CHAPTER 1

REAL NUMBERS

(A) Main Concepts and Results

• Euclid’s Division Lemma : Given two positive integers a and b, there exist unique
integers q and r satisfying a = bq + r, 0 ≤ r < b.
• Euclid’s Division Algorithm to obtain the HCF of two positive integers, say c and d,
c > d.
Step 1 : Apply Euclid’s division lemma to c and d, to find whole numbers q and r,
such that c = dq + r, 0 ≤ r < d.
Step 2 : If r = 0, d is the HCF of c and d. If r ≠ 0, apply the division lemma to
d and r.
Step 3 : Continue the process till the remainder is zero. The divisor at this stage
will be the required HCF.
• Fundamental Theorem of Arithmetic : Every composite number can be expressed
as a product of primes, and this expression (factorisation) is unique, apart from the
order in which the prime factors occur.
• Let p be a prime number. If p divides a2, then p divides a, where a is a positive
integer.
• 2, 3, 5 are irrational numbers.
• The sum or difference of a rational and an irrational number is irrational.
• The product or quotient of a non-zero rational number and an irrational number is
irrational.
• For any two positive integers a and b, HCF (a, b) × LCM (a, b) = a × b.

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 Exemplar Problems

Exercise : 1.1
1. REAL NUMBERS 3

The largest number which

n2 – 1 is divides
divisible 70ifand
by 8, n is125, leaving remainders 5 and 8,
respectively, is:
(A) an integer (B) a natural number
(A) 13
(B) 65 (C) an odd integer (D) an even integer
(C) 875 4. If the HCF of 65 and 117 is expressible in the form 65m – 117, then the value of m is
(D) 1750
(A) 4 (B) 2
SOLUTION:
(C) 1 (D) 3
Step 1: Understand the requirement . The required
number must5. divide 70 leaving a remainder of 5,
and divide 125 leaving a remainder of 8. This implies
that the number must exactly
respectively, is divide (70 - 5) and
(125 - 8).
(A) 13 (B) 65
Step 2: Subtract the remainders.
(C) 875 (D) 1750
70 - 5 = 65 6. If two positive integers a and b are written as
125 - 8 = 117
a = x3y2 and b = xy3; x, y are prime numbers, then HCF (a, b) is
Step 3: Find the(A)Highest
xy Common Factor
(B) (HCF) xy 2 of 65 and
(C)117. Byx 3 yPrime
3 Factorisation
(D) x 2Method:
y2
65 = 5 × 137. If two positive integers p and q can be expressed as
117 = 3 × 3 × 13 = 32 ×213
p = ab and q = a3b; a, b being prime numbers, then LCM (p, q) is
Step 4: Identify(A)the HCF.
ab The product
(B) a 2of
b 2 the smallest
(C)power
a 3 b 2 of each common prime
(D) factor
a 3 b 3 is:
HCF(65, 117)8. = The
13 product of a non-zero rational and an irrational number is

Therefore, the(A) always

largest irrational
number (B) always
that divides 70 and 125 leaving rational
remainders 5 and 8 respectively is 13.
(C) rational or irrational (D) one
Correct Option: (A)
9. The least number that is divisible by all the numbers from 1 to 10 (both inclusive) is
(A) 10 (B) 100 (C) 504 (D) 2520
2.

If two positive
14587
10. integers a and
The decimal b are written
expansion of theas a = x3y2
rational and b = xy3, where
number x, y are prime
will terminate after: numbers,
then HCF(a, b) is: 1250
(A) xy (A) one decimal place (B) two decimal places
(B) xy2 (C) three decimal places (D) four decimal places
(C) x3y3
(D) x2y2
(C) Short Answer Questions with Reasoning
SOLUTION:
Sample Question 1: The values of the remainder r, when a positive integer a is
Given expressions:
divided by 3 are 0 and 1 only. Justify your answer.
a = x3 · y2 Solution : No.
b = x1 · y3

Concept: According to the Fundamental Theorem of Arithmetic, the HCF of two numbers is the product
of the lowest power of each common prime factor involved in the numbers.

Lowest power of prime factor x in a and b is x1 .

Lowest power of prime factor y in a and b is y2 .
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HCF(a, b) = x1 · y2 = xy2

Correct Option: (B)

3.

