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Prove A Number Is Irrational

To prove that a number is irrational, we assume it is rational and express it as p/q where p and q are integers. We then show this leads to a contradiction, proving the original assumption was incorrect. For example, if we assume √2 is rational (p/q), then we can show that p/q cannot be the square root of 2, proving √2 is irrational. This method uses proof by contradiction to demonstrate a number is not expressible as a ratio of integers, the definition of an irrational number.

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456 views4 pages

Prove A Number Is Irrational

To prove that a number is irrational, we assume it is rational and express it as p/q where p and q are integers. We then show this leads to a contradiction, proving the original assumption was incorrect. For example, if we assume √2 is rational (p/q), then we can show that p/q cannot be the square root of 2, proving √2 is irrational. This method uses proof by contradiction to demonstrate a number is not expressible as a ratio of integers, the definition of an irrational number.

Uploaded by

nishagoyal
Copyright
© Attribution Non-Commercial (BY-NC)
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Prove a number is Irrational

Prove a number is Irrational

To prove that a number is irrational, we first recall the definition of irrational number. The numbers which cannot be expressed in in form of p / q , where p & q are integers and q <> 0. Moreover, the numbers which when expressed in decimal form are expressible as non- terminating and non- repeating decimals are called as irrational numbers. Now, to prove a number is irrational we proceed as follows: The number is first assumed to be a rational number. Let us take a number ' a ' as a rational number. To prove a number is irrational, we prove the statement of assumption as contrary and thus the assumed number ' a ' becomes irrational. Let 'p' be any prime number and a is a positive integer such that p divides a^2. We know that, any positive integer can be written as the product of prime numbers. So, let a = p1 p2 p3 .... pn where all these p1, p2, p3, .... pn are prime numbers not necessary distinct. So, a^2 = ( p1 p2 p3 .... pn ) ( p1 p2 p3 .... pn) a^2 = ( p1 p2 p3 .... pn ) ^2 Now, it means p divides a^2,
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which means p is any prime factor of a ^2 as prime factors of a^2 are p1, p2, p3, .... pn) and which means p is one of p1, p2, p3, .... pn. Thus, it is clear that, p divides a^2 and so it divides a. Now, we come to the conclusion that the assumption taken is wrong ie the assumed number is irrational. By using the above method, we can take any number say square root (3), square root(4 ) etc and use above method to verify that the number is irrational. This is done by assumption of a contradictory statement, and then coming to the conclusion of a wrong assumption done at the beginning. What are irrational Numbers Irrational numbers are the numbers which are not rational numbers. In other words we can say that any number that cannot be expressed in the form of p/q are termed as irrational numbers. If any floating point number (that is a number that has an integer part as well as an decimal part is termed as floating point number.) cannot expressed as the ratio of two integers that floating point number is termed as irrational numbers. Let us take some of the examples of Irrational numbers Now if we take the value of pi ( ) that is = 3.1415926535897932384626433832795 This value of is impossible to express as the simple ratio of two numbers or two integers instead. Thus the value of is an irrational number.
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Let us take some more examples to clearly get an image about the irrational numbers Let us take a value 3.2. Now 3.2 is not an irrational number, it is a rational number as 3.2 can be expressed as a ratio of two integers that is A square root of every non perfect square is an irrational number and similarly, a cube root of non-perfect cube is also an example of the irrational number. When we multiply any two irrational numbers and the result is rational number, then each of these irrational numbers is called rationalizing factor of the other one. What are Rational and Irrational Numbers ? When we deal Rational and Irrational numbers, the first question arise in our mind is that what are rational and irrational numbers? Rational numbers are those numbers which can be represented as fraction means having numerator and denominator and both in integer form. Lets take some examples of rational numbers: 1. 5 is a rational number because it has 1 in its denominator and can be written as 5/1. 2. 2/3 is also a rational number. Now, the next part of the same question i.e. what are irrational numbers? Irrational numbers are those which can be represented as a fraction i.e. numbers except rational numbers. They can only be represented as decimal number.

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