Proof that integers (except $1$ and $-1$) don't have an integer multiplicative inverse

The name of the pictureThe name of the pictureThe name of the pictureClash Royale CLAN TAG#URR8PPP











up vote
2
down vote

favorite
1












This is a very elementary question, so please forgive me, but precisely because of this reason I haven't found an answer elsewhere:



Is the statement "$frac1ainmathbbZquad textif and only if quad (a=1)lor(a=-1);$" an axiom? Or can it be proven from other, antecedent axioms?



(If we had to prove that every integer $a$ different from $pm 1$ doesn't have a multiplicative inverse, we would have to "test" that "$forall binmathbbZ: abne1$")










share|cite|improve this question



























    up vote
    2
    down vote

    favorite
    1












    This is a very elementary question, so please forgive me, but precisely because of this reason I haven't found an answer elsewhere:



    Is the statement "$frac1ainmathbbZquad textif and only if quad (a=1)lor(a=-1);$" an axiom? Or can it be proven from other, antecedent axioms?



    (If we had to prove that every integer $a$ different from $pm 1$ doesn't have a multiplicative inverse, we would have to "test" that "$forall binmathbbZ: abne1$")










    share|cite|improve this question

























      up vote
      2
      down vote

      favorite
      1









      up vote
      2
      down vote

      favorite
      1






      1





      This is a very elementary question, so please forgive me, but precisely because of this reason I haven't found an answer elsewhere:



      Is the statement "$frac1ainmathbbZquad textif and only if quad (a=1)lor(a=-1);$" an axiom? Or can it be proven from other, antecedent axioms?



      (If we had to prove that every integer $a$ different from $pm 1$ doesn't have a multiplicative inverse, we would have to "test" that "$forall binmathbbZ: abne1$")










      share|cite|improve this question















      This is a very elementary question, so please forgive me, but precisely because of this reason I haven't found an answer elsewhere:



      Is the statement "$frac1ainmathbbZquad textif and only if quad (a=1)lor(a=-1);$" an axiom? Or can it be proven from other, antecedent axioms?



      (If we had to prove that every integer $a$ different from $pm 1$ doesn't have a multiplicative inverse, we would have to "test" that "$forall binmathbbZ: abne1$")







      elementary-number-theory discrete-mathematics predicate-logic axioms






      share|cite|improve this question















      share|cite|improve this question













      share|cite|improve this question




      share|cite|improve this question








      edited 4 secs ago









      user21820

      36.3k440141




      36.3k440141










      asked 32 mins ago









      Anakhand

      658




      658




















          6 Answers
          6






          active

          oldest

          votes

















          up vote
          3
          down vote













          This is readily proved once you properly define $Bbb Z$ and its operations. We may want to start from $Bbb N$ with its successor map $S$ and the Peano axioms, then define addition $Bbb Ntimes Bbb NtoBbb N$ recursively as $x+0:=x$, $x+Sy:=S(x+y)$, and then define multiplication recursively as $xcdot 0=0$, $xcdot Sy:=xcdot y+y$.



          Now we see that $(a,b)sim (c,d):iff a+d=b+c$ is an equivalence relation on $Bbb N^2$, define $Bbb Z:=Bbb N^2/sim$ as the set of equivalence classes, define $overline(a,b)+overline(c,d):=overline(a+c,b+d)$ and define $overline(a,b)cdot overline(c,d):=overline(acdot c+bcdot d, acdot d+bcdot c)$ (which involves showing that this is well-defined). The claim now boils down to $overline(a,b)cdotoverline(c,d)=overline(1,0)implies a=Sblor b=Sa$. It does take a bit of work, but by going back the way we came can ultimately be reduced to a statement about $Bbb N$ that is provable by induction.






          share|cite|improve this answer



























            up vote
            2
            down vote













            Well, let's assume $ab=1$ when $a,binmathbbZ$. Of course it means that both $a$ and $b$ are non zero. Because they are integers we can conclude that their absolute values are at least $1$. And then $1=|ab|=|a||b|geq |a|$, and in the same way $1geq |b|$. So both $a$ and $b$ must belong to the set $-1,1$.






            share|cite|improve this answer



























              up vote
              2
              down vote













              It follows from the well-ordering principle for the natural numbers.



