Prove that √8 is an irrational number.
As know that 2<√8<3, so if assume (to attempt proof by contradiction) that √8=pq, where p,q are coprime integers; then 2<pq<3.
Attempt 1:
Subtracting 2 from all terms, get : 0<p−2qq<1.
This means p−2q is an integer with no common terms with q. Also q has no common terms with p.
But, p−2q is a linear combination of p,q.
Am unable to use any property of linear combination of co-prime integers to directly prove by contradiction. Request help by this approach.
Attempt 2:
2<pq<3⟹2q<p<3q⟹0<p−2q<q. So, p−2qq is not an integer value & must be <1.
As √8=pq is assumed to be a rational, so its product with p−2q is also rational. But, this product cannot be an integer, as pq(p−2q)=p.p−2qq.
But pq(p−2q)=p2q−2p=8q−2p which is a linear combination of integers. This contradicts the earlier statement.
Answer
Suppose √8=pq where gcd(p,q)=1.
then we can find integer x,y, such that px+qy=1
8q2=p2
Hence p is an even number, p=2k, 2q2=k2
Hence k must also be an even number. k=2l.
2q2=(2l)2
q2=2l2
Hence q must be an even number.
Since p and q are both even. px+qy must be even. They cannot be equal to 1.
Remark:
Once you lose track of the property of √8. Your proof shouldn't work. After all, we know that there are rational numbers between 2 and 3.
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