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WM

unread,
May 22, 2012, 4:18:32 AM5/22/12
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Belsa Zarkin asked in Mathematics.StackExchange:

All rational numbers of the unit interval [0, 1] can be covered by
countably many intervals, such that the n-th rational is covered by an
interval I_n of measure 1/10^n. There remain countably many
complementary intervals of measure 8/9 in total.
Does each of the complementary intervals contain only one
irrational number? Then there would be only countably many which could
be covered by another set of countably many intervals of measure 1/9.
Is there at least one of the complementary intervals containing
more than one irrational number? Then there are at least two
irrational numbers without a rational between them. That is
mathematically impossible.

There is no interval left behind. Every interval contains at least one
rational number, so if you remove all rational numbers (let alone a
bunch of intervals containing all of them), there can be no interval
left over. – BRUNO

There is a mistake in your argument, which follows from the fact that
the complement of this union contains no interval. ...The irrational
numbers form a totally disconnected space, namely every connected
component is a singleton.- A KARAGILA

In a totally disconnected space there must be points or intervals
disconnecting it. The number of these points or intervals is countable
and in bijection with the remaining intervals. The bijection is the
same as that from N to Q. (For instance at every step n the
configuration of intervals could be determined in principle.) If you
deny the validity of this bijection for the limit, why don't you deny
the validity for the limit of the bijection from N to Q? – Belsa
Zarkin yesterday

The definition of a totally disconnected space is a space in which
every connected space is a singleton. E.g. a discrete space. Are you
saying that every discrete space is countable? – A KARAGILA

This discussion lasted for a while. Meanwhile it has been deleted.
Correct mathematics is this:
There are countably many intervals I_n of measure 10^-n such that
I_n covers the rational q_n. Then 1/9 (or less) of the unit interval
is covered. In the remaining 8/9 (or
more) there are uncountably many irrationals. But every two
irrationals have a rational between each other. That implies two
irrationals have at least one interval I_n between each other (because
there are no rationals outside of intervals I_n). That implies two
irrationals have at least one of aleph_0 endpoints I_n_1 or I_n_2 of
intervals I_n between each other. These endpoints can be considered
structuring and enumerating a Cantor-list. The only difference is that
the enumeration does not follow the natural order of N. But the number
of naturals does not change by reordering. So we have uncountably many
irrationals separated by countably many endpoints. That is a
contradiction similar to uncountably many entries in a Cantor-list or
uncountably many terms in a sequence.

Regards, WM


In future this series will appear in sci.logic solely.

William Elliot

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May 22, 2012, 4:53:30 AM5/22/12
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On Tue, 22 May 2012, WM wrote:

> Belsa Zarkin asked in Mathematics.StackExchange:
>
> All rational numbers of the unit interval [0, 1] can be covered by
> countably many intervals, such that the n-th rational is covered by an
> interval I_n of measure 1/10^n. There remain countably many
> complementary intervals of measure 8/9 in total.

The complement of an interval usually isn't an interval.

> Does each of the complementary intervals contain only one
> irrational number? Then there would be only countably many which could
> be covered by another set of countably many intervals of measure 1/9.

No, the complement of each interval contains uncountably many irrationals.

> Is there at least one of the complementary intervals containing
> more than one irrational number?

Yes.

> Then there are at least two irrational numbers without a rational
> between them. That is mathematically impossible.

Prove it or cram it.

WM

unread,
May 22, 2012, 5:04:38 AM5/22/12
to
On 22 Mai, 10:53, William Elliot <ma...@panix.com> wrote:
> On Tue, 22 May 2012, WM wrote:
> > Belsa Zarkin asked in Mathematics.StackExchange:
>
> > All rational numbers of the unit interval [0, 1] can be covered by
> > countably many intervals, such that the n-th rational is covered by an
> > interval I_n of measure 1/10^n. There remain countably many
> > complementary intervals of measure 8/9 in total.
>
> The complement of an interval usually isn't an interval.

Interval is here but an abbreviation for Intervals and points. Even
the empty interval is usually called an interval.
>
> >    Does each of the complementary intervals contain only one
> > irrational number? Then there would be only countably many which could
> > be covered by another set of countably many intervals of measure 1/9.
>
> No, the complement of each interval contains uncountably many irrationals.

That is just under investigation.

>
> > Is there at least one of the complementary intervals containing
> > more than one irrational number?
>
> Yes.

Impossible in mathematics. In mathematics we prove that two different
irrationals have a rational between them. As every rational q_n is
covered by an interval I_n, we can conclude that every pair x and x'
of irrationals is separated by least one interval I_n. Hence x and x'
cannot belong to the same complementary interval.
>
> > Then there are at least two irrational numbers without a rational
> > between them. That is mathematically impossible.
>
> Prove it or cram it.

The proof has been given. I repeat: As every rational q_n is covered
by an interval I_n, we can conclude that every pair x and x' of
irrationals is separated by least one interval I_n. Hence x and x'
cannot belong to the same complementary interval. This holds for every
pair of irrationals.

A very simple conclusion. What do you not understand?

