# I The Set of Positive Integers - a Copy of the Natural Numbers

1. Jul 23, 2017

### Math Amateur

I am reading Ethan D. Bloch's book: The Real Numbers and Real Analysis ...

I am currently focused on Chapter 1: Construction of the Real Numbers ...

I need help/clarification with an aspect of Theorem 1.3.7 ...

Theorem 1.3.7 and the start of the proof reads as follows:

n the above proof we read the following:

" ... ... By Part (a) of the Peano Postulates we know that $p \ne 1$. ... ... "

Can someone please explain exactly how the Peano Postulate (a) implies that $p \ne 1$ ... ?

Help will be much appreciated ...

Peter

Readers of the above question may well be helped by access to Bloch's definition of the integers as well as Bloch's theorem on the algebraic properties of the integers ... so I am providing both as follows:

#### Attached Files:

File size:
83.9 KB
Views:
13
File size:
51.8 KB
Views:
15
• ###### Bloch - Algebraic Properties of Integers ... Theorem 1.3.5 ....png
File size:
10.1 KB
Views:
15
2. Jul 23, 2017

### andrewkirk

Hi Peter.

Two more things are needed in order to understand and respond to this problem.

(1) Under Bloch's definition, is 0 included in the natural numbers?

(2) Which Peano postulate does he label as (a)? So far as I can see, your attachments do not show Bloch's labelling of the postulates. My guess is that it is postulate (9) in this wiki formulation, since that is the only one that makes a 'is not equal to' assertion. But I can't be sure and also, this issue is tangled up with the question of whether 0 is a natural number in Bloch's set-up.

Andrew

3. Jul 23, 2017

### Math Amateur

In answer to your Question 1 ... Bloch regards the natural numbers, $\mathbb{N}$ as $1,2,3, ... ...$ ... , that is not including 0 ...

In answer to your Question 2 ... I should have included the Peano Postulates or Axioms ... so here they are ... ...

Apologies for omitting this information ... ...

Peter

#### Attached Files:

• ###### Bloch - 1 - Peano Postulates ... . ....png
File size:
42.9 KB
Views:
8
4. Jul 23, 2017

### andrewkirk

Thanks. Based on that it looks like the author has made a mistake. He should have written $p+1\neq 1$ rather than $p\neq 1$ (since $p+1=s(p)$).

Based on this and the previous example from Bloch you posted, I am tending towards mathwonk's view that this may not be a very good text book, that is going to cause unnecessary grief by the obscurity of its presentation, not to mention mistakes like this.

5. Jul 23, 2017

### Math Amateur

Thanks Andrew ...

Regarding the text ... I will certainly take account of your (and others) warning about the text ... will however persevere a bit further ...

Thanks again ...

Peter

6. Jul 23, 2017

### Staff: Mentor

Hi Peter,

may I ask you, why you want to go through these very fundamental constructions? In my opinion this doesn't provide real insights. At best it's a training ground for basic reasoning, e.g. by the introduction of integers as equivalences classes of pairs of natural numbers. This is a bit unusual and in my view, not really of value. However, if you do want to tackle these topics in such a basic manner, I think you should try to prove those theorems on your own, and only take Bloch's proofs as an outline what to do and along which ways the arguments evolve. You're always welcome here to check, whether your proofs are correct (... if you'll use less empty lines in your posts ... the scrolling drives me crazy ...)

I have a really beautiful book about group theory, which is written almost entirely without formulas, o.k. very few formulas. It isn't an easy read, as I have been taught in a more formal, Bourbaki stylish way. The book provides really interesting perspectives and it's somehow entertaining to read about group theory like a novel. But this is by no means a short way to learn the topic and I never made it cover to cover.

Those presentations above remind me on this book: nice and entertaining but not suited to study the topic. It distracts by its methods whereas it should present the concepts and ideas instead.

7. Jul 23, 2017

### Math Amateur

Thanks fresh_42 ...

Reflecting on your viewpoint ...

Peter

8. Jul 24, 2017

### Infrared

@fresh_42 Surely you won't tease us by telling us about such a great group theory book without naming it?

9. Jul 24, 2017

### Staff: Mentor

It's A.G. Kurosh: Theory of Groups: Volumes One & Two, at least I hope this English version is identical to mine. I wasn't sure, if I really should mention it, as the way the results are presented is a bit old fashioned.

Edit: B.L. van der Waerden's Algebra books (https://www.amazon.com/Algebra-I-B-L-van-Waerden/dp/0387406247/) are also a bit old fashioned with much text, but easier to read (IMO) and most of all: significantly cheaper.

Last edited: Jul 24, 2017