A journey to the world of Numbers

3 The rationals

We can now define the rationals, starting with our copy of the integers \(\mathrm{MyInt}\).

We follow a similar path to the one for \(\mathrm{MyInt}\).

3.1 The prerationals

\(\mathrm{MyRat}\) will be a quotient of a type called \(\mathrm{MyPrerat}\).

Definition 64
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Let \(\mathrm{MyPrerat}\) be \(\mathrm{MyInt}\times (\mathrm{MyInt}\setminus \{ 0\} )\).

Definition 65
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We define a relation \(R\) on \(\mathrm{MyPrerat}\) as follows: \((a,b)\) and \((c, d)\) are related if and only if

\[ a * d = b * c \]
Lemma 66
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\(R\) is a reflexive relation.

Proof

Exercise.

Lemma 67
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\(R\) is a symmetric relation.

Proof

Exercise.

Lemma 68
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\(R\) is a transitive relation.

Proof

Exercise.

Lemma 69
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We have that \(R\) is an equivalence relation. From now on, we will write \(x \approx y\) for \(x R y\).

Proof

Clear from Lemma 66, Lemma 67 and Lemma 68.

Definition 70
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We define an operation, called negation on \(\mathrm{MyPrerat}\) as follows: the negation of \(x = (a,b)\) is \((-a,b)\):

\[ -x = -(a,b) = (-a,b) \]

Note that it is automatically well defined (meaning that second component of \((-a,b)\) is different from \(0\)).

Lemma 71
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If \(x \approx x'\), then \(-x \approx -x'\).

Proof

Exercise.

Definition 72
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We define an operation, called addition on \(\mathrm{MyPrerat}\) as follows: the addition of \(x = (a,b)\) and \(y = (c, d)\) is

\[ x + y = (a,b) + (c,d) = (a * d + b * c, b*d) \]

Do you see why it is well defined?

Lemma 73
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If \(x \approx x'\) and \(y \approx y'\), then \(x + y \approx x' + y'\).

Proof

Exercise.

Definition 74
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We define an operation, called multiplication on \(\mathrm{MyPrerat}\) as follows: the multiplication of \(x = (a,b)\) and \(y = (c, d)\) is

\[ x * y = (a,b) * (c,d) = (a*c, b*d) \]
Lemma 75
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If \(x \approx x'\) and \(y \approx y'\), then \(x * y \approx x' * y'\).

Proof

Exercise.

Definition 76
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We define an operation, called inversion on \(\mathrm{MyPrerat}\) as follows: the inverse of \(x = (a,b)\) is:

\[ \mbox{if } a \neq 0 \mbox{ then } x^{-1} = (b, a), \mbox{ otherwise } x^{-1} = (0, 1) \]

Note that \(x^{-1}\) is always defined!

Lemma 77
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If \(x \approx x'\), then \(x^{-1} \approx x'^{-1}\).

Proof

Exercise.

3.2 The rationals

3.2.1 Definitions

Definition 78
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We define our rationals \(\mathrm{MyRat}\) as

\[ \mathrm{MyRat}= \mathrm{MyPrerat}\, / \approx \]

We will write \(⟦ (a, b) ⟧\) for the class of \((a,b)\).

Definition 79
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We define the zero of \(\mathrm{MyRat}\), denoted \(0\) as the class of \((0,1)\) (note that \(1 \neq 0\) in \(\mathrm{MyInt}\)).

Definition 80
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We define the one of \(\mathrm{MyRat}\), denoted \(1\) as the class of \((1,1)\) (note that \(1 \neq 0\) in \(\mathrm{MyInt}\)).

3.2.2 Commutative ring structure

Definition 81
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We define the negation of \(x = ⟦ (a, b) ⟧\) in \(\mathrm{MyRat}\) as

\[ -x = ⟦ -(a, b) ⟧ \]

Thanks to Lemma 71 this is well defined.

Definition 82
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We define the addition of \(x = ⟦ (a, b) ⟧\) and \(y = ⟦ (c, d) ⟧\) in \(\mathrm{MyRat}\) as

\[ x + y = ⟦ (a,b)+(c,d) ⟧ \]

Thanks to Lemma 73 this is well defined.

Definition 83
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We define the multiplication of \(x = ⟦ (a, b) ⟧\) and \(y = ⟦ (c, d) ⟧\) in \(\mathrm{MyRat}\) as

\[ x * y = ⟦ (a, b)*(c,d) ⟧ \]

Thanks to Lemma 75 this is well defined.

Definition 84
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We define the inverse of \(x = ⟦ (a, b) ⟧\) in \(\mathrm{MyRat}\) as

\[ x^{-1} = ⟦ (a, b)^{-1} ⟧ \]

Thanks to Lemma 77 this is well defined.

Proposition 85
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\(\mathrm{MyRat}\) with addition and multiplication is a commutative ring.

Proof

We have to prove various properties, namely:

  • addition is associative

  • \(0\) works as neutral element for addition (on both sides)

  • existence of an inverse for addition (we prove that \(x + (-x) = (-x) + x = 0\))

  • addition is commutative

  • left and right distributivity of multiplication with respect to addition

  • associativity of multiplication

  • \(1\) works as neutral element for multiplication (on both sides)

All the proofs are essentially identical, going to \(\mathrm{MyInt}\), unravelling the definition and then checking the equality holds in \(\mathrm{MyInt}\).

