Proving the Set of Rational Numbers is the collection of equivalence classes of ratios of integers with...












-1














I read in a textbook that the set of Rational Numbers is the collection of equivalence classes of ratios of integers with nonzero denominators. I found it interesting and tried to prove it but ended coming up with a disproof. I'm just curious as to where my logic falls through!



Assume $mathbb{Q}$ is the union of disjoint equivalence classes over ratios of integers.
Let the set of rational numbers be defined as such.
begin{equation}
mathbb{Q} = bigg{ frac{p}{q}:p,q in mathbb{Z} , q neq 0 bigg}
end{equation}

We may equivalently define the following as a definition of the rationals.
begin{equation}
mathbb{Q} = bigg{ frac{a}{b}:(a,b) in mathbb{Z} times mathbb{Z} setminus { 0 } bigg}
end{equation}



Contradiction. Equivalence classes are not possible on Cartesian products whose sets are not equal (as, at the every least, reflexivity is not possible). Therefore $mathbb{Q}$ cannot be the union of disjoint equivalence classes over ratios of integers.










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  • What? Can you come up with a pair $(a,b)inmathbb Ztimesmathbb Zsetminus{0}$ where equivalence classes cannot be defined in the usual sense?
    – YiFan
    Jan 4 at 6:15
















-1














I read in a textbook that the set of Rational Numbers is the collection of equivalence classes of ratios of integers with nonzero denominators. I found it interesting and tried to prove it but ended coming up with a disproof. I'm just curious as to where my logic falls through!



Assume $mathbb{Q}$ is the union of disjoint equivalence classes over ratios of integers.
Let the set of rational numbers be defined as such.
begin{equation}
mathbb{Q} = bigg{ frac{p}{q}:p,q in mathbb{Z} , q neq 0 bigg}
end{equation}

We may equivalently define the following as a definition of the rationals.
begin{equation}
mathbb{Q} = bigg{ frac{a}{b}:(a,b) in mathbb{Z} times mathbb{Z} setminus { 0 } bigg}
end{equation}



Contradiction. Equivalence classes are not possible on Cartesian products whose sets are not equal (as, at the every least, reflexivity is not possible). Therefore $mathbb{Q}$ cannot be the union of disjoint equivalence classes over ratios of integers.










share|cite|improve this question









New contributor




UmamiBoy is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.




















  • What? Can you come up with a pair $(a,b)inmathbb Ztimesmathbb Zsetminus{0}$ where equivalence classes cannot be defined in the usual sense?
    – YiFan
    Jan 4 at 6:15














-1












-1








-1







I read in a textbook that the set of Rational Numbers is the collection of equivalence classes of ratios of integers with nonzero denominators. I found it interesting and tried to prove it but ended coming up with a disproof. I'm just curious as to where my logic falls through!



Assume $mathbb{Q}$ is the union of disjoint equivalence classes over ratios of integers.
Let the set of rational numbers be defined as such.
begin{equation}
mathbb{Q} = bigg{ frac{p}{q}:p,q in mathbb{Z} , q neq 0 bigg}
end{equation}

We may equivalently define the following as a definition of the rationals.
begin{equation}
mathbb{Q} = bigg{ frac{a}{b}:(a,b) in mathbb{Z} times mathbb{Z} setminus { 0 } bigg}
end{equation}



Contradiction. Equivalence classes are not possible on Cartesian products whose sets are not equal (as, at the every least, reflexivity is not possible). Therefore $mathbb{Q}$ cannot be the union of disjoint equivalence classes over ratios of integers.










share|cite|improve this question









New contributor




UmamiBoy is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.











I read in a textbook that the set of Rational Numbers is the collection of equivalence classes of ratios of integers with nonzero denominators. I found it interesting and tried to prove it but ended coming up with a disproof. I'm just curious as to where my logic falls through!



Assume $mathbb{Q}$ is the union of disjoint equivalence classes over ratios of integers.
Let the set of rational numbers be defined as such.
begin{equation}
mathbb{Q} = bigg{ frac{p}{q}:p,q in mathbb{Z} , q neq 0 bigg}
end{equation}

We may equivalently define the following as a definition of the rationals.
begin{equation}
mathbb{Q} = bigg{ frac{a}{b}:(a,b) in mathbb{Z} times mathbb{Z} setminus { 0 } bigg}
end{equation}



Contradiction. Equivalence classes are not possible on Cartesian products whose sets are not equal (as, at the every least, reflexivity is not possible). Therefore $mathbb{Q}$ cannot be the union of disjoint equivalence classes over ratios of integers.







equivalence-relations rational-numbers






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edited Jan 4 at 8:58









Asaf Karagila

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asked Jan 4 at 4:32









UmamiBoyUmamiBoy

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  • What? Can you come up with a pair $(a,b)inmathbb Ztimesmathbb Zsetminus{0}$ where equivalence classes cannot be defined in the usual sense?
    – YiFan
    Jan 4 at 6:15


















  • What? Can you come up with a pair $(a,b)inmathbb Ztimesmathbb Zsetminus{0}$ where equivalence classes cannot be defined in the usual sense?
    – YiFan
    Jan 4 at 6:15
















What? Can you come up with a pair $(a,b)inmathbb Ztimesmathbb Zsetminus{0}$ where equivalence classes cannot be defined in the usual sense?
– YiFan
Jan 4 at 6:15




What? Can you come up with a pair $(a,b)inmathbb Ztimesmathbb Zsetminus{0}$ where equivalence classes cannot be defined in the usual sense?
– YiFan
Jan 4 at 6:15










1 Answer
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oldest

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4















Equivalence classes are not possible on Cartesian products whose sets are not equal (as, at the every least, reflexivity is not possible).




