A Silly Question

Algebra Level 2

Are there any boring integers?

No Yes

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1 solution

Jake Lai
Jan 9, 2015

(This is sort of an fun intro to proof by contradiction.)

Assume the set of boring integers B \mathbf{B} exists.

Denote { n N : n B } \lbrace |n| \in \mathbb{N}: n \in \mathbf{B} \rbrace (the set of all n |n| such that n B n \in \mathbf{B} ) by B \mathbf{B}^{*} and let min B = b \min \mathbf{B}^{*} = b : this property of b b being a minimum of B \mathbf{B}^{*} is certainly non-boring, and so b B b \in \mathbf{B} is false. However, this is a contradiction, and so it follows that the set of boring integers B \mathbf{B} does not exist.

About 52% of people answered that there are boring integers... I am disappointed.

tytan le nguyen - 6 years, 5 months ago

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I am boring. You are boring. We're all boring.

Self kill genocide is coming.

Adam Zaim - 6 years, 4 months ago

In simpler words, if the set of boring integers exists, the smallest number of this set is interesting, which makes it not belong to this set.

However, in order for this to be true, boring has to be defined.

Julian Poon - 6 years, 5 months ago

There can be a smaller B, because boring integer might not be positive. The logic works only when there is a lower bound to the boring integers.

Joel Tan - 6 years, 5 months ago

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Either ways, given that there is a set that that contains boring numbers, this set can already be considered interesting. Numberception

Julian Poon - 6 years, 5 months ago

I stated that the absolute value of n B n \in \mathbf{B} is to be taken.

Jake Lai - 6 years, 4 months ago

You should do induction on the positive integers, and then on the negative integers (take absolute value). This deals with your issue of "There is no smallest integer".

Calvin Lin Staff - 6 years, 5 months ago

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