Lemma 86
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In \(\mathrm{MyRat}\) we have \(0 \neq 1\).

Proof

If \(0 = 1\) by definition we would have \(⟦ (0,1) ⟧ = ⟦ (1,1) ⟧\) so \(0*1=1*0\) in \(\mathrm{MyInt}\), that is absurd.

Lemma 87
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Let \(x \neq 0\) be in \(\mathrm{MyRat}\). Then \(x * x^{-1} = 1\).

Proof

Let \(x = ⟦ (a,b) ⟧\), with \(b \neq 0\). Since \(x \neq 0\) we have \(a \neq 0\) and so \(x^{-1} = ⟦ (b,a) ⟧\). The lemma follows by definition of multiplication.

Proposition 88
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\(\mathrm{MyRat}\) with addition and multiplication is a field.

Proof

Clear because of Lemma 87.

3.2.3 The inclusion \(i \colon \mathrm{MyNat}\to \mathrm{MyRat}\)

Definition 89
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We define a map

\begin{gather*} i \colon \mathrm{MyNat}\to \mathrm{MyRat}\\ n \mapsto ⟦ (\mathrm{MyInt}.i n,1) ⟧ \end{gather*}
Lemma 90
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We have that \(i(0) = 0\).

Proof

Clear from the definition.

Lemma 91
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We have that \(i(1) = 1\).

Proof

Clear from the definition.

Lemma 92
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For all \(a\) and \(b\) in \(\mathrm{MyNat}\) we have that

\[ i(a+b) = i(a) + i(b) \]
Proof

We have \(i(a+b) = ⟦ (\mathrm{MyInt}.i (a+b), 1) ⟧ = ⟦ (\mathrm{MyInt}.i (a), 1) + (\mathrm{MyInt}.i (b), 1) ⟧\), \(i(a) = ⟦ (\mathrm{MyInt}.i(a), 1) ⟧\) and \(i(b) = ⟦ (\mathrm{MyInt}.i (b), 1) ⟧\), so we need to prove that

\[ ⟦ (\mathrm{MyInt}.i (a), 1) + (\mathrm{MyInt}.i (b), 1) ⟧ = ⟦ (\mathrm{MyInt}.i (a), 1) ⟧ + ⟦ (\mathrm{MyInt}.i (b), 1) ⟧ \]

that is obvious from the definition.

Lemma 93
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For all \(a\) and \(b\) in \(\mathrm{MyNat}\) we have that

\[ i(a*b) = i(a) * i(b) \]
Proof

Similar to the proof of Lemma 92.

Lemma 94
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We have that \(i\) is injective.

Proof

Let \(a\) and \(b\) be such that \(i(a)=i(b)\). This means \(⟦ (\mathrm{MyInt}.i a,1) ⟧ = ⟦ (\mathrm{MyInt}.i b,1) ⟧\), so \((\mathrm{MyInt}.i a) * 1 = 1 * (\mathrm{MyInt}.i b)\). Hence \(\mathrm{MyInt}.i a = \mathrm{MyInt}.i b\), and injectivity of \(\mathrm{MyInt}.i\) gives \(a = b\).

3.2.4 The inclusion \(j \colon \mathrm{MyInt}\to \mathrm{MyRat}\)

Definition 95
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We define a map

\begin{gather*} j \colon \mathrm{MyInt}\to \mathrm{MyRat}\\ n \mapsto ⟦ (n,1) ⟧ \end{gather*}
Lemma 96
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We have that \(j(0) = 0\).

Proof

Clear from the definition.

Lemma 97
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We have that \(j(1) = 1\).

Proof

Clear from the definition.

Lemma 98
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For all \(a\) and \(b\) in \(\mathrm{MyInt}\) we have that

\[ j(a+b) = j(a) + j(b) \]
Proof

Exercise.

Lemma 99
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For all \(a\) and \(b\) in \(\mathrm{MyInt}\) we have that

\[ j(a*b) = j(a) * j(b) \]
Proof

Exercise.

Lemma 100
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We have that \(j\) is injective.

Proof

Exercise.

Lemma 101
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Let \(n\) be a natural number. Then \(\mathrm{MyRat}.j (\mathrm{MyInt}.i (n)) = \mathrm{MyRat}.i (n)\).

Proof

It follows from unravelling all the definitions.

Lemma 102
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Let \(a\) and \(b\) be in \(\mathrm{MyInt}\) with \(b \neq 0\). Then \(⟦ (a, b) ⟧ = j(a)*j(b)^{-1}\).

Proof

Exercise.

3.2.5 Nonnegativity

Before defining the order on \(\mathrm{MyRat}\), let’s define the notion of nonnegativity.

Definition 103
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Given \(x\) in \(\mathrm{MyRat}\), we say that \(x\) is nonnegative if it has a representative with nonnegative numerator and positive denominator: there exist \(a\) and \(b\) in \(\mathrm{MyInt}\) with \(0 \leq a\) and \(0 {\lt} b\) such that

\[ x = ⟦(a,b)⟧. \]

This is the usual condition \(0 \leq a/b\) after choosing a positive denominator.

