\documentclass[12pt,std]{article} \usepackage{amsmath,amsthm,amsfonts,amssymb,latexsym, hyperref} \begin{document} \begin{center} \textbf{Project on constructing the rational numbers $\mathbb{Q}$.} \end{center} \ Define the set $\mathbb{Q}$ of pairs of integers as follows: $\mathbb{Q} = \mathbb{Z} \times ( \mathbb{Z} - \{0\})$. Equivalently $(x,y) \in \mathbb{Q}$ if and only if $x, y \in \mathbb{Z}$ and $y \ne0$. We define the following relation $\sim$ on $\mathbb{Q}$ \begin{eqnarray*} (a,b) \sim (c,d) & \mbox{if and only if} & ad = bc. \end{eqnarray*} \ Part I. Note that you may only use the axioms of the integers and the theorems that we have derived from them to do the following problems. Part I is due Monday Mar. 30. \ \noindent Problem 1. Prove that $\sim$ is an equivalence relation. \ [Note that now we can talk about equivalence classes.] Define: \begin{eqnarray*} [(a,b)] & = & \{ (c,d) | (c,d) \sim (a,b) \}. \end{eqnarray*} \ \noindent Problem 2. [Note that the operations on the right in the following are ordinary multiplication and addition on the integers.] a.) Consider the operation $\cdot_\sim$ defined by \begin{eqnarray*} [(a,b)] \cdot_\sim [(c,d)] & = & [(ac, bd)]. \end{eqnarray*} Show that $\cdot_\sim$ is well defined. Note, this is with respect to the equivalence relation $\sim$: In other words: show that if $(a,b) \sim (a',b')$ and $(c,d) \sim (c',d')$ then $(ac,bd) \sim (a'c',b'd')$. Equivalently, show that if $(a,b) \sim (a',b')$ and $(c,d) \sim (c',d')$ then $[(ac,bd)] = [(a'c',b'd')]$ \ b.) Consider the operation $\oplus$ defined by \begin{eqnarray*} [(a,b)] \oplus [(c,d)] & = & [(a+c, b+d)]. \end{eqnarray*} Show that $\oplus$ is not well defined. In other words: show that there exist $(a,b) \sim (a',b')$ and $(c,d) \sim (c',d')$ that $(a+c,b+d) \nsim (a' + c',b' + d')$. Equivalently, show that there exist $(a,b) \sim (a',b')$ and $(c,d) \sim (c',d')$ so that $[(a+c,b+d)] \neq [(a'+c',b'+d')]$. c.) Consider the operation $+_\sim$ defined by \begin{eqnarray*} [(a,b)] +_\sim [(c,d)] & = & [(ad+bc, bd)]. \end{eqnarray*} Show that $+_\sim$ is well defined. In other words: show that if $(a,b) \sim (a',b')$ and $(c,d) \sim (c',d')$ then $(ad + bc,bd) \sim (a'd' + b'c',b'd')$. Equivalently, show that if $(a,b) \sim (a',b')$ and $(c,d) \sim (c',d')$ then $[(ad + bc,bd)] = [(a'd' + b'c',b'd')]$. \ [Big hint: since we are constructing the rationals from the axioms of the integers, you should be aware that we are constructing the usual set of fractions in the form $\frac nm$. Our goal is to prove from the axioms that our $\mathbb{Q}$ is equivalent to our usual fractions. So there has to be a one-to-one relationship between $\mathbb{Q}$ and our familiar fractions. Use that to help answer the problems - then use our knowledge of the integers to prove your responses to the problems posed.] \ \end{document}