Monday, 8 February 2016

Prove $ sqrt{1 + sqrt[3]{2}} $ is irrational using the theorem about rational roots of a polynomial




I'm having trouble with this specific problem at the moment. The theorem states that if $n/m$ is a rational root of a polynomial with integer coefficients, the leading coefficient is divisible by m and the free coefficient is divisible by n.



Using this theorem, I'm supposed to prove that $ \sqrt{1 + \sqrt[3]{2}} $ is irrational.
I don't have any idea where to start on this one.



Any help or hints are appreciated.


Answer



You want to use the rational root theorem.




Hint: Let $x= \sqrt{1 + \sqrt[3]{2}}$, then, $x^2 = 1+ \sqrt[3]{2}$, so $(x^2-1) = \sqrt[3]{2}$. Hence, $(x^2-1)^3 = 2$.


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