              Suppose $ab=1$ for $a,b in BbbN$ with $b>1$. Then $c=a(b-1)$ is a natural number with $0<c<1$. So $c,c^2,c^3,dots$ is a set of natural numbers which has no least element, contradicting the well-ordering principle.



              Now, if $ab=1$ for $a,b in BbbZ$, then either $a,b$ or $-a,-b$ will fit into the proof in the above paragraph...






              share|cite|improve this answer





























                up vote
                1
                down vote













                First of all, of course integers, have multiplicative inverses and of course that statement is obviously false as $a = frac 12, frac 13, frac 14,$ etc. bear out.



                What you mean to say is $1$ and $-1$ are the only two integers whose multiplicative inverses are also integers.



                I.e. If $a, frac 1a in mathbb Z$ then $a = 1$ or $a = -1$.



                That is not an axiom.



                If $a in mathbb Z$ then you have five possibilities. $a > 1$ or $a = 1$ or $a = 0$ or $a = -1$ or $a < 1$.



                Case 1: $a > 1$. Then if $frac 1a < 0$ we would have $a*frac 1a < a*0$ and $1 < 0$ which is a contradiction. We can't have $frac 1a = 0$ because $0$ has no multiplicative inverses so $frac 1a > 0$. If $frac 1a ge 1$ then $a*frac 1a ge a*1 = a$ or $1 ge a$ which is a contradiction so $0< frac 1a < 1$ and not an integer.



                Case 2: $a = 1$. then $frac 1a = 1$.



                Case 3: $a = 0$ then $frac 1a$ is undefined.



                Case 4: $a = -1$ then $frac 1a = -1$.



                Case 5: $a < -1$. that is so similar to case 1: I'll leave it to you.






                share|cite|improve this answer
















                • 1




                  I don't agree with your first two paragraphs; at least not on a minimally generous reading of the question. Whether a number has a multiplicative inverse depends on which structure you're considering. In the ring of integers, non-units don't have multiplicative inverses. To say that "their inverses aren't integers" doesn't make sense within the structure; it only makes sense within the rationals. Though the question doesn't explicitly say "within the integers", it only talks about integers, and it stands to reason that the intended context is the ring of integers.
                  – joriki
                  8 mins ago

















                up vote
                0
                down vote













                As we are interested in 1/a which is just a symbol being adopted to denote the inverse of an element in Z. Further identity element under multiplication in Z is 1. So if any member say ''a' of Z is invertible then there must be a member in Z denoted as 1/a or a^(-1) such that
                a. a^(-1) =1.
                Now it's a simple algebra that in Z 1/a is an integer iff a= 1 or -1.
                Hope it will help you.






                share|cite|improve this answer




















                • Please see this tutorial and reference on how to typeset math on this site.
                  – joriki
                  1 min ago


















                up vote
                0
                down vote













                It depends upon the way that $mathbb Z$ and $times$ are defined, of course, but I doubt that anyone ever created axioms for the integers such that what you stated is an axiom.



                Suppos, for instance, that you define:




                • $mathbb Z$ is the set of equivalence classes of $mathbbN^2$ with respect to the equivalence relation$$(a,b)sim(c,d)iff a+d=b+c;$$


                • $bigl[(a,b)bigr]timesbigl[(c,d)bigr]=bigl[(ac+bd,ad+bc)bigr]$.

                Then your statement becomes a proposition, which can in fact be proved.






                share|cite|improve this answer




















                  Your Answer




                  StackExchange.ifUsing("editor", function ()
                  return StackExchange.using("mathjaxEditing", function ()
                  StackExchange.MarkdownEditor.creationCallbacks.add(function (editor, postfix)
                  StackExchange.mathjaxEditing.prepareWmdForMathJax(editor, postfix, [["$", "$"], ["\\(","\\)"]]);
                  );
                  );
                  , "mathjax-editing");

                  StackExchange.ready(function()
                  var channelOptions =
                  tags: "".split(" "),
                  id: "69"
                  ;
                  initTagRenderer("".split(" "), "".split(" "), channelOptions);

                  StackExchange.using("externalEditor", function()
                  // Have to fire editor after snippets, if snippets enabled
                  if (StackExchange.settings.snippets.snippetsEnabled)
                  StackExchange.using("snippets", function()
                  createEditor();
                  );

                  else
                  createEditor();

