Discrete Mathematics and Its Applications, Seventh Edition

Published by McGraw-Hill Education
ISBN 10: 0073383090
ISBN 13: 978-0-07338-309-5

Chapter 1 - Section 1.7 - Introduction to Proofs - Exercises - Page 91: 13

Answer

proof below.

Work Step by Step

This is a direct proof, so we go from assumption toward result using definitions. Let $x$ be an irrational number. Then it cannot be expressed as $\frac{m}{n}$ for any two integers $m$ and $n$. Instead, represent $x$ in simplest form as $\frac{a}{b}$, where either $a$, $b$, or both are not integers. $1/x$ is thus $\frac{b}{a}$. Because $x=\frac{a}{b}$ was in its simplest form, there is no common factor to remove from $\frac{b}{a}$. Because $a$ and $b$ are not both integers, $1/x$ is irrational.
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