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Understanding √2: Irrational Proof

Chapter 2 discusses the properties of numbers, specifically focusing on the square root of 2 and its implications in geometry and number theory. It explains the Pythagorean theorem and provides a proof by contradiction to demonstrate that √2 is an irrational number. The proof shows that assuming √2 is rational leads to a contradiction regarding the coprimality of integers, concluding that √2 cannot be expressed as a fraction.

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SOORAJ PRAKASH
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7 views4 pages

Understanding √2: Irrational Proof

Chapter 2 discusses the properties of numbers, specifically focusing on the square root of 2 and its implications in geometry and number theory. It explains the Pythagorean theorem and provides a proof by contradiction to demonstrate that √2 is an irrational number. The proof shows that assuming √2 is rational leads to a contradiction regarding the coprimality of integers, concluding that √2 cannot be expressed as a fraction.

Uploaded by

SOORAJ PRAKASH
Copyright
© All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd

Chapter 2.

NEW NUMBERS
The side of a square of area 2 square metres
is √ 2 metres.

√x is the side of a square of area x, for any positive


number x

Pythagorean theorem
The Pythagorean theorem states that in a right-angled
triangle, the square of the length of the hypotenuse c
is equal to the sum of the squares of the lengths of the
other two sides (the altitude a and the base b). This
can be expressed mathematically as:
c2 = a 2 + b 2

Definition of Rational and Irrational Numbers


To understand why √ 2 cannot be expressed in the
a
form b , where a and b are integers, we need to delve
into the concept of rational and irrational numbers,
particularly through a proof by contradiction.

Proof by Contradiction:
To prove that √ 2 is irrational, we start by assuming
the opposite: that √ 2 is a rational number. Thus, we
can write:
a
√2 = b

where a and b are coprime integers (meaning they


have no common factors other than 1), and b≠0.
Squaring Both Sides:
Squaring both sides gives:
2

2= a
b
2

Multiplying through by b2 results in:


2b2 = a2
This equation indicates that a2 is even (since it
equals 2b2). A fundamental property of numbers states
that if the square of a number is even, then the number
itself must also be even. Therefore, we conclude
that a must be even.

a= 2k
Since a is even, we can express it as:

for some integer k. Substituting this back into our


equation yields:
2b2 = (2k)2 = 4k2
Simplifying gives:
b2 = 2k2
From this equation, we see that b2 is also even,
which implies that b must be even as well.
At this point, we have established that
both a and b are even. However, this contradicts our
initial assumption that they are coprime (since if both
are even, they share at least a factor of 2).
Thus, our assumption that √2 is rational must be
incorrect.
Therefore, we conclude:
The square root of √ 2 is irrational.
Or The square of any fraction is not equal to 2

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