MT1810 Number Systems: January 2016 Test

All four questions should be attempted

1. Prove by induction that 2n ≥ n2 for all n ∈ N, n ≥ 4.

(25 Marks)

2. (a) Find the quotient and remainder when −23 is divided by 3.

(b) Let f3 : Z → {0, 1, 2} be a function defined so that, for any n ∈ Z, f3 (n)
is the remainder when n is divided by 3. Show that f3 is surjective. Show
that f3 is not injective.
(c) Let n, q, m, r ∈ Z such that m > 0 and m/2 ≤ r < m and n = qm + r.
Show that 0 ≤ 2r − m < m. Hence show that 2r − m is the remainder
when 2n is divided by m.
(25 Marks)

3. (a) Using a diagram or otherwise, give an example of a relation defined on

the set X = {1, 2, 3} that is reflexive and transitive, but not symmetric.
(No justification is required.)
(b) Let the relation ∼ on R be defined by x ∼ y ⇐⇒ |x − y| < 1. Prove that
∼ is not transitive.
(c) Let C6=0 = {z ∈ C : z 6= 0} be the set of nonzero complex numbers.
Consider the relation ∼ on C6=0 defined by x ∼ y ⇐⇒ arg(x) = arg(y).
You may assume that ∼ is an equivalence relation. Draw the equivalence
class [1 + i] = {z ∈ C6=0 : z ∼ 1 + i} on an Argand diagram.
(25 Marks)

4. (a) The ring R4 is defined as follows. The elements of R4 are expressions of

the form a + ib where a, b ∈ Z2 = {[0], [1]}, and where i is a symbol with
the property that i2 = [1]. Addition and multiplication is defined just as
for complex numbers. Write out the multiplication table for R4 .
(b) Show that the ring R4 defined in (a) is not an integral domain.
(c) Is the ring R4 defined in (a) a field? Justify your answer.
(25 Marks)