# foundations

A collection of 5 posts

Feb 21, 2019

## Constructing the Rational Numbers (2)

This is a continuation of Constructing the Rational Numbers (1). Before moving forward with the rest of the construction, I'd like to formally change my notation for rational numbers from that of equivalence classes of ordered pairs of integers to that of fractions.

Feb 19, 2019

## Constructing the Rational Numbers (1)

We work with number systems every day, but we just sort of take their existence for granted. However, it is possible to construct all of these number systems from scratch.

Apr 8, 2017

## Equivalence Relations and Quotient Sets

Quotient sets of $A$ are comprised not of elements of $A$, but of the equivalence classes they fall into. This gives us a powerful method to collapse a set into a smaller set that is in some way still representative of the original set.

Apr 2, 2017

## Mathematical Induction

Before my next post on bases for topologies, I need to introduce a proof technique that I haven't used so far.

Mar 28, 2017

## Set Theory

Everything in mathematics is built from sets. Even objects such as functions and arithmetic operations like addition are formally defined in terms of sets, although you would likely never expect it.