Rational numbers and Lowest terms proof:

[silvermane]

I've been recently reading a book on abstract algebra and number theory, and I stumbled upon a problem that at first glance looked obvious, but I can't seem to figure out how to formally write the proof.

1.)So, let's say we have 4 integers, r,s,t,u, all greater than or equal to 1. Suppose [tex]\frac{r}{s}[/tex] = [tex]\frac{t}{u}[/tex] where both fractions are in lowest terms. Prove that r=t and s=u.

For this problem, I was thinking of solving it via contradiction but I can't seem to get there. I was thinking of using the fact that the gcd(r,s) = 1, and if the gcd(t,u)=1 that there would be a contradiction if they were not equal, but I feel like that's not enough. Any tips or hints would be greatly appreciated.
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2.) Now, suppose we have r and s again (lowest terms), and we look at ^{[tex]\frac{r}{s}[/tex]}. Prove that an integer N cannot equal ^{[tex]\frac{r}{s}[/tex]} unless s = 1.

I was thinking of saying that we can write r as a product of primes:

r=[tex]p_{1}[/tex]*[tex]p_{2}[/tex]*...*[tex]p_{k}[/tex]​

and then writing s as a product of primes, but primes that are all different from r's:

s=[tex]q_{1}[/tex]*[tex]q_{2}[/tex]*...*[tex]q_{k}[/tex]​

Obviously through some algebraic manipulation, we see that ^{[tex]\frac{r}{s}[/tex]} is also in lowest terms, and thus can't be an integer unless s=1, but I feel like I need more detail in this part of my proof.
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Once again, thank you all in advance for your help and advice :)

 

[Raskolnikov]

You're on the right track.

Let [tex] r = p_1 * p_2 * ... * p_a. [/tex]

Let [tex] s = q_1 * q_2 * ... * q_b. [/tex]

Let [tex] t = p'_1 * p'_2 * ... * p'_c. [/tex]

Let [tex] u = q'_1 * q'_2 * ... * q'_d. [/tex]

Cross multiply to get

[tex] (p_1 * p_2 * ... * p_k)(q'_1 * q'_2 * ... * q'_k) = (p'_1 * p'_2 * ... * p'_k)(q_1 * q_2 * ... * q_k) .[/tex]

We know that [tex] p_i \neq q_k [/tex] and [tex] p'_i \neq q'_k \ [/tex] for all i and k.

Can you figure out the rest?

 

[silvermane]

You're on the right track.

Let [tex] r = p_1 * p_2 * ... * p_a. [/tex]

Let [tex] s = q_1 * q_2 * ... * q_b. [/tex]

Let [tex] t = p'_1 * p'_2 * ... * p'_c. [/tex]

Let [tex] u = q'_1 * q'_2 * ... * q'_d. [/tex]

Cross multiply to get

[tex] (p_1 * p_2 * ... * p_k)(q'_1 * q'_2 * ... * q'_k) = (p'_1 * p'_2 * ... * p'_k)(q_1 * q_2 * ... * q_k) .[/tex]

We know that [tex] p_i \neq q_k [/tex] and [tex] p'_i \neq q'_k \ [/tex] for all i and k.

Can you figure out the rest?

Yes, very much so! You've been more than helpful. I thought of doing it that way, but must have been distracted somehow. Thank you for all your help! :)

 

[╔(σ_σ)╝]

For the second one is it not enough to prove by contradiction?

Like suppose [tex]\frac{r}{s}=N[/tex] then s divides r which leads to a contradiction ,unless s=1, given our choice of s and r namely gcd(r,s)=1.

Is this what you are doing ?

 

[silvermane]

For the second one is it not enough to prove by contradiction?

Like suppose [tex]\frac{r}{s}=N[/tex] then s divides r which leads to a contradiction ,unless s=1, given our choice of s and r namely gcd(r,s)=1.

Is this what you are doing ?

Yes that's exactly what I've done. I just needed to know that I had to break them all into a product of irreducible primes to better understand what was going on. Thank you for your help :)