                  );

                  function createEditor()
                  StackExchange.prepareEditor(
                  heartbeatType: 'answer',
                  convertImagesToLinks: true,
                  noModals: false,
                  showLowRepImageUploadWarning: true,
                  reputationToPostImages: 10,
                  bindNavPrevention: true,
                  postfix: "",
                  noCode: true, onDemand: true,
                  discardSelector: ".discard-answer"
                  ,immediatelyShowMarkdownHelp:true
                  );



                  );













                   

                  draft saved


                  draft discarded


















                  StackExchange.ready(
                  function ()
                  StackExchange.openid.initPostLogin('.new-post-login', 'https%3a%2f%2fmath.stackexchange.com%2fquestions%2f2927792%2fproof-that-integers-except-1-and-1-dont-have-an-integer-multiplicative-i%23new-answer', 'question_page');

                  );

                  Post as a guest






























                  6 Answers
                  6






                  active

                  oldest

                  votes








                  6 Answers
                  6






                  active

                  oldest

                  votes









                  active

                  oldest

                  votes






                  active

                  oldest

                  votes








                  up vote
                  3
                  down vote













                  This is readily proved once you properly define $Bbb Z$ and its operations. We may want to start from $Bbb N$ with its successor map $S$ and the Peano axioms, then define addition $Bbb Ntimes Bbb NtoBbb N$ recursively as $x+0:=x$, $x+Sy:=S(x+y)$, and then define multiplication recursively as $xcdot 0=0$, $xcdot Sy:=xcdot y+y$.



                  Now we see that $(a,b)sim (c,d):iff a+d=b+c$ is an equivalence relation on $Bbb N^2$, define $Bbb Z:=Bbb N^2/sim$ as the set of equivalence classes, define $overline(a,b)+overline(c,d):=overline(a+c,b+d)$ and define $overline(a,b)cdot overline(c,d):=overline(acdot c+bcdot d, acdot d+bcdot c)$ (which involves showing that this is well-defined). The claim now boils down to $overline(a,b)cdotoverline(c,d)=overline(1,0)implies a=Sblor b=Sa$. It does take a bit of work, but by going back the way we came can ultimately be reduced to a statement about $Bbb N$ that is provable by induction.






                  share|cite|improve this answer
























                    up vote
                    3
                    down vote













                    This is readily proved once you properly define $Bbb Z$ and its operations. We may want to start from $Bbb N$ with its successor map $S$ and the Peano axioms, then define addition $Bbb Ntimes Bbb NtoBbb N$ recursively as $x+0:=x$, $x+Sy:=S(x+y)$, and then define multiplication recursively as $xcdot 0=0$, $xcdot Sy:=xcdot y+y$.



                    Now we see that $(a,b)sim (c,d):iff a+d=b+c$ is an equivalence relation on $Bbb N^2$, define $Bbb Z:=Bbb N^2/sim$ as the set of equivalence classes, define $overline(a,b)+overline(c,d):=overline(a+c,b+d)$ and define $overline(a,b)cdot overline(c,d):=overline(acdot c+bcdot d, acdot d+bcdot c)$ (which involves showing that this is well-defined). The claim now boils down to $overline(a,b)cdotoverline(c,d)=overline(1,0)implies a=Sblor b=Sa$. It does take a bit of work, but by going back the way we came can ultimately be reduced to a statement about $Bbb N$ that is provable by induction.






                    share|cite|improve this answer






















                      up vote
                      3
                      down vote










                      up vote
                      3
                      down vote









                      This is readily proved once you properly define $Bbb Z$ and its operations. We may want to start from $Bbb N$ with its successor map $S$ and the Peano axioms, then define addition $Bbb Ntimes Bbb NtoBbb N$ recursively as $x+0:=x$, $x+Sy:=S(x+y)$, and then define multiplication recursively as $xcdot 0=0$, $xcdot Sy:=xcdot y+y$.