Regards, WM

William Elliot

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May 22, 2012, 6:45:59 AM5/22/12
to
On Tue, 22 May 2012, WM wrote:
> > > Belsa Zarkin asked in Mathematics.StackExchange:
> >
> > > All rational numbers of the unit interval [0, 1] can be covered by
> > > countably many intervals, such that the n-th rational is covered by an
> > > interval I_n of measure 1/10^n. There remain countably many
> > > complementary intervals of measure 8/9 in total.
> >
> > The complement of an interval usually isn't an interval.
>
> Interval is here but an abbreviation for Intervals and points. Even
> the empty interval is usually called an interval.

An interval is an order convex subset and usually the complement
of an interval is not order convex.

> > >    Does each of the complementary intervals contain only one
> > > irrational number? Then there would be only countably many which could
> > > be covered by another set of countably many intervals of measure 1/9.
> >
> > No, the complement of each interval contains uncountably many irrationals.
>
> That is just under investigation.
>
Only by WM

> > > Is there at least one of the complementary intervals containing
> > > more than one irrational number?
> >
> > Yes.
>
> Impossible in mathematics. In mathematics we prove that two different
> irrationals have a rational between them. As every rational q_n is
> covered by an interval I_n, we can conclude that every pair x and x'
> of irrationals is separated by least one interval I_n. Hence x and x'
> cannot belong to the same complementary interval.

> > > Then there are at least two irrational numbers without a rational
> > > between them. That is mathematically impossible.
> >
> > Prove it or cram it.
>
> The proof has been given. I repeat: As every rational q_n is covered
> by an interval I_n, we can conclude that every pair x and x' of
> irrationals is separated by least one interval I_n. Hence x and x'
> cannot belong to the same complementary interval. This holds for every
> pair of irrationals.

> A very simple conclusion. What do you not understand?
>
Why dogmatic bullying is so important for you.

WM

unread,
May 22, 2012, 7:15:15 AM5/22/12
to
On 22 Mai, 12:45, William Elliot <ma...@panix.com> wrote:
> On Tue, 22 May 2012, WM wrote:
> > > > Belsa Zarkin asked in Mathematics.StackExchange:
>
> > > > All rational numbers of the unit interval [0, 1] can be covered by
> > > > countably many intervals, such that the n-th rational is covered by an
> > > > interval I_n of measure 1/10^n. There remain countably many
> > > > complementary intervals of measure 8/9 in total.
>
> > > The complement of an interval usually isn't an interval.
>
> > Interval is here but an abbreviation for Intervals and points. Even
> > the empty interval is usually called an interval.
>
> An interval is an order convex subset and usually the complement
> of an interval is not order convex.
>

That is true but undisputed and does not help to answer the problem.
You have to explain how uncountably many irrational points can exist
in the interval [0, 1] such that every point is separated from every
point by at least one interval I_n that is constructed around a
rational number q_n.

> > > >    Does each of the complementary intervals contain only one
> > > > irrational number? Then there would be only countably many which could
> > > > be covered by another set of countably many intervals of measure 1/9.
>
> > > No, the complement of each interval contains uncountably many irrationals.
>
> > That is just under investigation.
>
> Only by WM

If you do not want to investigate this problem, why do you post here?

> > The proof has been given. I repeat: As every rational q_n is covered
> > by an interval I_n, we can conclude that every pair x and x' of
> > irrationals is separated by least one interval I_n. Hence x and x'
> > cannot belong to the same complementary interval. This holds for every
> > pair of irrationals.
> > A very simple conclusion. What do you not understand?
>
> Why dogmatic bullying is so important for you

Please note, I would really like to understand how you try to explain
your sight. As it is disproved by the above proof, I would like to
know which step you do not accept. Your remark that the remaining
irrationals do not form intervals (but Cantor dust) does not really
address the problem, does it? In my opinion every particle of Cantor
dust is separated by a rational q_n, and therefore by an interval I_n,
from every other particle of Cantor dust.

Regards, WM

Uirgil

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May 22, 2012, 4:02:51 PM5/22/12
to
In article
<f8b390e3-cded-44ca...@v10g2000vbe.googlegroups.com>,
WM <muec...@rz.fh-augsburg.de> wrote:



> Correct mathematics is this:
> There are countably many intervals I_n of measure 10^-n such that
> I_n covers the rational q_n. Then 1/9 (or less) of the unit interval
> is covered. In the remaining 8/9 (or
> more) there are uncountably many irrationals. But every two
> irrationals have a rational between each other. That implies two
> irrationals have at least one interval I_n between each other (because
> there are no rationals outside of intervals I_n). That implies two
> irrationals have at least one of aleph_0 endpoints I_n_1 or I_n_2 of
> intervals I_n between each other. These endpoints can be considered
> structuring and enumerating a Cantor-list. The only difference is that
> the enumeration does not follow the natural order of N. But the number
> of naturals does not change by reordering. So we have uncountably many
> irrationals separated by countably many endpoints. That is a
> contradiction similar to uncountably many entries in a Cantor-list or
> uncountably many terms in a sequence.

That last sentence is NOT CORRECT, mathematically. There is no
contradiction involved in having an uncountable linear ordering having
a countable linear sub-ordering dense within it.

It is, for example, trivial that between any two non-terminating
decimals (having infinitely many non-zero digits) there is a terminating
decimal (having only finitely many non-zero digits), and that the former
are uncountable and the latter countable.

