# Enumerating the nonnegative rationals according to a certain ordering.

Because the nonnegative rationals $\mathbb{Q}_+$ are countable, I can enumerate them as a sequence $\{q_i\}_{i\in\mathbb{N}}$. For any pair of rationals $q$ and $p$, I can perform the comparison $q\leq p$ according to the ordering of the real numbers. Is it possible to enumerate the rationals as an increasing sequence, i.e., $q_i\leq q_{i+1}$ for all $i\in\mathbb{N}$? More generally, given an ordering on $\mathbb{Q}_+$, can I enumerate $\mathbb{Q}_+$ as an increasing sequence under this ordering?

I do not think this is true, but I cannot think of a good approach to proving it false.

EDIT: I meant to only ask about the nonnegative rationals, so I am correcting my question to fix that mistake. The original version of the question asked about enumerating the rationals.

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No, it is not possible, since if you had such an ordering then by considering two consecutive (distinct) rationals in your ordering, there are (in the real line) an infinite number of rationals between them, but not in your ordering.

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In other words: You may choose $q_1$ and $q_2$ with $q_1<q_2$, but then $q:=\frac12(q_1+q_2)$ cannot by among your $q_n$ because $q_1<q_n<q_2$ should imply $1<n<2$, contradiction. –  Hagen von Eitzen Sep 26 '12 at 22:03
Yes, that is even clearer! –  Old John Sep 26 '12 at 22:07

Note: This answer was for the original version of the question.

No, you can’t: what could possibly be the first rational in your list? No matter what $q$ you choose, $q-1$ is a smaller rational that ought to precede $q$ in your list.

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Oops, I realized I meant to only consider the nonnegative rationals, but this doesn't fix it anyway. Because whatever q_1 is, (q_1)/2 is a smaller rational. I'll edit my question to correct this problem. –  Carl Morris Sep 26 '12 at 21:37
@Carl: Since you’ve now answered your own question, you should go ahead and post an answer; you’ll have to wait I-forget-how-long, but eventually you’ll be able to accept your own answer. This is perfectly acceptable; indeed, it’s encouraged. –  Brian M. Scott Sep 26 '12 at 21:44
Even if you restrict to rationals in any (non-trivial) interval, either open or closed, a small variation of Brian's answer or mine would still give you a contradiction. –  Old John Sep 26 '12 at 21:48
Let $\{q_i\}_{i\in\mathbb{N}}$ be an ordered enumeration of the nonnegative rationals. Clearly, $q_1=0$. By definition, $q_2\neq0$, and $q_2\leq q$ for all rational $q>0$, but $q_2/2$ is rational and $q_2/2 \leq q_2$. However, $q_2 \leq q_2/2$. This implies that $q_2=2q_2$, i.e., $q_2=0$, which is a contradiction. Hence, no such enumeration exists.