If two positive integers p and q can be expressed as p = ab2 and q = a3b; where a, b are prime
numbers, then LCM(p, q) is:
4 EXEMPLAR PROBLEMS
(A) ab
(B) a2b2
(C) a3b2 According to Euclid’s division lemma,
(D) a3b3
a = 3q + r, where 0 ≤ r < 3
SOLUTION:and r is an integer. Therefore, the values of r can be 0, 1 or 2.
Sample Question 2: Can the number 6n, n being a natural number, end with the
Given expressions:
digit 5? Give reasons.
p = a1 · b2 n n n n
q = a3 · b1 Solution : No, because 6 = (2 × 3) = 2 × 3 , so the only primes in the factorisation
of 6n are 2 and 3, and not 5.
Concept: The LCM of two numbers is the product of the highest power of each prime factor involved in
Hence, it cannot end with the digit 5.
the numbers.

Highest power of prime factor a is a3 .

Highest power of prime factor b is b2 . EXERCISE 1.2
LCM(p, q) 1.
= a3Write
· b2 = whether
a3b2 every positive integer can be of the form 4q + 2, where q is an
integer. Justify your answer.
Correct Option: (C)
2. “The product of two consecutive positive integers is divisible by 2”. Is this statement
true or false? Give reasons.
3. “The product of three consecutive positive integers is divisible by 6”. Is this statement
4.
true or false”? Justify your answer.
The product
4. of a non-zero
Write whetherrational andof
the square anany
irrational
positivenumber is: be of the form 3m + 2, where
integer can
m is a natural number. Justify your answer.
(A) always irrational
(B) always rational
5. orAirrational
(C) rational positive integer is of the form 3q + 1, q being a natural number. Can you write its
(D) one square in any form other than 3m + 1, i.e., 3m or 3m + 2 for some integer m? Justify
your answer.
SOLUTION:
6. The numbers 525 and 3000 are both divisible only by 3, 5, 15, 25 and 75. What is
HCF (525,Let
Proof by Contradiction: 3000)?
r be aJustify yourrational
non-zero [Link] and α be an irrational number. Let us
assume their product is a rational number, say k.
7. Explain why 3 × 5 × 7 + 7 is a composite number.
r ×α = k ⇒
8.α =Can
k / rtwo numbers have 18 as their HCF and 380 as their LCM? Give reasons.

Since k is rational and r is a non-zero rational, their quotient k / r must also be a rational number.
This implies that α is a rational number. However, this contradicts987 our given fact that α is irrational.
Hence, [Link]
Without actually performing
was wrong. the longofdivision,
The product findrational
a non-zero if will have
number andterminating
an irrational number
is always irrational.
10500
or non-terminating (repeating) decimal expansion. Give reasons for your answer.
Correct Option: (A)
10. A rational number in its decimal expansion is 327.7081. What can you say about
p
the prime factors of q, when this number is expressed in the form q ? Give reasons.

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5.

The least number that is divisible by all the numbers from 1 to 10 (both inclusive) is:
(A) 10 (B) 100 (C) 504 (D) 2520
REAL NUMBERS 5
SOLUTION:
(D) Short Answer Questions
Concept: The least number divisible by all numbers from 1 to 10 is the LCM of 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9,
10. Sample Question 1: Using Euclid’s division algorithm, find which of the following
pairs of numbers are co-prime:
Prime Factorisation of numbers:
(i) 231, 396 (ii) 847, 2160
1=1
2 = 21 Solution : Let us find the HCF of each pair of numbers.
3 = 31
4 = 22 (i) 396 = 231 × 1 + 165
5 = 51
6 = 21 × 31 231 = 165 × 1 + 66
7 = 71
8 = 23 165 = 66 × 2 + 33
9 = 32
10 = 21 × 51 66 = 33 × 2 + 0
Finding LCM: Take the
Therefore, HCFproduct of prime
= 33. Hence, factorsare
numbers raised
not to their highest powers:
co-prime.
LCM = 23(ii)
× 32 ×2160 = 847 × 2 + 466
51 × 71
LCM = 8 × 9 × 5 × 7
LCM = 72 × 35 =847
2520= 466 × 1 + 381