Uirgil

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May 22, 2012, 4:19:53 PM5/22/12
to
In article
<dc2813f8-c73a-4563...@5g2000vbf.googlegroups.com>,
WM <muec...@rz.fh-augsburg.de> wrote:

> On 22 Mai, 10:53, William Elliot <ma...@panix.com> wrote:
> > On Tue, 22 May 2012, WM wrote:

snip


> > > Then there are at least two irrational numbers without a rational
> > > between them. That is mathematically impossible.
> >
> > Prove it or cram it.
>
> The proof has been given. I repeat: As every rational q_n is covered
> by an interval I_n, we can conclude that every pair x and x' of
> irrationals is separated by least one interval I_n. Hence x and x'
> cannot belong to the same complementary interval. This holds for every
> pair of irrationals.
>
> A very simple conclusion. What do you not understand?

Why you claiming what is so obviously false.

Unless EVERY pair of irrationals is separated by EVERY ONE of your
I_n's, which does not ever happen, for some pairs of irrationals there
will be LOTS of your "complimentary intervals' containing both.

And as every complimentary interval is necessarily of positive length,
being of form [0,q) or (q,1] for some rational q with 0 < q < 1, they
are each proved to contain infinitely many irrationals.

WM

unread,
May 22, 2012, 4:22:24 PM5/22/12
to
On 22 Mai, 22:02, Uirgil <uir...@uirgil.ur> wrote:
> In article
> <f8b390e3-cded-44ca-8761-6e16d7d21...@v10g2000vbe.googlegroups.com>,
> are uncountable and the latter countable.- Zitierten Text ausblenden -

No, that is not trivial but wrong. However it is widely believed to be
correct. Therefore I devised the example which should open your eyes.

1) Every rational q_n of the real axis (-oo, oo) is covered with an
interval I_n of length 10^-n.
2) The total measure is 1/9.
3) Irrational numbers of the remaining part of R cannot belong to
intervals but must exist as Cantor-dust in a totally disconnected
space.
4) The elements of this space must be disconnected such that every two
irrationals are separated by at least one interval I_n.

Do you see an error in these 4 steps?

Regards, WM

Uirgil

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May 22, 2012, 4:35:53 PM5/22/12
to
In article
<f8775a5f-debf-4af3...@m10g2000vbn.googlegroups.com>,
WM <muec...@rz.fh-augsburg.de> wrote:

> On 22 Mai, 12:45, William Elliot <ma...@panix.com> wrote:
> > On Tue, 22 May 2012, WM wrote:
> > > > > Belsa Zarkin asked in Mathematics.StackExchange:
> >
> > > > > All rational numbers of the unit interval [0, 1] can be covered by
> > > > > countably many intervals, such that the n-th rational is covered by
> > > > > an
> > > > > interval I_n of measure 1/10^n. There remain countably many
> > > > > complementary intervals of measure 8/9 in total.
> >
> > > > The complement of an interval usually isn't an interval.
> >
> > > Interval is here but an abbreviation for Intervals and points. Even
> > > the empty interval is usually called an interval.
> >
> > An interval is an order convex subset and usually the complement
> > of an interval is not order convex.
> >
>
> That is true but undisputed and does not help to answer the problem.
> You have to explain how uncountably many irrational points can exist
> in the interval [0, 1] such that every point is separated from every
> point by at least one interval I_n that is constructed around a
> rational number q_n.


You did it yourself! have you forgot so soon?

Ennumerate the rationals in [0,1] as {q_n: n in N}
and let I_n = [ q_n - 1/(2*10^n), q_n + 1/(2*10^n)]

Given any pair of irrationals a and b with a < b , the interval
[(3*a + b)/4, (a + 3*b)/4] is the middle half of [a,b] containing
infinitely many q_n's, thus [a,b] contains infinitely many I-n's.
>
> > > > >    Does each of the complementary intervals contain only one
> > > > > irrational number? Then there would be only countably many which
> > > > > could
> > > > > be covered by another set of countably many intervals of measure 1/9.
> >
> > > > No, the complement of each interval contains uncountably many
> > > > irrationals.
> >
> > > That is just under investigation.
> >
> > Only by WM
>
> If you do not want to investigate this problem, why do you post here?
>
> > > The proof has been given. I repeat: As every rational q_n is covered
> > > by an interval I_n, we can conclude that every pair x and x' of
> > > irrationals is separated by least one interval I_n. Hence x and x'
> > > cannot belong to the same complementary interval. This holds for every
> > > pair of irrationals.
> > > A very simple conclusion. What do you not understand?
> >
> > Why dogmatic bullying is so important for you
>
> Please note, I would really like to understand how you try to explain
> your sight. As it is disproved by the above proof



As the "above proof" has itself been disproved, it is incapable of
disproving.



I would like to
> know which step you do not accept. Your remark that the remaining
> irrationals do not form intervals (but Cantor dust) does not really
> address the problem, does it? In my opinion every particle of Cantor
> dust is separated by a rational q_n, and therefore by an interval I_n,
> from every other particle of Cantor dust.

Every irrational IS separated from every other irrational by infinitely
many rationals.

