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Question 1144645: y=1 if x is rational and y=0 if x irrational. how would you describe this on a graph.
Answer by ikleyn(52794) (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website! .
In a coordinate plane, draw two straight lines y= 0 and y= 1.
Take a needle. // If you don't know what a needle is, consult a dictionary.
Using the needle, make a hole in each point (x,1) on the line y= 1, where x is irrational.
In other words, using the needle, remove each point (x,1) on the line y= 1, where x is irrational.
It is infinitely long job, if you do not use other special tools - but you are a patient person, isn't it :).
When you complete this job, you will get the requested graph.
It is the description the problem asks for.
Do not think that I am joking. I presented absolutely CLASSIC description to you.
This function is called "Dirichlet's function", after great mathematician Peter Gustav Lejeune Dirichlet.
For more information, see these links
http://mathworld.wolfram.com/DirichletFunction.html
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nowhere_continuous_function
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peter_Gustav_Lejeune_Dirichlet
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