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"The fundamental theorem of arithmetic can be approximately interpreted 3 * 5 * 13 and 3 * 13 * 5" - this is false. The fundamental theorem of arithmetic "can b
by TopologyDough 10y ago
"The fundamental theorem of arithmetic can be approximately interpreted 3 * 5 * 13 and 3 * 13 * 5" - this is false. The fundamental theorem of arithmetic "can be more approximately interpreted as " 195 has one prime factorization and it only includes one 3, one 5, and one 13 and no other primes. Once we find one prime factorization we want to prove that 195 does not have a prime factorization that includes another 11 or other prime.
- curiousgal 10y agoWhere did you read that?
- TopologyDough 10y agohttps://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&url=http://www.math.hawaii.edu/~lee/courses/fundamental.pdf&ved=0ahUKEwjrwfWIvbvNAhVZHGMKHe-1Aa4QFghbMA4&usg=AFQjCNE1fWsMtZ7DYjuIM-nL-dWQDshhXw&sig2=d4ys1EebbIuswQA9sc7bgQ https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&url=http://... note that prime factorization is unique up to order. We aren't talking about order when we use the term uniqueness.
- ColinWright 10y ago... which is exactly what Gowers is saying in the second sentence.
- deleted 10y ago[deleted]
- ColinWright 10y agoIt doesn't say that. What it says is: The fundamental theorem of arithmetic states that every positive integer can be factorized in one way as a product of prime numbers. This statement has to be appropriately interpreted: we count the factorizations 3x5x13 and 13x3x5 as the same, for instance. That's not the same thing at all.
- TopologyDough 10y agoI miss quoted the original blog by replacing "has" for "can" and such. But the second sentence of what you quoted is misleading because that's not an correct interpretation of FTA.
- ColinWright 10y ago> But the second sentence of what you > quoted is misleading because that's > not an correct interpretation of FTA. I wonder if this is a language thing. The second sentence says: ... we count the factorizations 3x5x13 and 13x3x5 as the same, for instance. This is giving an simple example of what the phrase "up to ordering" implies. The full statement of the FTA says that the factorisation is unique "up to ordering" and that's exactly what the second sentence is saying. So I still think you are mistaken, and I don't understand why you are disagreeing with what Gowers wrote. Perhaps you could give more detail about why you think he is wrong.
- beagle3 10y agoYou also misquoted "appropriately" as "approximately", making the meaning completely different.
- ColinWright 10y agoHe never used the word "approximately", and I think you are reading the statement(s) incorrectly because of that. Let me be more specific. The article says: The fundamental theorem of arithmetic states that every positive integer can be factorized in one way as a product of prime numbers. OK, so that is an initial statement to give the general idea of what's going on. There are some details that need now to be added to avoid misunderstanding. In particular, the statement needs to be interpreted carefully. Gowers goes on to say: This statement has to be appropriately interpreted: ... That's what I just said above ... ... we count the factorizations 3x5x13 and 13x3x5 as the same, for instance. So this is an example to set the scene for what is to follow. It points out that in the statement of the FTA we are going to regard to factorisations that differ only in the ordering of the factors as being the same. Reading your other comments, it appears you are arguing against something that you actually agree with, and I suspect you have mis-read or mis-interpreted what Gowers has written.