Lemma 104
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We have that \(0\) in \(\mathrm{MyRat}\) is nonnegative.

Proof

Obvious.

Lemma 105
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We have that \(1\) in \(\mathrm{MyRat}\) is nonnegative.

Proof

Obvious.

Lemma 106
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Let \(x\) be in \(\mathrm{MyRat}\) such that both \(x\) and \(-x\) are nonnegative. Then \(x = 0\).

Proof

Unravelling all the definitions we end up with \(a\), \(b\), \(c\) and \(d\) in \(\mathrm{MyInt}\) such that \(0 \leq a\), \(0 {\lt} b\), \(0 \leq c\), \(0 {\lt} d\) and \(-(a*d)=b*c\). This implies \(a=0\).

Lemma 107

Let \(x\) be in \(\mathrm{MyRat}\) such that \(x\) is not nonnegative. Then \(-x\) is nonnegative.

Proof

Annoying but easy, left as an exercise.

Lemma 108

Let \(x\) and \(y\) be in \(\mathrm{MyRat}\) both nonnegative. Then \(x+y\) is nonnegative.

Proof

Exercise.

Lemma 109

Let \(x\) and \(y\) be in \(\mathrm{MyRat}\) both nonnegative. Then \(x*y\) is nonnegative.

Proof

Exercise.

Lemma 110

Let \(x\) be in \(\mathrm{MyRat}\) be nonnegative. Then \(x^{-1}\) is nonnegative.

Proof

Exercise.

3.2.6 The order

Definition 111
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Let \(x\) and \(y\) in \(\mathrm{MyRat}\). We write \(x \leq y\) if \(y - x\) is nonnegative.

Lemma 112

We have that \(0 \leq x\) if and only if \(x\) is nonnegative.

Proof

Clear.

Lemma 113
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In \(\mathrm{MyRat}\) we have that \(0 \leq 1\).

Proof

Clear because of Lemma 105.

Lemma 114
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The relation \(\leq \) on \(\mathrm{MyRat}\) is reflexive.

Proof

Clear because of Lemma 104.

Lemma 115
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The relation \(\leq \) on \(\mathrm{MyRat}\) is transitive.

Proof

It follows from Lemma 108.

Lemma 116
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The relation \(\leq \) on \(\mathrm{MyRat}\) is antisymmetric.

Proof

It follows from Lemma 106.

It follows that \(\leq \) is an order relation.

3.2.7 Interaction between the order and the ring structure

Lemma 117
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Let \(x\), \(y\) and \(z\) in \(\mathrm{MyRat}\) be such that \(x \leq y\). Then \(x + z \leq y + z\).

Proof

Clear from the definitions.

Lemma 118
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Let \(x\) and \(y\) in \(\mathrm{MyRat}\) be such that \(0 \leq x\) and \(0 \leq y\). Then \(0 \leq x * y\).

Proof

It follows from Lemma 109.

We have proved that \(\mathrm{MyRat}\) is an ordered ring.

3.2.8 Interaction between the order and the inclusions

Lemma 119
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Let \(x\) and \(y\) in \(\mathrm{MyInt}\). We have that \(j(x) \leq j(y)\) if and only if \(x \leq y\).

Proof

Exercise.

Lemma 120
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Let \(x\) and \(y\) in \(\mathrm{MyNat}\). We have that \(i(x) \leq i(y)\) if and only if \(x \leq y\).

Proof

It follows immediately by Lemma 60, Lemma 119 and Lemma 101.

3.2.9 The linear order structure

Lemma 121
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The order \(\leq \) on \(\mathrm{MyRat}\) is a total order.

Proof

This follows by Lemma 107.

Lemma 122
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We have that \(\mathrm{MyRat}\) with \(\leq \) is a linear order

Proof

Clear from the lemma above.

Lemma 123
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Let \(x\) and \(y\) in \(\mathrm{MyRat}\) be such that \(0 {\lt} x\) and \(0 {\lt} y\). Then \(0 {\lt} x * y\).

Proof

Exercise.

We now have that \(\mathrm{MyRat}\) is a strict ordered ring: a nontrivial ring with a partial order such that addition is strictly monotone and multiplication by a positive number is strictly monotone.

Lemma 124
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For every \(x\) in \(\mathrm{MyRat}\) there exists \(n\) in \(\mathrm{MyNat}\) such that \(x \leq i(n)\).

Proof

Choose a representative \(x = a/b\) with \(0 {\lt} b\). By Lemma 63, choose a natural number \(n\) such that \(a \leq \mathrm{MyInt}.i(n)\). Since \(b\) is positive and \(\mathrm{MyInt}.i(n)\) is nonnegative, we have \(\mathrm{MyInt}.i(n) \leq b \cdot \mathrm{MyInt}.i(n)\). Thus \(a \leq b \cdot \mathrm{MyInt}.i(n)\), which is exactly \(a/b \leq n\), hence \(x \leq i(n)\).