Use proof by Contradiction to prove that the sum of an irrational number and a rational number is irrational.

Chesley

Chesley

Answered question

2020-11-09

Use proof by Contradiction to prove that the sum of an irrational number and a rational number is irrational.

Answer & Explanation

Usamah Prosser

Usamah Prosser

Skilled2020-11-10Added 86 answers

A real number r is rational if and only if there exists two integer a and b such that r=a/b ( b is not equal to zero) Let us assume that x is an irrational number and y is a rational number . Suppose for the sake of contradiction that x+y is not irrational ya/b since s is irrational , x cannot be written as the ratio of two integers Since x+y in not irrational, x+y is rational . By the definition of rational, there exists integers c and d not equal to zero such that x+y=c/d
since y=a/b
x+a/b=c/d
x=c/da/b
x=(bcad)/bd Since a,b,c,d are integers bc - ad and bd are also integers. Moreover bd is zero as b and d are both non zero. However , this then implies that x is a rational number (as it is written as the ratio of tow integers). which is in contradiction with the fact that with the fact that x is an irrational number. Thus our supposition that x+y is not irrational is false. Which means that x+y is irrational .

nick1337

nick1337

Expert2023-06-11Added 777 answers

To prove that the sum of an irrational number and a rational number is irrational using proof by contradiction, we assume the opposite, i.e., we assume that the sum of an irrational number a and a rational number b is rational. Let's denote the sum as c:
c=a+b
Now, since a is irrational and b is rational, we can express a as the difference between c and b:
a=cb
We know that the difference between a rational number and a rational number is always rational. Since b is rational and c is the sum of an irrational number and a rational number (which we assumed to be rational), then cb must also be rational.
However, we have a contradiction since we initially assumed that a is irrational. Thus, our assumption that the sum of an irrational number and a rational number is rational must be false. Therefore, the sum of an irrational number and a rational number is indeed irrational.
Vasquez

Vasquez

Expert2023-06-11Added 669 answers

Step 1:
Let's denote the irrational number as a and the rational number as b. We assume that a+b is rational, so we can express it as a+b=c, where c is a rational number.
Since b is rational, we can express it as b=pq, where p and q are integers with q0.
Step 2:
Now, let's express a as the sum of its rational and irrational parts: a=x+y, where x is the rational part and y is the irrational part.
Substituting these values into the equation a+b=c, we have:
x+y+pq=c
Rearranging the terms, we get:
y=cxpq
Since c, x, and pq are rational numbers (as the sum of rational numbers is rational), the difference y must also be rational.
However, this contradicts the assumption that y is the irrational part of a. Therefore, our initial assumption that a+b is rational must be false.
Hence, we conclude that the sum of an irrational number and a rational number is irrational.
RizerMix

RizerMix

Expert2023-06-11Added 656 answers

Let a be an irrational number and b be a rational number. We assume that their sum, a+b, is rational.
By definition, a rational number can be expressed as the ratio of two integers. So, we can write b as b=pq, where p and q are integers and q0.
Since a is irrational and b is rational, their sum can be written as a+b=x, where x is rational. Now, we can express a as a=xb.
Substituting the values of a and b, we have a=xpq.
Now, we want to show that a is rational, which contradicts the assumption that a is irrational.
Let's consider the expression for a and simplify it:
a=xpq=qxpq
Since x and p are rational numbers, the numerator qxp is also rational.
Dividing a rational number by a non-zero rational number yields another rational number. Since q is a non-zero integer, the denominator q is a non-zero rational number.
Therefore, qxpq is the quotient of two rational numbers and is itself a rational number.
However, this contradicts our assumption that a is irrational. Therefore, our initial assumption that the sum of an irrational number and a rational number is rational must be false.
Hence, we can conclude that the sum of an irrational number and a rational number is irrational.

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