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Difference between revisions of "Dedekind cut"

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''cut''
 
''cut''
  
A subdivision of the set of real (or only of the rational) numbers (of) <img align="absmiddle" border="0" src="https://www.encyclopediaofmath.org/legacyimages/d/d030/d030530/d0305301.png" /> into two non-empty sets <img align="absmiddle" border="0" src="https://www.encyclopediaofmath.org/legacyimages/d/d030/d030530/d0305302.png" /> and <img align="absmiddle" border="0" src="https://www.encyclopediaofmath.org/legacyimages/d/d030/d030530/d0305303.png" /> whose union is <img align="absmiddle" border="0" src="https://www.encyclopediaofmath.org/legacyimages/d/d030/d030530/d0305304.png" />, such that <img align="absmiddle" border="0" src="https://www.encyclopediaofmath.org/legacyimages/d/d030/d030530/d0305305.png" /> for every <img align="absmiddle" border="0" src="https://www.encyclopediaofmath.org/legacyimages/d/d030/d030530/d0305306.png" /> and <img align="absmiddle" border="0" src="https://www.encyclopediaofmath.org/legacyimages/d/d030/d030530/d0305307.png" />. A Dedekind cut is denoted by the symbol <img align="absmiddle" border="0" src="https://www.encyclopediaofmath.org/legacyimages/d/d030/d030530/d0305308.png" />. The set <img align="absmiddle" border="0" src="https://www.encyclopediaofmath.org/legacyimages/d/d030/d030530/d0305309.png" /> is called the lower class, while the set <img align="absmiddle" border="0" src="https://www.encyclopediaofmath.org/legacyimages/d/d030/d030530/d03053010.png" /> is called the upper class of <img align="absmiddle" border="0" src="https://www.encyclopediaofmath.org/legacyimages/d/d030/d030530/d03053011.png" />. Dedekind cuts of the set of rational numbers are used in the construction of the theory of real numbers (cf. [[Real number|Real number]]). The concept of continuity of the real axis can be formulated in terms of Dedekind cuts of real numbers.
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A subdivision of the set of real (or only of the rational) numbers (of) $\mathbf R$ into two non-empty sets $A$ and $B$ whose union is $\mathbf R$, such that $a<b$ for every $a\in A$ and $b\in B$. A Dedekind cut is denoted by the symbol $A|B$. The set $A$ is called the lower class, while the set $B$ is called the upper class of $A|B$. Dedekind cuts of the set of rational numbers are used in the construction of the theory of real numbers (cf. [[Real number|Real number]]). The concept of continuity of the real axis can be formulated in terms of Dedekind cuts of real numbers.
  
  
  
 
====Comments====
 
====Comments====
For the construction of <img align="absmiddle" border="0" src="https://www.encyclopediaofmath.org/legacyimages/d/d030/d030530/d03053012.png" /> from <img align="absmiddle" border="0" src="https://www.encyclopediaofmath.org/legacyimages/d/d030/d030530/d03053013.png" /> using cuts see [[#References|[a1]]].
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For the construction of $\mathbf R$ from $\mathbf Q$ using cuts see [[#References|[a1]]].
  
 
====References====
 
====References====
 
<table><TR><TD valign="top">[a1]</TD> <TD valign="top">  W. Rudin,  "Principles of mathematical analysis" , McGraw-Hill  (1953)</TD></TR></table>
 
<table><TR><TD valign="top">[a1]</TD> <TD valign="top">  W. Rudin,  "Principles of mathematical analysis" , McGraw-Hill  (1953)</TD></TR></table>

Revision as of 14:10, 17 March 2014

cut

A subdivision of the set of real (or only of the rational) numbers (of) $\mathbf R$ into two non-empty sets $A$ and $B$ whose union is $\mathbf R$, such that $a<b$ for every $a\in A$ and $b\in B$. A Dedekind cut is denoted by the symbol $A|B$. The set $A$ is called the lower class, while the set $B$ is called the upper class of $A|B$. Dedekind cuts of the set of rational numbers are used in the construction of the theory of real numbers (cf. Real number). The concept of continuity of the real axis can be formulated in terms of Dedekind cuts of real numbers.


Comments

For the construction of $\mathbf R$ from $\mathbf Q$ using cuts see [a1].

References

[a1] W. Rudin, "Principles of mathematical analysis" , McGraw-Hill (1953)
How to Cite This Entry:
Dedekind cut. Encyclopedia of Mathematics. URL: http://encyclopediaofmath.org/index.php?title=Dedekind_cut&oldid=13114
This article was adapted from an original article by L.D. Kudryavtsev (originator), which appeared in Encyclopedia of Mathematics - ISBN 1402006098. See original article