Division Theorem/Positive Divisor/Positive Dividend/Uniqueness/Proof 2

Proof
It is given by Division Theorem: Positive Divisor: Positive Dividend: Existence that such $q$ and $r$ exist.

Let $a = 0$.

It is immediately apparent that $q = r = 0$ is the only possible solution with $0 \le r < b$.

Let $a > 0$ and $b = 1$.

Then from the condition $0 \le r < b$ it follows that $r = 0$.

Hence $r = 0, q = a$ is the only possible solution.

Let $a > 0$ and $b > 1$.

By the Basis Representation Theorem, $a$ has a unique representation to the base $b$:

Suppose a second pair $q', r'$ were to exist.

Then there would be a representation for $q'$ to the base $b$:
 * $\displaystyle q' = \sum_{k \mathop = 0}^t u_k b^k$

so that:

But there already exists a representation of $a$ to the base $b$:
 * $\displaystyle a = \sum_{k \mathop = 0}^s r_k b^k$

By the Basis Representation Theorem, such a representation is unique.

So:

and hence $q' = q$.