# Rationals of the form $\frac{p}{q}$ where $p,q$ are primes in $[a,b]$

Consider the closed interval $[0,1]$, there is $\frac{2}{3} \in [0,1]$ where $p=2$ and $q=3$. Similarly consider $[2,3]$, one can have $\frac{5}{2} \in [2,3]$ where $p=5$ and $q=2$. Does every interval of the form $[a,b]$, where $a,b \in \mathbb{R}$ contain a rational of this kind. If yes, how can we prove it?

-
What have you tried so far? Have you tried using the Prime Number Theorem in the form $p_n \sim n \log n$? –  Pete L. Clark Sep 5 '10 at 16:11

Roughly speaking this asks whether the quotients of two primes are dense in the positive reals. The answer is yes.

Let $0 < a < b$ and let $q$ be a prime. Then there will a a prime $p$ with $a < p/q\le b$ if and only if $\pi(bq) > \pi(aq)$ where $\pi$ is the prime-counting function. But by the prime number theorem, as $q\to\infty$, $$\frac{\pi(bq)}{\pi(aq)}\sim\frac{b\log(aq)}{a\log(bq)} =\frac{b(\log q+\log a)}{a(\log q+\log b)}\sim\frac ba>1.$$ For all large enough $q$, $\pi(bq)/\pi(aq) > 1$ as required.

-
+1 -- although I wonder if we really need the prime number theorem here –  balpha Sep 5 '10 at 16:17
Right, I was getting at something similar in my comment above. Recently I have been starting to wonder whether we should be giving hints rather than complete answers to questions like this. –  Pete L. Clark Sep 5 '10 at 16:20
I feel like you don't need the Prime Number Theorem for this. –  Matthew Levy Dec 26 '14 at 8:15