Friday 16 December 2016

elementary number theory - Prove that $sqrt 2 + sqrt 3$ is irrational




I have proved in earlier exercises of this book that $\sqrt 2$ and $\sqrt 3$ are irrational. Then, the sum of two irrational numbers is an irrational number. Thus, $\sqrt 2 + \sqrt 3$ is irrational. My first question is, is this reasoning correct?



Secondly, the book wants me to use the fact that if $n$ is an integer that is not a perfect square, then $\sqrt n$ is irrational. This means that $\sqrt 6$ is irrational. How are we to use this fact? Can we reason as follows:




$\sqrt 6$ is irrational



$\Rightarrow \sqrt{2 \cdot 3}$ is irrational.



$\Rightarrow \sqrt 2 \cdot \sqrt 3$ is irrational



$\Rightarrow \sqrt 2$ or $\sqrt 3$ or both are irrational.



$\Rightarrow \sqrt 2 + \sqrt 3$ is irrational.




Is this way of reasoning correct?


Answer



If $\sqrt{2} + \sqrt{3}$ is rational, then so is $(\sqrt{2} + \sqrt{3})^2 = 5 + 2 \sqrt{6}$. But this is absurd since $\sqrt{6}$ is irrational.


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