Axiomatic

Development of
the Real Number
System
 Peanos Axioms
P1. 1 is an element of the set X. !
P2. For each element there is a unique !
called the successor of n. !
P3. For each !
P4. If are distinct, then !
P5. Let and If implies!
then !
 Construction of
From P1, !
From P2, !
From P3, Let !

Again, from P2, !

From P3, !
From P4, since 1 and 2 are distinct,!
Let !
 Construction of
Repeating this process, we get the set !

We call this the set of natural numbers.!

 Principle of
Mathematical Induction
Let be a statement involving a natural number
n. Suppose that!
1. is true. (i.e. S is true when n = 1)!
2. If is true, then is true. !
Then is true for all natural numbers n. !
 Using PMI
To prove a statement using PMI. !
1. Show that the statement is true when n = 1. !
2. Assume that the statement holds for an arbitrary
natural number k. (Hypothesis of Induction)!
3. Deduce that the statement holds also for k+1. !
4. Conclude that the statement holds for all natural
numbers (by PMI). !
 Example
Show that holds
for all natural numbers n.!
Proof: (Using PMI)!
Let n = 1.!
The left hand side is simply 1, while the right hand
side is which is equal to 1. !
Hence, the statement holds when n = 1. !
Assume that the statement holds for an arbitrary
natural number k, i.e.!
HOI!
Show that the statement also holds for k + 1, i.e.!
Start with the left hand side. !

from HOI!
Therefore, by PMI, !

holds for all natural numbers n. !

 Example
Show that for all natural numbers n, !

Proof: (Using PMI)!

If n = 1, the left hand is simply 1, while the right
hand side becomes , which is equal to 1.!
Hence, the statement holds when n = 1.!
Assume that for an arbitrary natural number k, !
HOI!
Show that the statement holds for k + 1, i.e. !
Start with the left hand side, !

from HOI!

Therefore, for all natural numbers n!

 Example
Show that is divisible by 4 for all natural
numbers n.!
Proof: (Using PMI)!
Let n = 1. !
Then , which is divisible by 4. !
Assume that for some arbitrary natural number k, !
is divisible by 4. ! HOI!
Show that is also divisible by 4. !

From HOI, is divisible by 4. !

Clearly, is also divisible by 4. !
Hence, their sum is divisible by 4. !
Therefore, by PMI, is divisible by 4 for all
natural numbers n. !
 Exercises
Use PMI to show that the following is true for all
natural numbers. !
1. !
2. !
3. is even (or divisible by 2)!
4. is divisible by 6!
5. !