UrbanPro

Your Worksheet is Ready

CBSE - Class 10 Mathematics Real numbers Worksheet

EXERCISE 1.2

1.
Prove that $\sqrt{5}$ is irrational.
2.
Prove that $3 + 2\sqrt{5}$ is irrational.
3.
Prove that the following are irrationals : (iii) $6 + \sqrt{2}$
4.
Prove that the following are irrationals : (i) $\frac{1}{\sqrt{2}}$
5.
Prove that the following are irrationals : (ii) $7\sqrt{5}$

Worksheet Answers

Solution:

Given: The number $\sqrt{5}$.

To Prove: $\sqrt{5}$ is an irrational number.

Step 1: Assumption for Contradiction
Let us assume, to the contrary, that $\sqrt{5}$ is a rational number. By the definition of rational numbers, if $\sqrt{5}$ is rational, it can be expressed in the form $\frac{a}{b}$, where $a$ and $b$ are integers, $b \neq 0$, and $a$ and $b$ are coprime (i.e., their highest common factor, $\text{HCF}(a, b) = 1$).

Step 2: Algebraic Manipulation
We have:
$\sqrt{5} = \frac{a}{b}$
Squaring both sides, we get:
$(\sqrt{5})^2 = (\frac{a}{b})^2$
$5 = \frac{a^2}{b^2}$
$a^2 = 5b^2$ --- (Equation 1)

Step 3: Applying the Fundamental Theorem of Arithmetic
From Equation 1, it is evident that $a^2$ is divisible by $5$.
[Theorem: If a prime number $p$ divides $a^2$, then $p$ divides $a$, where $a$ is a positive integer.]
Therefore, $a$ must also be divisible by $5$.
We can write $a = 5k$ for some integer $k$.

Step 4: Substitution and Further Deduction
Substitute $a = 5k$ into Equation 1:
$(5k)^2 = 5b^2$
$25k^2 = 5b^2$
Divide both sides by $5$:
$b^2 = 5k^2$
This implies that $b^2$ is divisible by $5$.
Following the same theorem as in Step 3, if $b^2$ is divisible by $5$, then $b$ must also be divisible by $5$.

Step 5: Analysis of the Contradiction
From Step 3 and Step 4, we have concluded that both $a$ and $b$ have at least $5$ as a common factor. This contradicts our initial assumption that $a$ and $b$ are coprime (i.e., $\text{HCF}(a, b) = 1$).

Step 6: Conclusion
The contradiction has arisen because of our incorrect assumption that $\sqrt{5}$ is a rational number. Therefore, we conclude that $\sqrt{5}$ must be irrational.

Final Answer: Since the assumption that $\sqrt{5}$ is rational leads to a contradiction, it is proven that $\sqrt{5}$ is an irrational number.

Solution:

Given: A real number $3 + 2\sqrt{5}$.

To Prove: $3 + 2\sqrt{5}$ is an irrational number.

Step 1: Assumption for Contradiction
Let us assume, to the contrary, that $3 + 2\sqrt{5}$ is a rational number. By the definition of rational numbers, if a number is rational, it can be expressed in the form $\frac{p}{q}$, where $p$ and $q$ are integers, $q \neq 0$, and $p$ and $q$ are coprime (i.e., they have no common factors other than 1).

Step 2: Setting up the Equation
Based on our assumption, we can write:
$3 + 2\sqrt{5} = \frac{p}{q}$

Step 3: Isolating the Irrational Part
We perform algebraic manipulations to isolate the term containing the square root.
Subtract 3 from both sides:
$2\sqrt{5} = \frac{p}{q} - 3$
$2\sqrt{5} = \frac{p - 3q}{q}$

Now, divide both sides by 2:
$\sqrt{5} = \frac{p - 3q}{2q}$

Step 4: Analyzing the Rationality of the Expression
Since $p$ and $q$ are integers, the expression $\frac{p - 3q}{2q}$ must also be a rational number because:
1. The difference of two integers ($p - 3q$) is an integer.
2. The product of two integers ($2q$) is an integer.
3. The quotient of two integers (where the denominator is non-zero) is a rational number.

Step 5: Identifying the Contradiction
From our equation in Step 3, we have:
$\sqrt{5} = \text{a rational number}$

However, we know from the fundamental properties of real numbers that $\sqrt{5}$ is an irrational number. This creates a contradiction because a number cannot be both rational and irrational simultaneously.

Step 6: Conclusion
The contradiction has arisen because of our initial incorrect assumption that $3 + 2\sqrt{5}$ is a rational number. Therefore, we conclude that our assumption is false and $3 + 2\sqrt{5}$ must be irrational.

Final Answer: Since the assumption that $3 + 2\sqrt{5}$ is rational leads to a contradiction, it is proven that $3 + 2\sqrt{5}$ is an irrational number.

Solution:

Given: A real number $6 + \sqrt{2}$.

To Prove: $6 + \sqrt{2}$ is an irrational number.

Step 1: Assumption for Contradiction
To prove that $6 + \sqrt{2}$ is irrational, we begin by assuming the contrary. Let us assume that $6 + \sqrt{2}$ is a rational number. [By the method of contradiction].

Step 2: Definition of Rational Numbers
If $6 + \sqrt{2}$ is a rational number, then it can be expressed in the form $\frac{p}{q}$, where $p$ and $q$ are integers, $q \neq 0$, and $p$ and $q$ are coprime (i.e., they have no common factors other than 1).
Thus, we can write:
$6 + \sqrt{2} = \frac{p}{q}$

Step 3: Algebraic Rearrangement
We isolate the irrational part ($\sqrt{2}$) on one side of the equation to analyze its nature:
$\sqrt{2} = \frac{p}{q} - 6$
$\sqrt{2} = \frac{p - 6q}{q}$

Step 4: Analyzing the Right-Hand Side (RHS)
Since $p$ and $q$ are integers, $6$ is an integer, and the difference of two integers ($p - 6q$) is also an integer. Similarly, $q$ is an integer. Therefore, $\frac{p - 6q}{q}$ is a quotient of two integers, which satisfies the definition of a rational number. [Since the set of rational numbers is closed under subtraction and division].

