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Re: Z, R, Q (was: German words for "number")
Posted:
Feb 21, 1999 10:31 PM
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Benjamin P. Carter wrote:
>
> pmiller@*DIESPAMMERS*.lni.net (Paul Miller) explains why Z stands for the
> integers:
>
> >the symbol Z for the integers comes directly from German die Zahlen.
>
> Similarly, R stands for the reals. This usage seems quite reasonable in
> several languages.
>
> But why does Q stand for the field of rational numbers?
>
I always supposed it stood for "quotient".
--
Robin Chapman + "Going to the chemist in
Department of Mathematics, DICS - Australia can be more
Macquarie University + exciting than going to
NSW 2109, Australia - a nightclub in Wales."
rchapman@mpce.mq.edu.au + Howard Jacobson,
http://www.maths.ex.ac.uk/~rjc/rjc.html - In the Land of Oz
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