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I was proving $\sqrt 6 \notin \Bbb Q$, by assuming its negation and stating that: $\exists (p,q) \in \Bbb Z \times \Bbb Z^*/ \gcd(p,q) = 1$, and $\sqrt 6 = (p/q)$.

$\implies p^2 = 2 \times 3q^2 \implies \exists k \in \Bbb Z; p = 2k \implies 2k^2 = 3q^2$ and found two possible cases, either $q$ is even or odd, if even we get contradiction that $\gcd(p, q) \neq 1$, if odd we get contradiction that $2k^2 = 3q^2$.

Is it a right path for reasoning it?

Mr. Brooks
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Papa
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  • Is the $k$ a typo? What is $p, k$ and $q$? Why is $q$ being even a condradiction with $\gcd(p,q) = 1$? And why is $2k^2 = 3q^2$ a contradiction? You just said $2k^2 = 3q^2$ so that isn't a contradiction? You are on the right track but you haven't explained any of your arguments. – fleablood Nov 15 '18 at 02:13
  • Why is $q$ even a contradiction? What if $k$ or $p$ (whats the difference) is odd? – fleablood Nov 15 '18 at 02:20
  • I rearranged it! – Papa Nov 15 '18 at 03:51

4 Answers4

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How about a proof by descent?

First show that $2^2<6<3^2$. Then if $\sqrt{6}$ is to be rational it must have a form $p/q$ where $p,q\in \mathbb{Z}, q>0, 2q<p<3q$. By simple algebra the square root is also equal to $6q/p$, thus

$p/q=6q/p\text{.....Eq. 1}$.

Now if $a/b=c/d$ then also

$a/b=(ma+nc)/(mb+nd)$

for any coefficients $m,n$ where the denominator is nonzero. In particular, Eq. 1 implies

$p/q=(3p-6q)/(3q-p)\text{.....Eq. 2}$

where we already have $2q<p<3q$ and thus $0<3q-p<q$. So the proposed rational fraction $p/q$ must be equal to an alternative rational fraction with a smaller positive denominator. This causes an infinite descent contradiction forcing the assumption of a rational value to be false.

We can form a similar proof for the square root of any natural number that is not a squared integer. "Not a squared integer" is needed because the square root must be strictly between two adjacent integers to obtain a descent of positive denominators.

Oscar Lanzi
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Assume $\sqrt{6} = {a \over b}$ with $a, b \in \mathbb{Z}$ . This implies

$$2 \cdot 3 b^2 = a^2$$

Use the fundamental theorem of algebra to decompose both sides into a unique prime factorization. There are an even number of factors of $2$ on the rhs and an odd number of factors of $2$ on the lhs... a contradition. Same for factors of $3$.

Thus $\sqrt{6} \neq {a \over b}$, i.e., is irrational.

  • Yeah, I tried to reach it without prime factorisation. A second look? – Papa Nov 15 '18 at 02:42
  • You are considering the value of the rhs and lhs of the equation. I am instead looking at the number of prime factors. Frankly, I think that is so much more elegant... but I suppose this is a matter of taste. Mine applies to $\sqrt{5/3}$ whereas yours doesn't... at least not as directly. – David G. Stork Nov 15 '18 at 02:47
  • Our professor used the value way, so I am following his steps for this, though, thanks! – Papa Nov 15 '18 at 02:50
  • Show him/her the better way! And stand out as a student! – David G. Stork Nov 15 '18 at 02:51
  • Well, that doesn t apply in Morocco. Pray for me I win visa lottery so I can join a better faculty in the US :) – Papa Nov 15 '18 at 03:49
  • Well, prayer doesn't work... never has, never will. (Sorry to have to tell you.) But hard study and dedication can work! – David G. Stork Nov 15 '18 at 05:55
  • Thanks, that s what my God actually demands for me as a muslim :) – Papa Nov 18 '18 at 04:51
  • @J.Moh: Oh too bad. Sorry to hear it. – David G. Stork Nov 18 '18 at 05:06
  • Oh No, God demands hard work and dedication, even perfection in a Hadith: if one of you is to do a work, one has to perfect it! That doesn't go against the philosophy of prayer in Islam :) – Papa Nov 18 '18 at 05:09
  • Oh I know the Quran and Hadith very well indeed, and know the demands that it places upon you. It is, though, a simple fact—proven innumerable times—that prayer does not work... never has, never will. But I know I cannot convince you of this fact. I'll let you, as a budding mathematician/scientist, look for objective evidence. (You'll never find it.) . Bye bye. Over and out. – David G. Stork Nov 18 '18 at 05:11
  • Okey :) Though you ll stay responding to my questions if you come about one haha :) – Papa Nov 18 '18 at 05:15
  • I didn t know you re a well establish academic, I am honored to talk to you David :) – Papa Nov 18 '18 at 05:19
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I'll play more generally and see what happens.

