Discrete Mathematics & Theoretical Computer Science, Vol 4, No 2 (2001)

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Simple Equational Specifications of Rational Arithmetic

Lawrence S. Moss

Abstract


We exhibit an initial specification of the rational numbers equipped with addition, subtraction, multiplication, greatest integer function, and absolute value. Our specification uses only the sort of rational numbers. It uses one hidden function; that function is unary. But it does not use an error constant, or extra (hidden) sorts, or conditional equations. All of our work is elementary and self-contained.

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