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 1.8 - Proof Methods and Strategy - Exercises - Page 109: 34

Answer

We will use prove by contradiction technique in order to prove that $\sqrt[3] 2$ is irrational we try to prove that $\sqrt[3] 2$ is rational.

Work Step by Step

here is the step by step solution to this question Let us assume $\sqrt[3]{2}$ is rational, i.e $\sqrt[3]{2}=a / b$ (a and b are integers) Now, by taking cube on both sides $2=\frac{a^{3}}{b^{3}}$ $ \Rightarrow a^{3}=2 b^{3}$ Now, $a^3$ is an even integer since $b^3$ is multiplied by 2 and hence a will also be an even integer. So we can write $a = 2c$ (let c be another arbitrary constant)Now, cube on both sides. $a^{3}=8 c^{3}$ $2 b^{3}=a^{3}=8 c^{3}$ $8^{3}=4 c^{3}$ Now, $b^3$ is an even integer since $c^3$ is multiplied by even integer and hence b will also be an even integer. So we can write b=2d (let d be another arbitrary constant) and this process will go to infinity. Now since a and b both are even integers, it cannot be reduced as a fraction so what we assume is incorrect and hence $\sqrt[3]{2}$ is irrational.
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