E.g.
8/11, -3/17
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5. Irrational Numbers: All the numbers that cannot be written in the p/q form are
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called irrational numbers. All the non-terminating and non-repeating decimal
numbers are irrational numbers.
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E.g. √5, √3, √5 + √3, π
Fundamental Theorem of Arithmetic
To understand the fundamental theorem of Arithmetic, first, it is important to know
what are composite numbers and prime numbers.
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Composite Number
Composite Numbers are those numbers that have at least one factor other than one
and the number itself. uR
Consider a number, 10. Now, the factors of 10 are 1, 2, 5 and 10. So it is a composite
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number.
Prime Number
Prime Numbers are those numbers that have exactly two factors: 1 and the number
itself.
Let us take one more number 23. Now, the factors of 23 are 1 and 23. That means it
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has two factors 1 and the number itself, which is called a prime number.
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Prime and Composite Numbers
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Theorem: Fundamental Theorem of Arithmetic states that every composite
number can be expressed as a product of primes, and this factorization is unique,
apart from the order in which the prime factors occur.
Any composite number can be written as a product of primes in one way only as long
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as we are not particular about the order in which the primes occur.
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Let us consider an example here: we will use a tree diagram to show the factors of
270.
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270 = 2 x 33 x 5
Here, in the prime factorization of 270, the prime numbers appearing in both cases
are the same, only the order in which they appear is different.
Therefore, the prime factorization of 270 is unique except for the order in which the
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primes occur.
Example 1: Check whether 15n can end with the digit zero for any natural number
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n.
Sol:
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Example 2: Explain, why (7 × 6 × 5 × 4 × 3 × 2 × 1) + 5 and (3 × 5 × 13 × 46) + 23 is a
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composite number?
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Sol:
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HCF and LCM by Prime Factorisation Method
In this method, we first express the given numbers as a product of prime factors
separately. Then, HCF is the product of the smaller power of each common prime
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factor in the numbers, and LCM is the product of the greatest power of each prime
factor involved in the numbers.
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For any two positive integers a and b,
HCF (a, b) × LCM (a, b) = a × b
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Example 3: Find the LCM and HCF of 120 and 144 by the fundamental arithmetic
theorem.
Sol:
120 = 23 × 3 × 5
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144 = 24 × 32
Now, HCF is the product of the smallest power of each common prime factor in the
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numbers.
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HCF (120, 144) = 23 × 3 = 8 × 3 = 24
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LCM is the product of the greatest power of each prime factor involved in the
numbers.
LCM (120,144) = 24 × 32 × 5 = 16 × 9 × 5 = 720
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Example 4: If two positive integers p and q can be expressed as p = ab2 and q = a3b,
where a, b are prime numbers, find the LCM (p, q).
Sol: uR
Given: p = ab2 and q = a3b
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LCM is the product of the greatest power of each prime factor involved in the
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numbers.
LCM (p, q) = a3 × b2 = a3b2
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Example 5: Write the HCF and LCM of the smallest odd composite number and the
smallest odd prime number.
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Sol:
The smallest odd composite number is 9, and the smallest odd prime number is 3.
9 = 32
3 = 31
Now, the smallest power of the common prime factor is 31.
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HCF (9, 3) = 3
The greatest power of the common prime factor is 32.
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LCM (9, 3) = 32 = 9
Example 6: If HCF (253,440) = 11 and LCM (253,440)= 253 × R. Find the value of R.
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Sol:
We know that,
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HCF (a, b) × LCM (a, b) = a × b
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∴ HCF (253, 440) × LCM (253, 440) = 253 × 440
11 × 253 × R = 253 × 440
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R = 253 x 440 / 253 x 11
R = 40
Example 7: Ravi and Shikha drive around a circular sports field. Ravi takes 16 min
to complete one round, while Shikha completes the round in 20 min. If both start
at the same point, at the same time, and go in the same direction, then how much
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time will they meet at the starting point?
Sol:
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Time taken by Ravi to drive one round of the circular field = 16 min. Time taken by
Shikha to drive one round of the circular field =20 min.
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The time after which they will again meet at the starting point will be equal to the
LCM of 16 min and 20 min.
16 = 24
20 = 22 × 5
LCM(16, 20) = 24 × 5 = 16 × 5 = 80
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Therefore, Ravi and Shikha will meet again at the starting point after 80 min.
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Try yourself: According to the Fundamental Theorem of Arithmetic, which of the
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following statements is true?
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a. Every prime number can be expressed as a product of composites.
b. Every composite number can be expressed as a product of primes, and this
factorization is unique.
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c. Every natural number can be expressed as a product of two prime numbers.
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d. Every prime number can be expressed as a product of other prime numbers.
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View Solution
Revisiting Irrational Numbers
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Irrational numbers are those numbers that cannot be written in the form p/q, where p
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and q are integers and q ≠0. E.g.,√2, √3, √15
The square roots of all the numbers do not give an irrational number.
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For example, √2 is an irrational number, but √4 = 2, which is rational.
Therefore, the square roots of all prime numbers are irrational.
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If p is a prime number, then √p is an irrational number.
Theorem : If a prime number p divides a2, then p divides a, where a is a positive
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integer.
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Theorem: Prove that √2 is an irrational number.
Sol:
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Example 8: Show that 3√2 is an irrational number.
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Sol:
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Example 9: Show that 5 − √3 is irrational.
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Sol:
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