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 - Supplementary Exercises - Page 113: 38

Answer

Yes if the $x^{3}$ is irrational, then $x$ is irrational.

Work Step by Step

Using proof by contradiction Property: if $a$ is a rational number then there exist integer $b$ and $c$ such that $a=\frac{b}{c}$ $x^{3}$ is irrational and thus there do $Not$ exist integers $v$ and $w$ such that $x^{3}=\frac{v}{w}$ Let us assume that $x$ is rational (if we obtain a contradiction, then this assumption is false and thus then $x$ is irrational). There exists integers $y$ and $ z$, such that: $x=\frac{y}{z}$ Take the 3rd power of each side of the previous equation: $x^{3}=\left(\frac{y}{z}\right)^{3}$ as we know that the power of a fraction is the fraction of the power of nominator and the power of the denominator. $x^{3}=\frac{y^{3}}{z^{3}}$ Since $y$ and $z$ are integers, and $y^{3}$ and $z^{3}$ are also integers and thus we have shown that $x^{3}$ is rational. However $x^{3}$ is known to be irrational and thus we obtained a contradiction. Hence the assumption that $x$ is rational is then not correct and thus $x$ is irrational.
Update this answer!

You can help us out by revising, improving and updating this answer.

Update this answer

After you claim an answer you’ll have 24 hours to send in a draft. An editor will review the submission and either publish your submission or provide feedback.