                      Now we see that $(a,b)sim (c,d):iff a+d=b+c$ is an equivalence relation on $Bbb N^2$, define $Bbb Z:=Bbb N^2/sim$ as the set of equivalence classes, define $overline(a,b)+overline(c,d):=overline(a+c,b+d)$ and define $overline(a,b)cdot overline(c,d):=overline(acdot c+bcdot d, acdot d+bcdot c)$ (which involves showing that this is well-defined). The claim now boils down to $overline(a,b)cdotoverline(c,d)=overline(1,0)implies a=Sblor b=Sa$. It does take a bit of work, but by going back the way we came can ultimately be reduced to a statement about $Bbb N$ that is provable by induction.






                      share|cite|improve this answer












                      This is readily proved once you properly define $Bbb Z$ and its operations. We may want to start from $Bbb N$ with its successor map $S$ and the Peano axioms, then define addition $Bbb Ntimes Bbb NtoBbb N$ recursively as $x+0:=x$, $x+Sy:=S(x+y)$, and then define multiplication recursively as $xcdot 0=0$, $xcdot Sy:=xcdot y+y$.



                      Now we see that $(a,b)sim (c,d):iff a+d=b+c$ is an equivalence relation on $Bbb N^2$, define $Bbb Z:=Bbb N^2/sim$ as the set of equivalence classes, define $overline(a,b)+overline(c,d):=overline(a+c,b+d)$ and define $overline(a,b)cdot overline(c,d):=overline(acdot c+bcdot d, acdot d+bcdot c)$ (which involves showing that this is well-defined). The claim now boils down to $overline(a,b)cdotoverline(c,d)=overline(1,0)implies a=Sblor b=Sa$. It does take a bit of work, but by going back the way we came can ultimately be reduced to a statement about $Bbb N$ that is provable by induction.







                      share|cite|improve this answer












                      share|cite|improve this answer



                      share|cite|improve this answer










                      answered 15 mins ago









                      Hagen von Eitzen

                      268k21260484




                      268k21260484




















                          up vote
                          2
                          down vote













                          Well, let's assume $ab=1$ when $a,binmathbbZ$. Of course it means that both $a$ and $b$ are non zero. Because they are integers we can conclude that their absolute values are at least $1$. And then $1=|ab|=|a||b|geq |a|$, and in the same way $1geq |b|$. So both $a$ and $b$ must belong to the set $-1,1$.






                          share|cite|improve this answer
























                            up vote
                            2
                            down vote













                            Well, let's assume $ab=1$ when $a,binmathbbZ$. Of course it means that both $a$ and $b$ are non zero. Because they are integers we can conclude that their absolute values are at least $1$. And then $1=|ab|=|a||b|geq |a|$, and in the same way $1geq |b|$. So both $a$ and $b$ must belong to the set $-1,1$.






                            share|cite|improve this answer






















                              up vote
                              2
                              down vote










                              up vote
                              2
                              down vote









                              Well, let's assume $ab=1$ when $a,binmathbbZ$. Of course it means that both $a$ and $b$ are non zero. Because they are integers we can conclude that their absolute values are at least $1$. And then $1=|ab|=|a||b|geq |a|$, and in the same way $1geq |b|$. So both $a$ and $b$ must belong to the set $-1,1$.






                              share|cite|improve this answer












                              Well, let's assume $ab=1$ when $a,binmathbbZ$. Of course it means that both $a$ and $b$ are non zero. Because they are integers we can conclude that their absolute values are at least $1$. And then $1=|ab|=|a||b|geq |a|$, and in the same way $1geq |b|$. So both $a$ and $b$ must belong to the set $-1,1$.







                              share|cite|improve this answer












                              share|cite|improve this answer



                              share|cite|improve this answer










                              answered 24 mins ago









                              Mark

                              1,811110




                              1,811110




















                                  up vote
                                  2
                                  down vote













                                  It follows from the well-ordering principle for the natural numbers.



                                  Suppose $ab=1$ for $a,b in BbbN$ with $b>1$. Then $c=a(b-1)$ is a natural number with $0<c<1$. So $c,c^2,c^3,dots$ is a set of natural numbers which has no least element, contradicting the well-ordering principle.



                                  Now, if $ab=1$ for $a,b in BbbZ$, then either $a,b$ or $-a,-b$ will fit into the proof in the above paragraph...






                                  share|cite|improve this answer


























                                    up vote
                                    2
                                    down vote













                                    It follows from the well-ordering principle for the natural numbers.