Perhaps tht Cantor dust has blown into WM's eyes, blinding him, as for
some reason or unreason, he seems to be blind on such matters.

WM

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May 22, 2012, 4:28:28 PM5/22/12
to
On 22 Mai, 22:19, Uirgil <uir...@uirgil.ur> wrote:
> In article
> <dc2813f8-c73a-4563-add5-48feb4d47...@5g2000vbf.googlegroups.com>,
Without rationals between them?

You misunderstand. The complementary intervals do not contain any
rationals q_n. They cannot because all q_n are covered by intervals
I_n. Therefore the complementary intervals are merely single points.
(Limits of sequences of intervals I_n.)

Regards, WM

Uirgil

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May 22, 2012, 6:42:36 PM5/22/12
to
In article
<9db0b271-e437-4e8a...@b26g2000vbt.googlegroups.com>,
Then your original definition was sufficiently ambiguous as not to make
that clear.

Uirgil

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May 22, 2012, 6:52:49 PM5/22/12
to
In article
<23bcdffd-d442-496c...@p27g2000vbl.googlegroups.com>,
WM <muec...@rz.fh-augsburg.de> wrote:

> On 22 Mai, 22:02, Uirgil <uir...@uirgil.ur> wrote:
> > In article
> > <f8b390e3-cded-44ca-8761-6e16d7d21...@v10g2000vbe.googlegroups.com>,
> >

> > It is,  for example, trivial that between any two non-terminating
> > decimals (having infinitely many non-zero digits) there is a terminating
> > decimal (having only finitely many non-zero digits), and that the former
> > are uncountable and the latter countable.- Zitierten Text ausblenden -
>
> No, that is not trivial but wrong. However it is widely believed to be
> correct. Therefore I devised the example which should open your eyes.

If we limit non-terminating to mean having infinitely many nonzero
entries and order lexicographically, as usual, it is true, unless WM or
someone can provide two such sequences with no terminating sequence
between them.

Well can you, WM?

Actually I had intended my above statement to be about binary sequences
rather than decimals, and for binaries, it is trivially true.

WM

unread,
May 23, 2012, 1:20:28 AM5/23/12
to
On 23 Mai, 00:42, Uirgil <uir...@uirgil.ur> wrote:
> In article
> <9db0b271-e437-4e8a-83e2-e0708f325...@b26g2000vbt.googlegroups.com>,
> that clear.-

I said: "every rational q_n is covered by an interval I_n". So, after
having understood now, what is your objection?

Regards, WM

Ralf Bader

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May 23, 2012, 1:38:37 AM5/23/12
to
This is really funny. It seems you have discovered a well-ordering of the
reals, contrary to your usual assertions about Zermelo's blunder which
really is yours. Why? Mind the wise words of your Chancellor Mrs. Merkel:
"Man muß die Dinge vom Ende her denken". (One should think through matters
from the end) So take the set I of the irrationals in the unit interval.
Order them, and then intersperse that ordering with separators in such a way
that between any two different irrationals x, y there always is at least one
separator. First, take the usual ordering of I according to absolute value.
Then with some 9 separators, cleverly interspersed, any two x, y are
separated if their absolute values differ by at least 1/10. With an
additional 90 separators, cleverly interspersed, any two x, y are separated
if their absolute values differ by at least 1/100. And so on. In each step,
a finite number of separators is interspersed, and the total set of
separators required is a countable union of finite sets which is countable.
And then, any two different x, y are separated by some (in fact, infinitely
many) separators because their absolute values differ by some inverse power
of 10.

Now take the well-ordering of I which you discovered. If you want to
intersperse this well-ordering with separators in such a way that there is a
separator between any two different irrationals x, y, then there must be a
separator between any x and the least y larger than x in that well-ordering.
And associating to any x that separator gives an injective mapping from I to
the set of separators required in this case, so "at least as many"
separators as there are elements of I are required in this case. And that
something like this would be necessary to separate any different x, y is
what you are always implicitly assuming, for example in the "above proof".
But this is wrong in the case of the extremely non-well ordering according
to absolute value, yet it is correct in the case of the well-ordering of I
you seem to have discovered.

WM

unread,
May 23, 2012, 1:56:36 AM5/23/12
to
On 23 Mai, 07:38, Ralf Bader <ba...@nefkom.net> wrote:
> WM wrote:
Why? Mind the wise words of your Chancellor Mrs. Merkel:
> "Man muß die Dinge vom Ende her denken". (One should think through matters
> from the end)


In the infinite that is impossible.


> But this is wrong in the case of the extremely non-well ordering according
> to absolute value, yet it is correct in the case of the well-ordering of I
> you seem to have discovered.- Zitierten Text ausblenden -
>

There are countably many finite intervals I_n, each one covering a
rational q_n. The cardinality of this set does not change by any
manipulation. Every particle of Cantor-dust is separated from every
other particle by at least one of such intervals. So we have in fact a
well-ordering of the Cantor dust. And in order to avoid this
contardiction we must believe that countably many finite intervals
become uncountable? Or that uncountably many particles of Cantor-dust
are "connected", i.e. not separated by intervals I_n? Of course, there
are people who can believe everything. But I prefer mathematics
without abiogenesis of intervals or dust particles.

