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In order to prove irrationality of \sqrt{2} by using only decimal expansions (and not fractions), we develop in detail a model of real numbers based on infinite decimals and arithmetic operations with them.
Remarks on the Cantor's nondenumerability proof of 1891 that the real numbers are noncountable will be given. By the Cantor's diagonal procedure, it is not possible to build numbers that are different from all numbers in a general assumed…
This paper examines the possibilities of extending Cantor's two arguments on the uncountable nature of the set of real numbers to one of its proper denumerable subsets: the set of rational numbers. The paper proves that, unless certain…
The proofs that the real numbers are denumerable will be shown, i.e., that there exists one-to-one correspondence between the natural numbers $N$ and the real numbers $\Re$. The general element of the sequence that contains all real numbers…
For any particularly interesting theorem one proof is never enough. Instead, the first proof sets the challenge to find a more elegant method that illuminates subtle features of the math, is simpler to understand, or even avoids using…
The multiplicative theory of a set of numbers (which could be natural, integer, rational, real or complex numbers) is the first-order theory of the structure of that set with (solely) the multiplication operation (that set is taken to be…
We give a~detailed construction of the complete ordered field of real numbers by means of infinite decimal expansions. We prove that in the canonical encoding of decimals neither addition nor multiplication is {\em computable}, but that…
The main purpose of this paper is to prove that the positive real numbers can be decomposed into finitely many disjoint pieces which are also closed under addition and multiplication. As a byproduct of the argument we determine all the…
A proof that the set of real numbers is denumerable is given.
It is shown that the pillars of transfinite set theory, namely the uncountability proofs, do not hold. (1) Cantor's first proof of the uncountability of the set of all real numbers does not apply to the set of irrational numbers alone, and,…
We prove that a real number a greater than or equal to 2 is the irrationality exponent of some computable real number if and only if a is the upper limit of a computable sequence of rational numbers. Thus, there are computable real numbers…
In this paper, we compute the asymptotic average of the decimals of some real numbers. With the help of this computation, we prove that if a real number cannot be represented as a finite decimal and the asymptotic average of its decimals is…
This somewhat unusual proof for the fact that the reals are uncountable, which is adapted from one of Bourbaki's proofs in "Fonctions d'une variable reelle", may be of some interest.
In the literature, we have various ways of proving irrationality of a real number. In this survey article, we shall emphasize on a particular criterion to prove irrationality. This is called nice approximation of a number by a sequence of…
In the present article, real number representations, that are generalizations of classical positive and alternating representations of numbers, are introduced and investigated. The main metric relation, properties of cylinder sets are…
Cantor's diagonal method is traditionally used to prove the uncountability of the set of all infinite binary sequences. This paper analyzes the expressive limits of this method. It is shown that under any constructive application --…
Cantor's famous proof of the non-denumerability of real numbers does apply to any infinite set. The set of exclusively all natural numbers does not exist. This shows that the concept of countability is not well defined. There remains no…
There are numerous ways to represent real numbers. We may use, e.g., Cauchy sequences, Dedekind cuts, numerical base-10 expansions, numerical base-2 expansions and continued fractions. If we work with full Turing computability, all these…
It is known that any rational abstract numeration system is faithfully, and effectively, represented by an N-rational series. A simple proof of this result is given which yields a representation of this series which in turn allows a simple…
Numbers are often used to define more complicated numbers. For example, two integers are used to define a rational number and two reals are used to define a complex number. It might be expected that an irrational power of an irrational…