                                    Suppose $ab=1$ for $a,b in BbbN$ with $b>1$. Then $c=a(b-1)$ is a natural number with $0<c<1$. So $c,c^2,c^3,dots$ is a set of natural numbers which has no least element, contradicting the well-ordering principle.



                                    Now, if $ab=1$ for $a,b in BbbZ$, then either $a,b$ or $-a,-b$ will fit into the proof in the above paragraph...






                                    share|cite|improve this answer
























                                      up vote
                                      2
                                      down vote










                                      up vote
                                      2
                                      down vote









                                      It follows from the well-ordering principle for the natural numbers.



                                      Suppose $ab=1$ for $a,b in BbbN$ with $b>1$. Then $c=a(b-1)$ is a natural number with $0<c<1$. So $c,c^2,c^3,dots$ is a set of natural numbers which has no least element, contradicting the well-ordering principle.



                                      Now, if $ab=1$ for $a,b in BbbZ$, then either $a,b$ or $-a,-b$ will fit into the proof in the above paragraph...






                                      share|cite|improve this answer














                                      It follows from the well-ordering principle for the natural numbers.



                                      Suppose $ab=1$ for $a,b in BbbN$ with $b>1$. Then $c=a(b-1)$ is a natural number with $0<c<1$. So $c,c^2,c^3,dots$ is a set of natural numbers which has no least element, contradicting the well-ordering principle.



                                      Now, if $ab=1$ for $a,b in BbbZ$, then either $a,b$ or $-a,-b$ will fit into the proof in the above paragraph...







                                      share|cite|improve this answer














                                      share|cite|improve this answer



                                      share|cite|improve this answer








                                      edited 17 mins ago

























                                      answered 24 mins ago









                                      Micah

                                      28.9k1361102




                                      28.9k1361102




















                                          up vote
                                          1
                                          down vote













                                          First of all, of course integers, have multiplicative inverses and of course that statement is obviously false as $a = frac 12, frac 13, frac 14,$ etc. bear out.



                                          What you mean to say is $1$ and $-1$ are the only two integers whose multiplicative inverses are also integers.



                                          I.e. If $a, frac 1a in mathbb Z$ then $a = 1$ or $a = -1$.



                                          That is not an axiom.



                                          If $a in mathbb Z$ then you have five possibilities. $a > 1$ or $a = 1$ or $a = 0$ or $a = -1$ or $a < 1$.



                                          Case 1: $a > 1$. Then if $frac 1a < 0$ we would have $a*frac 1a < a*0$ and $1 < 0$ which is a contradiction. We can't have $frac 1a = 0$ because $0$ has no multiplicative inverses so $frac 1a > 0$. If $frac 1a ge 1$ then $a*frac 1a ge a*1 = a$ or $1 ge a$ which is a contradiction so $0< frac 1a < 1$ and not an integer.



                                          Case 2: $a = 1$. then $frac 1a = 1$.



                                          Case 3: $a = 0$ then $frac 1a$ is undefined.



                                          Case 4: $a = -1$ then $frac 1a = -1$.



                                          Case 5: $a < -1$. that is so similar to case 1: I'll leave it to you.






                                          share|cite|improve this answer
















                                          • 1




                                            I don't agree with your first two paragraphs; at least not on a minimally generous reading of the question. Whether a number has a multiplicative inverse depends on which structure you're considering. In the ring of integers, non-units don't have multiplicative inverses. To say that "their inverses aren't integers" doesn't make sense within the structure; it only makes sense within the rationals. Though the question doesn't explicitly say "within the integers", it only talks about integers, and it stands to reason that the intended context is the ring of integers.
                                            – joriki
                                            8 mins ago














                                          up vote
                                          1
                                          down vote













                                          First of all, of course integers, have multiplicative inverses and of course that statement is obviously false as $a = frac 12, frac 13, frac 14,$ etc. bear out.



                                          What you mean to say is $1$ and $-1$ are the only two integers whose multiplicative inverses are also integers.



                                          I.e. If $a, frac 1a in mathbb Z$ then $a = 1$ or $a = -1$.



                                          That is not an axiom.



                                          If $a in mathbb Z$ then you have five possibilities. $a > 1$ or $a = 1$ or $a = 0$ or $a = -1$ or $a < 1$.



