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I know that :

The natural numbers are the elements of a set $\mathbb{N}$, with a distinguished element $1$ (one) and map $S : \mathbb{N} → \mathbb{N},$ such that :

N1: $S$ is injective, i.e. if $m, n ∈ \mathbb{N}$ and $m \neq n$, then $S(m) \neq S(n)$;

(N2): $1\notin S(\mathbb{N})$;

(N3): if $M ⊆ \mathbb{N}$, $1 ∈ M$ and $S(M) ⊆ M$, then $M = \mathbb{N}$.

But Now :

How defined $ 2,3,4,...$?

And:

How defined $ \mathbb{Z}=\{...,-3,-2,-1,0,1,2,3,...\}$?

How defined Rational Numbers?

How defined Real Numbers?

How defined Irrational number?

M. Winter
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Almot1960
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  • Do you mean real numbers? – M. Winter May 31 '17 at 14:43
  • Note: "injective" does not mean what you say (you are just writing out a standard property of functions). Injective means, in this case, that $S(m)=S(n)\implies m=n$. – lulu May 31 '17 at 14:49
  • There are lots of textbooks about that, and it will be hard to cram their contents into an answer. For a start: what about $2=S(1), 3=S(2), 4=S(3),\ldots$? –  May 31 '17 at 14:52
  • @lulu. it's true . I edited – Almot1960 May 31 '17 at 14:54

1 Answers1

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There is probably no short answer. So let me step over it:


Natural numbers $\Bbb N$

I personally prefer defining the natural numbers starting with $0$. Your axioms for the natural numbers are essentially the same when doing so, but the further will get easier. The other natural numbers besides $0$ are usually defines via the repeated use of $S$ on $0$, like this:

$$1:=S(0),\quad 2:=S(S(0)),\quad 3:=S(S(S(0))),\quad ...$$

The Integers $\Bbb Z$

For the integers, you consider pairs $(a,b)$ of natural numbers $a,b\in \Bbb N$. You define the equivalence relation $(a,b)\sim(a',b')$ for $a+b'=b+a'$. An equivalence class $[(a,b)]$ of such pairs is an integer. For example

$$n:=[(n,0)],\qquad -n:=[(0,n)],\qquad\text{for }n\in\Bbb N.$$

The Rational numbers $\Bbb Q$

The rationals are also defined via an equivalence class on pairs. This time you take the pair $(a,b),a\in\Bbb Z,b\in\Bbb N\setminus\{0\}$ and the relation $(a,b)\sim(a',b')$ iff $ab'=a'b$. You than have

$$\frac ab:=[(a,b)].$$

The Real numbers $\Bbb R$

The reals can be defined via equivalence classes of Cauchy sequences of rational numbers. Two such sequences $x_n$ and $y_n$ are equivalent iff $x_n-y_n\to 0$ for $n\to\infty$. A real number is then an equivalence class $[x_n]$. Any rational number $q$ corresponds to the constant sequence $q,q,q,q,...$. Another example: an irrational number cannot be represented as a constant sequence of rationals, so you have to choose a convergent one like this

$$\pi:=[3,\;3.1,\;3.14,\;3.141,\;3.1415,\;...].$$


And we have not even talked about how to define the usual operations $+,-,\times,\div$ on these sets. This is the real hard work.

But for more details you should really consider reading a book on the topic because there is never enough space in an Math.SE answer box to explain it here in all details.

M. Winter
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  • So . you say : The natural numbers are the elements of a set $\mathbb{N}$, with a distinguished element $0$ with : $N1,N2,N3$ .it's true ? – Almot1960 May 31 '17 at 15:03
  • @Almot1960 Somehow, Yes. The naturals are the "smallest" model of the Peano axioms (similar to the axioms you gave above). Consider this and this question of mine for further reading. – M. Winter May 31 '17 at 15:05