Ask your own question, for FREE!
Mathematics 75 Online
OpenStudy (anonymous):

Prove that there is a natural number M such that for every natural number n, 1/n

OpenStudy (anonymous):

ill try my best: because a fraction is always smaller than a whole number, 1/n is always smaller than M.

OpenStudy (anonymous):

right. So what I know is that \[n \ge 1\]. So couldn't we choose M= 1/M?

OpenStudy (anonymous):

M=1/n only if n and M equal 1.

OpenStudy (anonymous):

how do you know what to let M be?

OpenStudy (anonymous):

um... arbitrarily... assign a random number to M and n...

OpenStudy (anonymous):

because if M = 5, for example, then 1/n will always be smaller, n being a random integer.

OpenStudy (anonymous):

right but that is because n was a whole number but when its 1/n, that makes it smaller that M. I am just confused on how you would know what to let M be? I have an exam coming up and I am trying to practice, but these proofs that deal with inequalities are killing me

OpenStudy (anonymous):

...there is a natural number M... so there IS a natural number M.

OpenStudy (anonymous):

right...but Why would it let it be 1/n?

OpenStudy (anonymous):

1/n, so any 1/n would be smaller than any M... rather confused here...

OpenStudy (anonymous):

i think its just the problem... 1/n just doesn't have any special meaning here...

Can't find your answer? Make a FREE account and ask your own questions, OR help others and earn volunteer hours!

Join our real-time social learning platform and learn together with your friends!
Latest Questions
Lui0210: Geometry help
1 minute ago 5 Replies 0 Medals
luhsky25: who fears God
35 minutes ago 1 Reply 0 Medals
luhsky25: i came up from hitting licks
2 hours ago 3 Replies 1 Medal
whyjustwhy: guys my art is amazing
1 hour ago 10 Replies 2 Medals
luhsky25: rate my moms favorite song
2 hours ago 5 Replies 0 Medals
Can't find your answer? Make a FREE account and ask your own questions, OR help others and earn volunteer hours!

Join our real-time social learning platform and learn together with your friends!