                                          Case 1: $a > 1$. Then if $frac 1a < 0$ we would have $a*frac 1a < a*0$ and $1 < 0$ which is a contradiction. We can't have $frac 1a = 0$ because $0$ has no multiplicative inverses so $frac 1a > 0$. If $frac 1a ge 1$ then $a*frac 1a ge a*1 = a$ or $1 ge a$ which is a contradiction so $0< frac 1a < 1$ and not an integer.



                                          Case 2: $a = 1$. then $frac 1a = 1$.



                                          Case 3: $a = 0$ then $frac 1a$ is undefined.



                                          Case 4: $a = -1$ then $frac 1a = -1$.



                                          Case 5: $a < -1$. that is so similar to case 1: I'll leave it to you.






                                          share|cite|improve this answer
















                                          • 1




                                            I don't agree with your first two paragraphs; at least not on a minimally generous reading of the question. Whether a number has a multiplicative inverse depends on which structure you're considering. In the ring of integers, non-units don't have multiplicative inverses. To say that "their inverses aren't integers" doesn't make sense within the structure; it only makes sense within the rationals. Though the question doesn't explicitly say "within the integers", it only talks about integers, and it stands to reason that the intended context is the ring of integers.
                                            – joriki
                                            8 mins ago












                                          up vote
                                          1
                                          down vote










                                          up vote
                                          1
                                          down vote









                                          First of all, of course integers, have multiplicative inverses and of course that statement is obviously false as $a = frac 12, frac 13, frac 14,$ etc. bear out.



                                          What you mean to say is $1$ and $-1$ are the only two integers whose multiplicative inverses are also integers.



                                          I.e. If $a, frac 1a in mathbb Z$ then $a = 1$ or $a = -1$.



                                          That is not an axiom.



                                          If $a in mathbb Z$ then you have five possibilities. $a > 1$ or $a = 1$ or $a = 0$ or $a = -1$ or $a < 1$.



                                          Case 1: $a > 1$. Then if $frac 1a < 0$ we would have $a*frac 1a < a*0$ and $1 < 0$ which is a contradiction. We can't have $frac 1a = 0$ because $0$ has no multiplicative inverses so $frac 1a > 0$. If $frac 1a ge 1$ then $a*frac 1a ge a*1 = a$ or $1 ge a$ which is a contradiction so $0< frac 1a < 1$ and not an integer.



                                          Case 2: $a = 1$. then $frac 1a = 1$.



                                          Case 3: $a = 0$ then $frac 1a$ is undefined.



                                          Case 4: $a = -1$ then $frac 1a = -1$.



                                          Case 5: $a < -1$. that is so similar to case 1: I'll leave it to you.






                                          share|cite|improve this answer












                                          First of all, of course integers, have multiplicative inverses and of course that statement is obviously false as $a = frac 12, frac 13, frac 14,$ etc. bear out.



                                          What you mean to say is $1$ and $-1$ are the only two integers whose multiplicative inverses are also integers.



                                          I.e. If $a, frac 1a in mathbb Z$ then $a = 1$ or $a = -1$.



                                          That is not an axiom.



                                          If $a in mathbb Z$ then you have five possibilities. $a > 1$ or $a = 1$ or $a = 0$ or $a = -1$ or $a < 1$.



                                          Case 1: $a > 1$. Then if $frac 1a < 0$ we would have $a*frac 1a < a*0$ and $1 < 0$ which is a contradiction. We can't have $frac 1a = 0$ because $0$ has no multiplicative inverses so $frac 1a > 0$. If $frac 1a ge 1$ then $a*frac 1a ge a*1 = a$ or $1 ge a$ which is a contradiction so $0< frac 1a < 1$ and not an integer.



                                          Case 2: $a = 1$. then $frac 1a = 1$.



                                          Case 3: $a = 0$ then $frac 1a$ is undefined.



                                          Case 4: $a = -1$ then $frac 1a = -1$.



                                          Case 5: $a < -1$. that is so similar to case 1: I'll leave it to you.