Regards, WM

WM

unread,
May 23, 2012, 8:19:19 AM5/23/12
to
On 23 Mai, 00:52, Uirgil <uir...@uirgil.ur> wrote:
> In article
> <23bcdffd-d442-496c-89ee-6ef715157...@p27g2000vbl.googlegroups.com>,
>
>  WM <mueck...@rz.fh-augsburg.de> wrote:
> > On 22 Mai, 22:02, Uirgil <uir...@uirgil.ur> wrote:
> > > In article
> > > <f8b390e3-cded-44ca-8761-6e16d7d21...@v10g2000vbe.googlegroups.com>,
>
> > > It is,  for example, trivial that between any two non-terminating
> > > decimals (having infinitely many non-zero digits) there is a terminating
> > > decimal (having only finitely many non-zero digits), and that the former
> > > are uncountable and the latter countable.- Zitierten Text ausblenden -
>
> > No, that is not trivial but wrong. However it is widely believed to be
> > correct. Therefore I devised the example which should open your eyes.
>
> If we limit non-terminating to mean having infinitely many nonzero
> entries and order lexicographically, as usual, it is true, unless WM or
> someone can provide two such sequences with no terminating sequence
> between them.
>
> Well can you, WM?

You know that only countably many irrationals can be "provided". All
the other irrationals do not have any magnitude (otherwise this could
be defined). So they do not exist on the real axis. So you have no
contradiction with regards to my proof.
>
You need not get anxious. Cantor's uncountably many numbers cannot be
found on the real axis (and cannot be found anywhere else). It is
simply a set of real numbers that are neither real nor numbers but
angels of matheology. That has the advantage that they cannot be
contradicted. Neither by well-orderings nor by extreme unwell
orderings. (Now we have not only extreme sports but also extreme
unwell-orders.)


> Actually I had intended my above statement to be about binary sequences
> rather than decimals, and for binaries, it is trivially true.

For binary sequences it is trivially true that none of them defines a
number. For that sake you need a finite definition like "0.111 and
then only zeros" or the like.

Regards, WM

Tonico

unread,
May 23, 2012, 8:55:09 AM5/23/12
to
On May 22, 12:04 pm, WM <mueck...@rz.fh-augsburg.de> wrote:
> On 22 Mai, 10:53, William Elliot <ma...@panix.com> wrote:
>
> > On Tue, 22 May 2012, WM wrote:
> > > Belsa Zarkin asked in Mathematics.StackExchange:
>
> > > All rational numbers of the unit interval [0, 1] can be covered by
> > > countably many intervals, such that the n-th rational is covered by an
> > > interval I_n of measure 1/10^n. There remain countably many
> > > complementary intervals of measure 8/9 in total.
>
> > The complement of an interval usually isn't an interval.
>
> Interval is here but an abbreviation for Intervals and points. Even
> the empty interval is usually called an interval.


**** What?!?!?!! An interval (the emtpy one) is called....and
interval?!? Ot, these evil, mischevious and awful mathematicians...!

Of course, that "interval" is an abbreviation for "interval and
points" is as logical and sound as saying that "WM is abb. for Wise
Man from the Crankhood of Trollland"...Really. :) ****


>
>
> > >    Does each of the complementary intervals contain only one
> > > irrational number? Then there would be only countably many which could
> > > be covered by another set of countably many intervals of measure 1/9.
>
> > No, the complement of each interval contains uncountably many irrationals.
>
> That is just under investigation.


**** Hehe...oh, only for these moments I don't quit sci.math...you're
on fire these days, WM! ****



>
> > > Is there at least one of the complementary intervals containing
> > > more than one irrational number?
>
> > Yes.
>
> Impossible in mathematics. In mathematics we prove that two different
> irrationals have a rational between them. As every rational q_n is
> covered by an interval I_n, we can conclude that every pair x and x'
> of irrationals is separated by least one interval I_n. Hence x and x'
> cannot belong to the same complementary interval.


**** He...you were already said that the complement of an interval is
not usually an interval yet you, as usual, try to confund your readers
with the same name...and, as usual, you're dead wrong, and your
logical skills have reached depths of abbyss that won't be easy to
reach for anyone else. ****



>
> > > Then there are at least two irrational numbers without a rational
> > > between them. That is mathematically impossible.
>
> > Prove it or cram it.
>
> The proof has been given. I repeat: As every rational q_n is covered
> by an interval I_n, we can conclude that every pair x and x' of
> irrationals is separated by least one interval I_n. Hence x and x'
> cannot belong to the same complementary interval. This holds for every
> pair of irrationals.
>
> A very simple conclusion. What do you not understand?


**** Er....well, I for one don't understand how in the world you don't
feel deeply ashamed of making an ass of yourself over and ober and
over and...and over and ober, and how is it possible for one single
human being to be so utterly impermeable to knowledge, logic and
common mathematical sense.

Tonio

Pd. Chau!


