Division Theorem/Positive Divisor/Positive Dividend/Existence/Proof 1

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Theorem

For every pair of integers $a, b$ where $a \ge 0$ and $b > 0$, there exist integers $q, r$ such that $a = q b + r$ and $0 \le r < b$:

$\forall a, b \in \Z, a \ge 0, b > 0: \exists q, r \in \Z: a = q b + r, 0 \le r < b$


Proof

Let $a, b \in \Z$ such that $a \ge 0$ and $b > 0$ be given.

Let $S$ be defined as the set of all positive integers of the form $a - z b$ where $z$ is an integer:

$S = \set {x \in \Z_{\ge 0}: \exists z \in \Z: x = a - z b}$

By setting $z = 0$ we have that $a \in S$.

Thus $S \ne \O$.

We have that $S$ is bounded below by $0$.

From Set of Integers Bounded Below by Integer has Smallest Element it follows that $S$ has a smallest element $r$.

Thus:

$\exists q \in \Z: a - q b = r$

and so:

$a = q b + r$

So we have proved the existence of $q$ and $r$ such that $a = q b + r$.


It remains to be shown that $0 \le r < b$.

We have that $r \in S$ which is bounded below by $0$.

Therefore $0 \le r$.


Aiming for a contradiction, suppose $b \le r$.

So:

\(\ds b\) \(\le\) \(\ds r\)
\(\ds \) \(<\) \(\ds r + b\) as $b > 0$
\(\ds \leadsto \ \ \) \(\ds 0\) \(\le\) \(\ds r - b\)
\(\ds \) \(<\) \(\ds r\) subtracting $b$ throughout

But then:

\(\ds a\) \(=\) \(\ds q b + r\) from above
\(\ds \leadsto \ \ \) \(\ds r - b\) \(=\) \(\ds \paren {a - q b} - b\)
\(\ds \) \(=\) \(\ds a - b \paren {q + 1}\)
\(\ds \leadsto \ \ \) \(\ds r - b\) \(\in\) \(\ds S\) as $r - b$ is of the correct form


But $r - b < r$ contradicts the choice of $r$ as the least element of $S$.

Hence $r < b$ as required.


Thus the existence of $q$ and $r$ satisfying $a = q b + r, 0 \le r < b$ has been demonstrated.

$\blacksquare$


Sources

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