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Mathematics

Prove that the following are irrationals :

(i) 12\dfrac{1}{\sqrt{2}}

(ii) 757\sqrt{5}

(iii) 6 + 2\sqrt{2}

Irrational Numbers

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Answer

(i) Let us assume, to the contrary, that 12\dfrac{1}{\sqrt{2}} is a rational number.

Then, 12=ab\dfrac{1}{\sqrt{2}} = \dfrac{a}{b}, where a and b have no common factors other than 1.

Solving above equation,

b=2a2=ba\Rightarrow b = \sqrt{2}a \\[1em] \Rightarrow \sqrt{2} = \dfrac{b}{a}

Since b and a are integers, ba\dfrac{b}{a} is a rational number and so, 2\sqrt{2} is rational.

We know that 2\sqrt{2} is irrational. So, our assumption was wrong.

Hence, proved that 12\dfrac{1}{\sqrt{2}} is an irrational number.

(ii) Let us assume, to the contrary, that 757\sqrt{5} is a rational number.

Then, 75=ab7\sqrt{5} = \dfrac{a}{b}, where a and b have no common factors other than 1.

75b=a5=a7b\Rightarrow 7\sqrt{5}b = a \\[1em] \Rightarrow \sqrt{5} = \dfrac{a}{7b}

Since, a, 7, and b are integers, so, a7b\dfrac{a}{7b} is a rational number. This means 5\sqrt{5} is rational but this contradicts the fact that 5\sqrt{5} is irrational. So, our assumption was wrong.

Hence, proved that 757\sqrt{5} is an irrational number.

(iii) Let us assume, to the contrary, that 6+26 + \sqrt{2} is rational.

Then, 6+2=ab6 + \sqrt{2} = \dfrac{a}{b}, where a and b have no common factors other than 1.

2=ab6\sqrt{2} = \dfrac{a}{b} - 6

Since, a, b, and 6 are integers, so, ab6\dfrac{a}{b} - 6 is a rational number. This means 2\sqrt{2} is also a rational number.

This contradicts the fact that 2\sqrt{2} is irrational. So, our assumption was wrong.

Hence, proved that 6+26 + \sqrt{2} is an irrational number.

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