                                          share|cite|improve this answer












                                          share|cite|improve this answer



                                          share|cite|improve this answer










                                          answered 19 mins ago









                                          fleablood

                                          61.8k22678




                                          61.8k22678







                                          • 1




                                            I don't agree with your first two paragraphs; at least not on a minimally generous reading of the question. Whether a number has a multiplicative inverse depends on which structure you're considering. In the ring of integers, non-units don't have multiplicative inverses. To say that "their inverses aren't integers" doesn't make sense within the structure; it only makes sense within the rationals. Though the question doesn't explicitly say "within the integers", it only talks about integers, and it stands to reason that the intended context is the ring of integers.
                                            – joriki
                                            8 mins ago












                                          • 1




                                            I don't agree with your first two paragraphs; at least not on a minimally generous reading of the question. Whether a number has a multiplicative inverse depends on which structure you're considering. In the ring of integers, non-units don't have multiplicative inverses. To say that "their inverses aren't integers" doesn't make sense within the structure; it only makes sense within the rationals. Though the question doesn't explicitly say "within the integers", it only talks about integers, and it stands to reason that the intended context is the ring of integers.
                                            – joriki
                                            8 mins ago







                                          1




                                          1




                                          I don't agree with your first two paragraphs; at least not on a minimally generous reading of the question. Whether a number has a multiplicative inverse depends on which structure you're considering. In the ring of integers, non-units don't have multiplicative inverses. To say that "their inverses aren't integers" doesn't make sense within the structure; it only makes sense within the rationals. Though the question doesn't explicitly say "within the integers", it only talks about integers, and it stands to reason that the intended context is the ring of integers.
                                          – joriki
                                          8 mins ago




                                          I don't agree with your first two paragraphs; at least not on a minimally generous reading of the question. Whether a number has a multiplicative inverse depends on which structure you're considering. In the ring of integers, non-units don't have multiplicative inverses. To say that "their inverses aren't integers" doesn't make sense within the structure; it only makes sense within the rationals. Though the question doesn't explicitly say "within the integers", it only talks about integers, and it stands to reason that the intended context is the ring of integers.
                                          – joriki
                                          8 mins ago










                                          up vote
                                          0
                                          down vote













                                          As we are interested in 1/a which is just a symbol being adopted to denote the inverse of an element in Z. Further identity element under multiplication in Z is 1. So if any member say ''a' of Z is invertible then there must be a member in Z denoted as 1/a or a^(-1) such that
                                          a. a^(-1) =1.
                                          Now it's a simple algebra that in Z 1/a is an integer iff a= 1 or -1.
                                          Hope it will help you.






                                          share|cite|improve this answer




















                                          • Please see this tutorial and reference on how to typeset math on this site.
                                            – joriki
                                            1 min ago















                                          up vote
                                          0
                                          down vote













                                          As we are interested in 1/a which is just a symbol being adopted to denote the inverse of an element in Z. Further identity element under multiplication in Z is 1. So if any member say ''a' of Z is invertible then there must be a member in Z denoted as 1/a or a^(-1) such that
                                          a. a^(-1) =1.
                                          Now it's a simple algebra that in Z 1/a is an integer iff a= 1 or -1.
                                          Hope it will help you.






                                          share|cite|improve this answer




















                                          • Please see this tutorial and reference on how to typeset math on this site.
                                            – joriki
                                            1 min ago













                                          up vote
                                          0
                                          down vote










                                          up vote
                                          0
                                          down vote









                                          As we are interested in 1/a which is just a symbol being adopted to denote the inverse of an element in Z. Further identity element under multiplication in Z is 1. So if any member say ''a' of Z is invertible then there must be a member in Z denoted as 1/a or a^(-1) such that
                                          a. a^(-1) =1.
                                          Now it's a simple algebra that in Z 1/a is an integer iff a= 1 or -1.
                                          Hope it will help you.






                                          share|cite|improve this answer












                                          As we are interested in 1/a which is just a symbol being adopted to denote the inverse of an element in Z. Further identity element under multiplication in Z is 1. So if any member say ''a' of Z is invertible then there must be a member in Z denoted as 1/a or a^(-1) such that
                                          a. a^(-1) =1.
                                          Now it's a simple algebra that in Z 1/a is an integer iff a= 1 or -1.
                                          Hope it will help you.