Step 5: Analyzing the Left-Hand Side (LHS) and Identifying Contradiction
From Step 4, we have concluded that the RHS ($\frac{p - 6q}{q}$) is rational. This implies that the LHS ($\sqrt{2}$) must also be rational.
However, we know from the fundamental theorem of real numbers that $\sqrt{2}$ is an irrational number. [A well-established mathematical fact].

Step 6: Conclusion
Our assumption that $6 + \sqrt{2}$ is rational has led to a contradiction, as it implies $\sqrt{2}$ is rational, which is false. Therefore, our initial assumption must be incorrect.
Hence, it is proved that $6 + \sqrt{2}$ is an irrational number.

Final Answer: Since the assumption that $6 + \sqrt{2}$ is rational leads to a contradiction, $6 + \sqrt{2}$ is an irrational number.

Solution:

Given: A number $\frac{1}{\sqrt{2}}$.

To Prove: $\frac{1}{\sqrt{2}}$ is an irrational number.

Step 1: Assumption for Proof by Contradiction
Let us assume, to the contrary, that $\frac{1}{\sqrt{2}}$ is a rational number. By the definition of rational numbers, if a number is rational, it can be expressed in the form $\frac{p}{q}$, where $p$ and $q$ are integers, $q \neq 0$, and $p$ and $q$ are coprime (i.e., their greatest common divisor $\text{gcd}(p, q) = 1$).

Therefore, we can write:
$\frac{1}{\sqrt{2}} = \frac{a}{b}$
where $a$ and $b$ are integers, $b \neq 0$, and $\text{gcd}(a, b) = 1$.

Step 2: Algebraic Manipulation
To isolate the radical term, we rearrange the equation:
$\frac{1}{\sqrt{2}} = \frac{a}{b}$
Taking the reciprocal of both sides:
$\sqrt{2} = \frac{b}{a}$

Step 3: Analyzing the Rationality
Since $a$ and $b$ are integers, the quotient $\frac{b}{a}$ must be a rational number by the definition of rational numbers (the ratio of two integers is rational).
[Since $a, b \in \mathbb{Z}$ and $a \neq 0$, $\frac{b}{a} \in \mathbb{Q}$]

This implies that $\sqrt{2}$ is a rational number.

Step 4: Identifying the Contradiction
We know from the fundamental theorems of real numbers that $\sqrt{2}$ is an irrational number. Our assumption that $\frac{1}{\sqrt{2}}$ is rational has led to the conclusion that $\sqrt{2}$ is rational, which contradicts the established mathematical fact that $\sqrt{2}$ is irrational.

[Since the assumption leads to a contradiction, the initial assumption must be false.]

Step 5: Conclusion
Because the assumption that $\frac{1}{\sqrt{2}}$ is rational leads to a contradiction, we must conclude that $\frac{1}{\sqrt{2}}$ is irrational.

Final Answer: Since the assumption that $\frac{1}{\sqrt{2}}$ is rational leads to a contradiction, it is proven that $\frac{1}{\sqrt{2}}$ is an irrational number.

Solution:

Given: A number $7\sqrt{5}$.

To Prove: That $7\sqrt{5}$ is an irrational number.

Step 1: Assumption for the Method of Contradiction
To prove that $7\sqrt{5}$ is irrational, we assume the contrary. Let us assume that $7\sqrt{5}$ is a rational number.

Step 2: Definition of Rational Numbers
If $7\sqrt{5}$ is a rational number, then by definition, it can be expressed in the form $\frac{a}{b}$, where $a$ and $b$ are integers, $b \neq 0$, and $a$ and $b$ are co-prime (i.e., their highest common factor, $HCF(a, b) = 1$).

So, we can write:
$7\sqrt{5} = \frac{a}{b}$

Step 3: Algebraic Manipulation
We isolate the square root term on one side of the equation to analyze its nature.
Divide both sides of the equation by $7$:
$\sqrt{5} = \frac{a}{7b}$

Step 4: Analyzing the Rationality of the Expression
Since $a$ and $b$ are integers, $7$ is also an integer. Therefore, the expression $\frac{a}{7b}$ is a ratio of two integers. By the definition of rational numbers, any number that can be expressed as a quotient of two integers (where the denominator is non-zero) is a rational number.

Thus, $\frac{a}{7b}$ is a rational number.

Step 5: Identifying the Contradiction
From the equation in Step 3, we have:
$\sqrt{5} = \text{a rational number}$

However, it is a well-established mathematical fact (proven via the Fundamental Theorem of Arithmetic) that $\sqrt{5}$ is an irrational number.

[Since the assumption that $7\sqrt{5}$ is rational leads to the conclusion that $\sqrt{5}$ is rational, which contradicts the known fact that $\sqrt{5}$ is irrational, our initial assumption must be false.]

Step 6: Conclusion
Since the assumption that $7\sqrt{5}$ is rational leads to a contradiction, we conclude that $7\sqrt{5}$ must be irrational.

Final Answer: Since the assumption that $7\sqrt{5}$ is rational leads to a contradiction, it is proven that $7\sqrt{5}$ is an irrational number.

This website uses cookies

We use cookies to improve user experience. Choose what cookies you allow us to use. You can read more about our Cookie Policy in our Privacy Policy

Accept All
Decline All