d^2 + b^2d} = \delta## (real number}

Take ##k## as the natural number just greater than or equal to ##\delta## ... ... (surely this number exists! since ##\delta## exists )

... and then

... we have ##k^2 - 2abdk - b^2d \gt 0## and problem is about finished ...

Is that correct ...?
 
  • #45
Math Amateur said:
finished
Indeed.
 
  • #46
Thank you for all your help

It is much appreciated ...

Peter
 

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