>
> Regards, WM

Uirgil

unread,
May 24, 2012, 2:25:56 AM5/24/12
to
In article
<5f866fe0-a9ae-448a...@w10g2000vbc.googlegroups.com>,
WM <muec...@rz.fh-augsburg.de> wrote:

> On 23 Mai, 00:52, Uirgil <uir...@uirgil.ur> wrote:
> > In article
> > <23bcdffd-d442-496c-89ee-6ef715157...@p27g2000vbl.googlegroups.com>,
> >
> >  WM <mueck...@rz.fh-augsburg.de> wrote:
> > > On 22 Mai, 22:02, Uirgil <uir...@uirgil.ur> wrote:
> > > > In article
> > > > <f8b390e3-cded-44ca-8761-6e16d7d21...@v10g2000vbe.googlegroups.com>,
> >
> > > > It is,  for example, trivial that between any two non-terminating
> > > > decimals (having infinitely many non-zero digits) there is a terminating
> > > > decimal (having only finitely many non-zero digits), and that the former
> > > > are uncountable and the latter countable.- Zitierten Text ausblenden -
> >
> > > No, that is not trivial but wrong. However it is widely believed to be
> > > correct. Therefore I devised the example which should open your eyes.
> >
> > If we limit non-terminating to mean having infinitely many nonzero
> > entries and order lexicographically, as usual, it is true, unless WM or
> > someone can provide two such sequences with no terminating sequence
> > between them.
> >
> > Well can you, WM?
>
> You know that only countably many irrationals can be "provided".

Since I am only speaking about two irrationals, the restriction to
countably many of them is met!




>
> > Actually I had intended my above statement to be about binary sequences
> > rather than decimals, and for binaries, it is trivially true.
>
> For binary sequences it is trivially true that none of them defines a
> number. For that sake you need a finite definition like "0.111 and
> then only zeros" or the like.

Since at least countably many infinite binary sequences can be finitely
defined, there are infinitely many counterexamples to your claim that

Uirgil

unread,
May 24, 2012, 2:27:37 AM5/24/12
to
In article
<481d5d13-5cd9-4bba...@w13g2000vbc.googlegroups.com>,
WM <muec...@rz.fh-augsburg.de> wrote:

> On 23 Mai, 07:38, Ralf Bader <ba...@nefkom.net> wrote:
> > WM wrote:
> Why? Mind the wise words of your Chancellor Mrs. Merkel:
> > "Man muß die Dinge vom Ende her denken". (One should think through matters
> > from the end)
>
>
> In the infinite that is impossible.

Not at all. Many infinities have at least one end

Uirgil

unread,
May 24, 2012, 2:31:02 AM5/24/12
to
In article
<65dc68ad-7594-4268...@5g2000vbf.googlegroups.com>,
You did not make clear that your complimentation was with respect to the
union of all those rational intervals, rather than one compliment for
each interval.
Message has been deleted

WM

unread,
May 24, 2012, 2:53:06 AM5/24/12
to
On 24 Mai, 08:27, Uirgil <uir...@uirgil.ur> wrote:
> In article
> <481d5d13-5cd9-4bba-ace5-48fc5ef8b...@w13g2000vbc.googlegroups.com>,
>
>  WM <mueck...@rz.fh-augsburg.de> wrote:
> > On 23 Mai, 07:38, Ralf Bader <ba...@nefkom.net> wrote:
> > > WM wrote:
> > Why? Mind the wise words of your Chancellor Mrs. Merkel:
> > > "Man muß die Dinge vom Ende her denken". (One should think through matters
> > > from the end)
>
> > In the infinite that is impossible.
>
> Not at all. Many infinities have at least one end

And the sausage has two.
But one of them is the beginning. Bader obviously meant the second one
that is not present in endless sets. - except for matheologians.

Regards, WM

WM

unread,
May 24, 2012, 3:03:20 AM5/24/12
to
On 24 Mai, 08:31, Uirgil <uir...@uirgil.ur> wrote:
> In article
> <65dc68ad-7594-4268-be98-7095e3369...@5g2000vbf.googlegroups.com>,
> each interval.-

Now it should be clear that at most 1/9 of the unit interval (or even
of the complete real line) is covered by intervals I_n. That means at
least 8/9 (infinity) is not covered by intervals I_n. This remaining
part does not contain any rational numbers. Therefore either two
irrationals of that remaining part must be connected or disconnected
by one of the intervals I_n. The former is not possible in mathematics
(perhaps it is possible in matheology - but that is not of interest
for me). The second means that we have either only countably many
irrationals or we are forced to believe that there are more
irrationals than rationals and nevertheless every pair of irrationals
is separated by an I_n.

Of course under such circumstances there will never appear a
contradiction in ZFC. Why should 3 < 4 and 3 > 4 not hold
simultaneously, if only infinitely many such relations are concerned.
But, as I already said, ZFC and its high priests, matheologians and
mythologicans are irrelevant for my position.

(This series is not designed to convince them but to show to those who
are not yet infected by this intellectual disease how finished
infinity can lead astray.)

Regards, WM

WM

unread,
May 24, 2012, 3:47:57 AM5/24/12
to
On 24 Mai, 08:25, Uirgil <uir...@uirgil.ur> wrote:


> > > If we limit non-terminating to mean having infinitely many nonzero
> > > entries and order lexicographically, as usual, it is true, unless WM or
> > > someone can provide two such sequences with no terminating sequence
> > > between them.