                                          share|cite|improve this answer












                                          share|cite|improve this answer



                                          share|cite|improve this answer










                                          answered 21 mins ago









                                          prakash nainwal

                                          524




                                          524











                                          • Please see this tutorial and reference on how to typeset math on this site.
                                            – joriki
                                            1 min ago

















                                          • Please see this tutorial and reference on how to typeset math on this site.
                                            – joriki
                                            1 min ago
















                                          Please see this tutorial and reference on how to typeset math on this site.
                                          – joriki
                                          1 min ago





                                          Please see this tutorial and reference on how to typeset math on this site.
                                          – joriki
                                          1 min ago











                                          up vote
                                          0
                                          down vote













                                          It depends upon the way that $mathbb Z$ and $times$ are defined, of course, but I doubt that anyone ever created axioms for the integers such that what you stated is an axiom.



                                          Suppos, for instance, that you define:




                                          • $mathbb Z$ is the set of equivalence classes of $mathbbN^2$ with respect to the equivalence relation$$(a,b)sim(c,d)iff a+d=b+c;$$


                                          • $bigl[(a,b)bigr]timesbigl[(c,d)bigr]=bigl[(ac+bd,ad+bc)bigr]$.

                                          Then your statement becomes a proposition, which can in fact be proved.






                                          share|cite|improve this answer
























                                            up vote
                                            0
                                            down vote













                                            It depends upon the way that $mathbb Z$ and $times$ are defined, of course, but I doubt that anyone ever created axioms for the integers such that what you stated is an axiom.



                                            Suppos, for instance, that you define:




                                            • $mathbb Z$ is the set of equivalence classes of $mathbbN^2$ with respect to the equivalence relation$$(a,b)sim(c,d)iff a+d=b+c;$$


                                            • $bigl[(a,b)bigr]timesbigl[(c,d)bigr]=bigl[(ac+bd,ad+bc)bigr]$.

                                            Then your statement becomes a proposition, which can in fact be proved.






                                            share|cite|improve this answer






















                                              up vote
                                              0
                                              down vote










                                              up vote
                                              0
                                              down vote









                                              It depends upon the way that $mathbb Z$ and $times$ are defined, of course, but I doubt that anyone ever created axioms for the integers such that what you stated is an axiom.



                                              Suppos, for instance, that you define:




                                              • $mathbb Z$ is the set of equivalence classes of $mathbbN^2$ with respect to the equivalence relation$$(a,b)sim(c,d)iff a+d=b+c;$$


                                              • $bigl[(a,b)bigr]timesbigl[(c,d)bigr]=bigl[(ac+bd,ad+bc)bigr]$.

                                              Then your statement becomes a proposition, which can in fact be proved.






                                              share|cite|improve this answer












                                              It depends upon the way that $mathbb Z$ and $times$ are defined, of course, but I doubt that anyone ever created axioms for the integers such that what you stated is an axiom.



                                              Suppos, for instance, that you define:




                                              • $mathbb Z$ is the set of equivalence classes of $mathbbN^2$ with respect to the equivalence relation$$(a,b)sim(c,d)iff a+d=b+c;$$


                                              • $bigl[(a,b)bigr]timesbigl[(c,d)bigr]=bigl[(ac+bd,ad+bc)bigr]$.

                                              Then your statement becomes a proposition, which can in fact be proved.







                                              share|cite|improve this answer












                                              share|cite|improve this answer



                                              share|cite|improve this answer










                                              answered 21 mins ago









                                              José Carlos Santos

                                              123k17101186




                                              123k17101186



























                                                   

                                                  draft saved


                                                  draft discarded















































                                                   


                                                  draft saved


                                                  draft discarded














                                                  StackExchange.ready(
                                                  function ()
                                                  StackExchange.openid.initPostLogin('.new-post-login', 'https%3a%2f%2fmath.stackexchange.com%2fquestions%2f2927792%2fproof-that-integers-except-1-and-1-dont-have-an-integer-multiplicative-i%23new-answer', 'question_page');

                                                  );

                                                  Post as a guest













































































                                                  Comments

                                                  Popular posts from this blog

                                                  Long meetings (6-7 hours a day): Being “babysat” by supervisor

                                                  Is the Concept of Multiple Fantasy Races Scientifically Flawed? [closed]

                                                  Confectionery