# There is a rational and an irrational number in any interval

• April 11th 2008, 08:26 AM
james_bond
There is a rational and an irrational number in any interval
Prove that in any interval there is a rational and an irrational number.
• April 11th 2008, 11:35 AM
Aryth
Dr. Math: Go here

This is a proof of just what you are asking.
• April 11th 2008, 12:16 PM
Plato
Lemma: If $x-y>1$ then $\left( {\exists k \in Z} \right)\left[ {y < k < x} \right]$.
Proof:
By the floor function, $\left\lfloor y \right\rfloor \leqslant y < \left\lfloor y \right\rfloor + 1\,\mbox{or}\,\left\lfloor y \right\rfloor + 1 \leqslant y + 1 < x \Rightarrow \quad y < \left\lfloor y \right\rfloor + 1 < x$.

Between any two numbers there is a rational number.
Proof:
If $a then $\left( {\exists K \in Z^ + } \right)\left[ {\frac{1}
{{b - a}} < K} \right]$
.
But that means that $1 < Kb - Ka$ so by the lemma $\left( {\exists J \in Z} \right)\left[ {Ka < J < Kb} \right] \Rightarrow \quad a < \frac{K}{J} < b$.

Between any two numbers there is a irrational number.
Proof:
If $a then $a\sqrt 2 < b\sqrt 2$ so by the above $\left( {\exists r \in Q} \right)\left[ {a\sqrt 2 < r < b\sqrt 2 } \right]$.
But $a < \frac{r}{{\sqrt 2 }} < b$ and $\frac{r}{{\sqrt 2 }}$ is irrational .
• April 28th 2008, 05:02 PM
JaneBennet
Quote:

Originally Posted by Plato
But $a < \frac{r}{{\sqrt 2 }} < b$ and $\frac{r}{{\sqrt 2 }}$ is irrational.

$\frac{r}{\sqrt{2}}$ is rational if $r=0$.
• April 29th 2008, 01:06 AM
Isomorphism
Quote:

Originally Posted by JaneBennet
$\frac{r}{\sqrt{2}}$ is rational if $r=0$.

True.
But if a < 0 < b, then we can apply density of rationals to $a\sqrt{2}<0$ to obtain a 'r' such that $a\sqrt{2} < r < 0$......
• April 30th 2008, 06:17 AM
JaneBennet
Quote:

Originally Posted by Plato
Between any two numbers there is a irrational number.

Proof:

If $a then $a\sqrt 2 < b\sqrt 2$ so by the above $\left( {\exists r \in Q} \right)\left[ {a\sqrt 2 < r < b\sqrt 2 } \right]$.

But $a < \frac{r}{{\sqrt 2 }} < b$ and $\frac{r}{{\sqrt 2 }}$ is irrational .

Quote:

Originally Posted by JaneBennet
$\frac{r}{\sqrt{2}}$ is rational if $r=0$.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Isomorphism
True.
But if a < 0 < b, then we can apply density of rationals to $a\sqrt{2}<0$ to obtain a 'r' such that $a\sqrt{2} < r < 0$......

Bah! The last part should be done this way.

If $a then $a+\sqrt 2 < b+\sqrt 2$ so by the above $\left( {\exists r \in \mathbb{Q}} \right)\left[ {a+\sqrt 2 < r < b+\sqrt 2 } \right]$.

But $a < r-\sqrt 2 < b$ and $r-\sqrt 2$ is irrational.