> > > Well can you, WM?

> > You know that only countably many irrationals can be "provided".

> Since I am only speaking about two irrationals, the restriction to
> countably many of them is met!

Of course there is a rational between every two irrationals that can
be identified.
This shows, among other arguments, that there are only countably many
irrationals that can be identified.

> > > Actually I had intended my above statement to be about binary sequences
> > > rather than decimals, and for binaries, it is trivially true.

> > For binary sequences it is trivially true that none of them defines a
> > number. For that sake you need a finite definition like "0.111 and
> > then only zeros" or the like.

> Since at least countably many infinite binary sequences can be finitely
> defined,

Not only "at least" but also "at most".

> there are infinitely many counterexamples to your claim that
> none of them defines a number.-

Wrong. The infinite sequence does not define a number. The number
defines an infinite sequence in the sense that every digit d_n is
followed by another digit d_m. But there are never "all digits".

Your error is very simple. From A ==> B you conclude B ==> A.
A number defines an infinite string of digits.
But an infinite string of digits does not define a number (because it
is never finished - and definitions define things only when the
definitions have been completely spelled out.

Think over this simpler example: "Everybody who lives in New York
lives in USA." But you reverse this to "everybody who lives in USA
lives in New York". Is that correct?

Regards, WM

Alan Smaill

unread,
May 24, 2012, 10:15:01 AM5/24/12
to
WM <muec...@rz.fh-augsburg.de> writes:

> You know that only countably many irrationals can be "provided". All
> the other irrationals do not have any magnitude (otherwise this could
> be defined). So they do not exist on the real axis. So you have no
> contradiction with regards to my proof.

Is this meant to be some sort of logical argument?
From what assumptions?

By denying the need for axioms except when matheology comes into
play, you leave yourself with your own trail of dust and
non-mathematics.

There are plenty of proposals out there that do genuine maths, (eg
Weihrauch's text on computable analysis) and avoid some of the
counter-intuitive consquences of the usual position, where at least we
can see what the accepted principles are.


> Regards, WM
>

--
Alan Smaill

WM

unread,
May 24, 2012, 10:28:16 AM5/24/12
to
On 24 Mai, 16:15, Alan Smaill <sma...@SPAMinf.ed.ac.uk> wrote:
> WM <mueck...@rz.fh-augsburg.de> writes:
> > You know that only countably many irrationals can be "provided". All
> > the other irrationals do not have any magnitude (otherwise this could
> > be defined). So they do not exist on the real axis. So you have no
> > contradiction with regards to my proof.
>
> Is this meant to be some sort of logical argument?
> From what assumptions?

No assumptions. It is clear that only countably many numbers can be
distiguished. Numbers that cannot be distinguished (by >, =, <) cannot
be disproven to exist.

Have you meanwhile accepted that countably many finite intervals
cannot separate uncountably many separated points?

Or is this bold conclusion not covered by axioms and logic?

Regards, WM

Ralf Bader

unread,
May 24, 2012, 12:39:21 PM5/24/12
to
WM wrote:

> On 23 Mai, 07:38, Ralf Bader <ba...@nefkom.net> wrote:
>> WM wrote:
> Why? Mind the wise words of your Chancellor Mrs. Merkel:
>> "Man muß die Dinge vom Ende her denken". (One should think through
>> matters from the end)
>
>
> In the infinite that is impossible.

You need not prove every day that you are too stupid for these matters.

LudovicoVan

unread,
May 24, 2012, 1:07:28 PM5/24/12
to
"Ralf Bader" wrote in message news:jplns3$ea5$1...@news.m-online.net...
Quite stupid was your remark: your Chancellor's wise words happen to be the
perfect slogan for those who will never change anything at all.

-LV

Uirgil

unread,
May 24, 2012, 5:49:02 PM5/24/12
to
In article
<ab157e7b-f27e-4d06...@w13g2000vbc.googlegroups.com>,
WM <muec...@rz.fh-augsburg.de> wrote:

> On 24 Mai, 16:15, Alan Smaill <sma...@SPAMinf.ed.ac.uk> wrote:
> > WM <mueck...@rz.fh-augsburg.de> writes:
> > > You know that only countably many irrationals can be "provided". All
> > > the other irrationals do not have any magnitude (otherwise this could
> > > be defined). So they do not exist on the real axis. So you have no
> > > contradiction with regards to my proof.
> >
> > Is this meant to be some sort of logical argument?
> > From what assumptions?
>
> No assumptions. It is clear that only countably many numbers can be
> distiguished.

What "is clear" to WM is an assumption by WM.


> Numbers that cannot be distinguished (by >, =, <) cannot
> be disproven to exist.
>
> Have you meanwhile accepted that countably many finite intervals
> cannot separate uncountably many separated points?

A claim that is sufficiently ambiguous as to be meaningless.

Uirgil

unread,
May 24, 2012, 5:52:21 PM5/24/12
to
In article
<604f9d11-a8e2-4ae0...@eh4g2000vbb.googlegroups.com>,
Wm now claims mind-reading among his talents!