Correct Option:466
(D) = 381 × 1 + 85
381 = 85 × 4 + 41
85 = 41 × 2 + 3
41 = 3 × 13 + 2
3 = 2×1 + 1
2 = 1×2 + 0
Therefore, the HCF = 1. Hence, the numbers are co-prime.
Sample Question 2: Show that the square of an odd positive integer is of the form
8m + 1, for some whole number m.
Solution: Any positive odd integer is of the form 2q + 1, where q is a whole number.
Therefore, (2q + 1)2 = 4q2 + 4q + 1 = 4q (q + 1) + 1, (1)
q (q + 1) is either 0 or even. So, it is 2m, where m is a whole number.
Therefore, (2q + 1)2 = 4.2 m + 1 = 8 m + 1. [From (1)]

Sample Question 3: Prove that 2 + 3 is irrational.

Solution : Let us suppose that 2 + 3 is rational. Let 2 + 3 = a , where a is
rational.

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Exercise : 1.2

6 EXEMPLAR PROBLEMS

Therefore, 2 = a− 3
Squaring on both sides, we get

2 = a2 + 3 – 2a 3

a 2 +1
Therefore, 3= , which is a contradiction as the right hand side is a rational
2a
number while 3 is irrational. Hence, 2 + 3 is irrational.

EXERCISE 1.3
1. Show that the square of any positive integer is either of the form 4q or 4q + 1 for
some integer q.
2. Show that cube of any positive integer is of the form 4m, 4m + 1 or 4m + 3, for
some integer m.
3. Show that the square of any positive integer cannot be of the form 5q + 2 or
5q + 3 for any integer q.
4. Show that the square of any positive integer cannot be of the form 6m + 2 or
6m + 5 for any integer m.
5. Show that the square of any odd integer is of the form 4q + 1, for some integer q.
6. If n is an odd integer, then show that n2 – 1 is divisible by 8.
7. Prove that if x and y are both odd positive integers, then x2 + y2 is even but not
divisible by 4.
8. Use Euclid’s division algorithm to find the HCF of 441, 567, 693.
9. Using Euclid’s division algorithm, find the largest number that divides 1251, 9377
and 15628 leaving remainders 1, 2 and 3, respectively.

10. Prove that 3 + 5 is irrational.

11. Show that 12n cannot end with the digit 0 or 5 for any natural number n.
12. On a morning walk, three persons step off together and their steps measure 40 cm,
42 cm and 45 cm, respectively. What is the minimum distance each should walk so
that each can cover the same distance in complete steps?

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REAL NUMBERS 7

257
13. Write the denominator of the rational number in the form 2m × 5n, where
5000
m, n are non-negative integers. Hence, write its decimal expansion, without actual
division.

14. Prove that p + q is irrational, where p, q are primes.

(E) Long Answer Questions

Sample Question 1 : Show that the square of an odd positive integer can be of the
form 6q + 1 or 6q + 3 for some integer q.
Solution : We know that any positive integer can be of the form 6m, 6m + 1, 6m + 2,
6m + 3, 6m + 4 or 6m + 5, for some integer m.
Thus, an odd positive integer can be of the form 6m + 1, 6m + 3, or 6m + 5
Thus we have:
(6 m +1)2 = 36 m2 + 12 m + 1 = 6 (6 m2 + 2 m) + 1 = 6 q + 1, q is an integer
(6 m + 3)2 = 36 m2 + 36 m + 9 = 6 (6 m2 + 6 m + 1) + 3 = 6 q + 3, q is an integer
(6 m + 5)2 = 36 m2 + 60 m + 25 = 6 (6 m2 + 10 m + 4) + 1 = 6 q + 1, q is an integer.
Thus, the square of an odd positive integer can be of the form 6q + 1 or 6q + 3.
EXERCISE 1.4
1. Show that the cube of a positive integer of the form 6q + r, q is an integer and
r = 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 is also of the form 6m + r.
2. Prove that one and only one out of n, n + 2 and n + 4 is divisible by 3, where n is
any positive integer.
3. Prove that one of any three consecutive positive integers must be divisible by 3.
4. For any positive integer n, prove that n3 – n is divisible by 6.
5. Show that one and only one out of n, n + 4, n + 8, n + 12 and n + 16 is divisible
by 5, where n is any positive integer.
[Hint: Any positive integer can be written in the form 5q, 5q+1, 5q+2, 5q+3,
5q+4].

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