Understanding // in the Hint for Showing Numbers of Form ±m√2/n Are Dense

[strobeda]

Hello,

Please, someone, explain what the // in the hint below stands for:

"Show that the numbers of the form
±m√2/n
for m, n ∈ N are dense."

Hint:
"To find a number in (x, y), find a rational in (x//√2, y//√2). Conclude from this that the set of
all (irrational) numbers of the form ±m√2/n is dense."

Thank you in advance.

 

[pasmith]

Hello,

Please, someone, explain what the // in the hint below stands for:

"Show that the numbers of the form
±m√2/n
for m, n ∈ N are dense."

Hint:
"To find a number in (x, y), find a rational in (x//√2, y//√2). Conclude from this that the set of
all (irrational) numbers of the form ±m√2/n is dense."

Thank you in advance.

I think it's a misprint for division, since if you take a rational in (x/\sqrt{2},y/\sqrt{2}) and multiply it by \sqrt{2} you indeed get a real number in (x,y).

 

[strobeda]

I suspected that, but I didn't want to go astray trying a wrong tack in case I was just ignorant of the symbol.

Thank you very much, pasmith.