Uirgil

unread,
May 24, 2012, 5:59:39 PM5/24/12
to
In article
<15fa1f67-3401-46a7...@v24g2000vbx.googlegroups.com>,
WM <muec...@rz.fh-augsburg.de> wrote:

> On 24 Mai, 08:25, Uirgil <uir...@uirgil.ur> wrote:
>
>
> > > > If we limit non-terminating to mean having infinitely many nonzero
> > > > entries and order lexicographically, as usual, it is true, unless WM or
> > > > someone can provide two such sequences with no terminating sequence
> > > > between them.
>
> > > > Well can you, WM?
>
> > > You know that only countably many irrationals can be "provided".
>
> > Since I am only speaking about two irrationals, the restriction to
> > countably many of them is met!
>
> Of course there is a rational between every two irrationals that can
> be identified.
> This shows, among other arguments, that there are only countably many
> irrationals that can be identified.

No it does not. What you are claiming would require that one rational
can only be between a countable set of smaller irrationals and a
cuntable set of larger irrationals, and that does not follow merely from
the density of the rationals .
>
> > > > Actually I had intended my above statement to be about binary sequences
> > > > rather than decimals, and for binaries, it is trivially true.
>
> > > For binary sequences it is trivially true that none of them defines a
> > > number. For that sake you need a finite definition like "0.111 and
> > > then only zeros" or the like.
>
> > Since at least countably many infinite binary sequences can be finitely
> > defined,
>
> Not only "at least" but also "at most".

Claimed but not proven.
>
> > there are infinitely many counterexamples to your claim that
> > none of them defines a number.-
>
> Wrong. The infinite sequence does not define a number. The number
> defines an infinite sequence in the sense that every digit d_n is
> followed by another digit d_m. But there are never "all digits".
>
> Your error is very simple. From A ==> B you conclude B ==> A.
> A number defines an infinite string of digits.
> But an infinite string of digits does not define a number (because it
> is never finished - and definitions define things only when the
> definitions have been completely spelled out.

Since one can finitely define certain infinite sequences of digits,
those infinite sequences in turn define numbers.,

Uirgil

unread,
May 24, 2012, 6:04:32 PM5/24/12
to
In article
<4ab62dd8-e558-4411...@5g2000vbf.googlegroups.com>,
WM <muec...@rz.fh-augsburg.de> wrote:

> On 24 Mai, 08:25, Uirgil <uir...@uirgil.ur> wrote:
> > In article
> > <5f866fe0-a9ae-448a-852e-404fbb3d5...@w10g2000vbc.googlegroups.com>,
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >  WM <mueck...@rz.fh-augsburg.de> wrote:
> > > On 23 Mai, 00:52, Uirgil <uir...@uirgil.ur> wrote:

.....

> >
> >
> >
> > > > Actually I had intended my above statement to be about binary sequences
> > > > rather than decimals, and for binaries, it is trivially true.
> >
> > > For binary sequences it is trivially true that none of them defines a
> > > number. For that sake you need a finite definition like "0.111 and
> > > then only zeros" or the like.

Then you concede that the infinite binary sequence that you just defined
in tern defines a number?

> > there are infinitely many counterexamples to your claim that
> > none of them defines a number.-
>
> Wrong. The infinite sequence does not define a number. The number
> defines an infinite sequence in the sence that any digit d_n is
> followed by another digit d_m. But there are never "all digits".

Maybe not in WM's world, but his world is much to small to hold all of
mathematics.

WM

unread,
May 25, 2012, 8:08:38 AM5/25/12
to
On 24 Mai, 23:59, Uirgil <uir...@uirgil.ur> wrote:
>
> > > Since at least countably many infinite binary sequences can be finitely
> > > defined,
>
> > Not only "at least" but also "at most".
>
> Claimed but not proven.

Proven - but not comprehensible in matheology.
>
> > Your error is very simple. From A ==> B you conclude B ==> A.
> > A number defines an infinite string of digits.
> > But an infinite string of digits does not define a number (because it
> > is never finished - and definitions define things only when the
> > definitions have been completely spelled out.
>
> Since one can finitely define certain infinite sequences of digits,
> those infinite sequences in turn define numbers

No. The definition has to be finite. An infinite sequence does never
define anything, because a definition is a message, at least to
oneself, and a message does not convey information before the end
signal has received.

Regards, WM

Uirgil

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May 25, 2012, 4:25:47 PM5/25/12
to
In article
<88ce96c3-63e4-47e8...@z19g2000vbe.googlegroups.com>,
WM <muec...@rz.fh-augsburg.de> wrote:

> On 24 Mai, 23:59, Uirgil <uir...@uirgil.ur> wrote:
> >
> > > > Since at least countably many infinite binary sequences can be finitely
> > > > defined,
> >
> > > Not only "at least" but also "at most".
> >
> > Claimed but not proven.
>
> Proven - but not comprehensible in math

What WM claims to have proven and what WM has actually proven are
nowhere nearly the same.
> >
> > > Your error is very simple. From A ==> B you conclude B ==> A.
> > > A number defines an infinite string of digits.
> > > But an infinite string of digits does not define a number (because it
> > > is never finished - and definitions define things only when the
> > > definitions have been completely spelled out.
> >
> > Since one can finitely define certain infinite sequences of digits,
> > those infinite sequences in turn define numbers
>
> No.

Yes!
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