Question

Prove that √2 is an irrational number.​

Answer 1

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Let us assume that √2 is a rational number.

So it can be expressed in the form p/q where p, q are co-prime integers and q≠0

√2 = p/q

Here p and q are coprime numbers and q ≠ 0

Solving

√2 = p/q

On squaring both the side we get,

=>2 = (p/q)2

=> 2q2 = p2……………………………..(1)

p2/2 = q2

So 2 divides p and p is a multiple of 2.

⇒ p = 2m

⇒ p² = 4m² ………………………………..(2)

From equations (1) and (2), we get,

2q² = 4m²

⇒ q² = 2m²

⇒ q² is a multiple of 2

⇒ q is a multiple of 2

Hence, p, q have a common factor 2. This contradicts our assumption that they are co-primes. Therefore, p/q is not a rational number

√2 is an irrational number.

Answer 2

If we substitute a = 2k into the original equation 2 = a2/b2, this is what we get:

2 = (2k)2/b2

2 = 4k2/b2

2*b2 = 4k2

b2 = 2k2

This means that b2 is even, from which follows again that b itself is even. And that is a contradiction!!!