Friday, 7 March 2014

sequences and series - Show that esqrt2 is irrational



I'm trying to prove that e2 is irrational. My approach:
e2+e2=2k=02k(2k)!=:2s

Define sn:=nk=02k(2k)!, then:
ssn=k=n+12k(2k)!=2n+1(2n+2)!k=02k2kk=1(2n+2+k)<2n+1(2n+2)!k=02k(2n+3)2k=2n+1(2n+2)!(2n+3)2(2n+3)22
Now assume s=pq for p,qN. This implies:
$$
0<\frac{p}{q}-s_n<\frac{2^{n+1}}{(2n+2)!}\frac{(2n+3)^2}{(2n+3)^2-2}\iff\\
0$$
But (p(2n)!2nqsn(2n)!2n)N which is a contradiction for large n. Thus s is irrational. Can we somehow use this to prove e2 is irrational?



Answer



Since the sum of two rational numbers is rational, one or both of e2
and e2 is irrational. But, e2=1/e2,
and hence both are irrational.


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