Says who?



You seem to be confusing the fact that an equivalence relation on $A$ is a certain subset of $Atimes A$ with the fact that in this case $A$ itself is a cartesian product.



Here the equivalence relation is a certain subset of
$$ (mathbb Ztimes(mathbb Zsetminus{0}))times(mathbb Ztimes(mathbb Zsetminus{0})) $$
and there's nothing that prevents such a relation from being reflexive.



More precisely, the relation is
$$ { ((a,b),(p,q)) mid aq=pb } $$
which is reflexive because $((a,b),(a,b))$ is in the relation for every $ainmathbb Z$, $binmathbb Zsetminus{0}$, because $ab=ab$ is always true.






share|cite|improve this answer





















  • Thank you, Having A as a cartesian product itself fixes my problem. Much appreciated.
    – UmamiBoy
    Jan 4 at 5:09











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1 Answer
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active

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1 Answer
1






active

oldest

votes









active

oldest

votes






active

oldest

votes









4















Equivalence classes are not possible on Cartesian products whose sets are not equal (as, at the every least, reflexivity is not possible).




Says who?



You seem to be confusing the fact that an equivalence relation on $A$ is a certain subset of $Atimes A$ with the fact that in this case $A$ itself is a cartesian product.



Here the equivalence relation is a certain subset of
$$ (mathbb Ztimes(mathbb Zsetminus{0}))times(mathbb Ztimes(mathbb Zsetminus{0})) $$
and there's nothing that prevents such a relation from being reflexive.



More precisely, the relation is
$$ { ((a,b),(p,q)) mid aq=pb } $$
which is reflexive because $((a,b),(a,b))$ is in the relation for every $ainmathbb Z$, $binmathbb Zsetminus{0}$, because $ab=ab$ is always true.






share|cite|improve this answer





















  • Thank you, Having A as a cartesian product itself fixes my problem. Much appreciated.
    – UmamiBoy
    Jan 4 at 5:09
















4















Equivalence classes are not possible on Cartesian products whose sets are not equal (as, at the every least, reflexivity is not possible).




Says who?



You seem to be confusing the fact that an equivalence relation on $A$ is a certain subset of $Atimes A$ with the fact that in this case $A$ itself is a cartesian product.



Here the equivalence relation is a certain subset of
$$ (mathbb Ztimes(mathbb Zsetminus{0}))times(mathbb Ztimes(mathbb Zsetminus{0})) $$
and there's nothing that prevents such a relation from being reflexive.



More precisely, the relation is
$$ { ((a,b),(p,q)) mid aq=pb } $$
which is reflexive because $((a,b),(a,b))$ is in the relation for every $ainmathbb Z$, $binmathbb Zsetminus{0}$, because $ab=ab$ is always true.






share|cite|improve this answer





















  • Thank you, Having A as a cartesian product itself fixes my problem. Much appreciated.
    – UmamiBoy
    Jan 4 at 5:09














4












4








4







Equivalence classes are not possible on Cartesian products whose sets are not equal (as, at the every least, reflexivity is not possible).




Says who?



You seem to be confusing the fact that an equivalence relation on $A$ is a certain subset of $Atimes A$ with the fact that in this case $A$ itself is a cartesian product.



Here the equivalence relation is a certain subset of
$$ (mathbb Ztimes(mathbb Zsetminus{0}))times(mathbb Ztimes(mathbb Zsetminus{0})) $$
and there's nothing that prevents such a relation from being reflexive.



More precisely, the relation is
$$ { ((a,b),(p,q)) mid aq=pb } $$
which is reflexive because $((a,b),(a,b))$ is in the relation for every $ainmathbb Z$, $binmathbb Zsetminus{0}$, because $ab=ab$ is always true.






share|cite|improve this answer













Equivalence classes are not possible on Cartesian products whose sets are not equal (as, at the every least, reflexivity is not possible).




Says who?



You seem to be confusing the fact that an equivalence relation on $A$ is a certain subset of $Atimes A$ with the fact that in this case $A$ itself is a cartesian product.



Here the equivalence relation is a certain subset of
$$ (mathbb Ztimes(mathbb Zsetminus{0}))times(mathbb Ztimes(mathbb Zsetminus{0})) $$
and there's nothing that prevents such a relation from being reflexive.



More precisely, the relation is
$$ { ((a,b),(p,q)) mid aq=pb } $$
which is reflexive because $((a,b),(a,b))$ is in the relation for every $ainmathbb Z$, $binmathbb Zsetminus{0}$, because $ab=ab$ is always true.







share|cite|improve this answer












share|cite|improve this answer



share|cite|improve this answer










answered Jan 4 at 4:35









Henning MakholmHenning Makholm

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  • Thank you, Having A as a cartesian product itself fixes my problem. Much appreciated.
    – UmamiBoy
    Jan 4 at 5:09


















  • Thank you, Having A as a cartesian product itself fixes my problem. Much appreciated.
    – UmamiBoy
    Jan 4 at 5:09
















Thank you, Having A as a cartesian product itself fixes my problem. Much appreciated.
– UmamiBoy
Jan 4 at 5:09




Thank you, Having A as a cartesian product itself fixes my problem. Much appreciated.
– UmamiBoy
Jan 4 at 5:09










UmamiBoy is a new contributor. Be nice, and check out our Code of Conduct.










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