SA3 marksYear: 2023MediumCBSE Class 10
real-numbersirrational-numbersproof-by-contradiction
Question
Prove that 3 is an irrational number. Solution
1
Let 3 be a rational number. Then 3=qp, where p and q are co-primes and q=0. +0.5 marks2
3q2=p2⇒p2 is divisible by 3⇒p is divisible by 3
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⇒p=3a, where a is some integer ... (i)
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9a2=3q2⇒q2=3a2⇒q2 is divisible by 3⇒q is divisible by 3
⇒q=3b, where b is some integer ... (ii)
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(i) and (ii) lead to contradiction as p and q are co-primes.
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∴3 is an irrational number. +0.5 marks