This question popped up when I had to prove that a linear transformation whose rational null space points were only ${0}$ was in fact an isomorphism.( in a specific context where the linear transformation could be restricted to $\mathbb{Q}^n$ so it was quite simple and didn't imply the result).
So I tried proving that if the kernel were to contain a line in $\mathbb{R}^n$ then this line would necessarily pass by some rational points other than $0$.
But so far I couldn't prove it, so now I am questioning its validity even though I couldn't construct any counter example.
Any ideas?
2026-04-08 09:06:51.1775639211
Can there be a line in $\mathbb{R}^n$ whose only rational point is $ {0} $?
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2
A non-constructive argument is also easy.
Let $S$ be the unit sphere in $\Bbb R^n$, and let $L$ be the set of lines through the origin that contain at least one other rational point. Each $\ell\in L$ meets $S$ in a two-element set $P_\ell$. Let $P=\bigcup_{\ell\in L}P_\ell$; $L$ is countable, so $P$ is countable. For each of the uncountably many $x\in S\setminus P$ the line through $x$ and the origin contains no rational point other than the origin.