Single Idea 18251

[catalogued under 6. Mathematics / A. Nature of Mathematics / 3. Nature of Numbers / h. Reals from Cauchy]

Full Idea

Cantor introduced irrationals to play the role of limits of Cauchy sequences of rational numbers.

Gist of Idea

Irrational numbers are the limits of Cauchy sequences of rational numbers

Source

report of George Cantor (works [1880]) by Shaughan Lavine - Understanding the Infinite 4.2

Book Reference

Lavine,Shaughan: 'Understanding the Infinite' [Harvard 1994], p.92

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