Suppose $\sqrt{m} =\dfrac{u}{v} $ where $m = \prod_{p \in P} p^{m_i}, u = \prod_{p \in P} p^{u_i}, v = \prod_{p \in P} p^{v_i} $.

Then $\prod_{p \in P} p^{m_i} =\dfrac{u^2}{v^2} =\dfrac{ \prod_{p \in P} p^{2u_i}}{\prod_{p \in P} p^{2v_i}} $ so $\prod_{p \in P} p^{m_i}\prod_{p \in P} p^{2v_i} =\prod_{p \in P} p^{2u_i} $ or $\prod_{p \in P} p^{m_i+2v_i} =\prod_{p \in P} p^{2u_i} $.

By unique factorization, $m_i+2v_i =2u_i $, so $m_i =2u_i-2v_i =2(u_i-v_i) $.

Therefore $m =\prod_{p \in P} p^{m_i} =\prod_{p \in P} p^{2(u_i-v_i)} =\left(\prod_{p \in P} p^{u_i-v_i}\right)^2 $ so $m$ is a perfect square.

Therefore the square root of an integer is rational only if it is a square.

I'll now try to generalize this to $k$-th roots, with as much cut-and-paste as possible.

Suppose $\sqrt[k]{m} =\dfrac{u}{v} $ where $m = \prod_{p \in P} p^{m_i}, u = \prod_{p \in P} p^{u_i}, v = \prod_{p \in P} p^{v_i} $.

Then $\prod_{p \in P} p^{m_i} =\dfrac{u^k}{v^k} =\dfrac{ \prod_{p \in P} p^{ku_i}}{\prod_{p \in P} p^{kv_i}} $ so $\prod_{p \in P} p^{m_i}\prod_{p \in P} p^{kv_i} =\prod_{p \in P} p^{ku_i} $ or $\prod_{p \in P} p^{m_i+kv_i} =\prod_{p \in P} p^{ku_i} $.

By unique factorization, $m_i+kv_i =ku_i $, so $m_i =ku_i-kv_i =k(u_i-v_i) $.

Therefore $m =\prod_{p \in P} p^{m_i} =\prod_{p \in P} p^{k(u_i-v_i)} =\left(\prod_{p \in P} p^{u_i-v_i}\right)^k $ so $m$ is a perfect $k$-th power.

Therefore the $k$-th root of an integer is rational only if it is a $k$-th power.

marty cohen
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When you get $2p^2 = 3q^2$ that means that $2|q^2$ so $2|q$ and that $3|p^2$ so $3|p$.

Then if you replace $p = 3p'$ for some integer $p'$ and $q=2q'$ for some integer $q'$ you get

$2(3p')^2 = 3(2q')^2$

$18p'^2 = 12q'^2$

$3p'^3 = 2q'^2$.

Can you finish from there?

This assumes you know Euclid's lemma that 1) prime numbers exist and 2) if $p$ is prime and $p|a*b$ then either $p|a$ or $p|b$ (or both).

fleablood
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