Homework Assignment 2 –Part 2

4.6(12)
If a and b are rational numbers, b 6= 0, and r is an irrational number, then a + br is irrational.

Proof: Let P be “a and b are rational numbers, b 6= 0”, Q be “r is an irrational number” and R be “a + br is
irrational”. Then the original statement is P ∧ Q → R. To construct a proof by contradiction, assume that ~ (P ∧ Q
→ R ) = (P ∧ Q) and ∼R is true, which means that a and b are rational numbers, b 6= 0, and r is an irrational
number, and a + br is also rational. By the definition of rational number, we have a = p/q,b = m/n,a + br = s/t,
where p,q,m,n,s and t are integers and q 6= 0, n 6= 0, t 6= 0, m 6= 0. Then
r = ((s/t) − a)/b = ((s/t) − (p/q))/(m/n) = n(sq − pt)/tqm
where n(sq − pt) and tqm are integers, tqm 6= 0. By the definition of rational number, n(sq − pt)/tqm is rational.
Thus, r is rational, which contradicts the assumption r is irrational. That means the assumption ~(P ∧Q → R)
doesn’t hold and thus the original statement P ∧Q → R is true.

4.6(28)
For all integers m and n, if mn is even then m is even or n is even.

Prove by contradiction: Let P be “mn is even”, Q be “m is even” and R be “n is even”. Then the statement
is P → (Q ∨ R). To construct a proof by contradiction, assume that ∼ (P → (Q ∨ R)) = P∧ ∼ Q∧ ∼ R is
true. That is, assume that mn is even and m and n are odd. Since m and n are odd, then there exist integers a
and b such that m = 2 ∗ a + 1,n = 2 ∗ b + 1. Then
mn = (2a + 1)(2b + 1) = 2(2ab + a + b) + 1
Since 2(2ab + a + b) is even, then 2(2ab + a + b) + 1 must be odd. Thus mn is odd, which contradicts the
assumption that mn is even. Therefore, we prove that the original statement is true.

Prove by contraposition: Let P be “mn is even”, Q be “m is even” and R be “n is even”. Then the statement
is P → (Q∨ R). The contrapositive is ∼ (Q∨ R) →∼ P ≡ (∼ Q) ∧ (∼ R) → P, which means that if m and n
are both odd then mn is odd. Let m = 2a + 1 and n = 2b + 1 for some integer a,b. Then
mn = (2a + 1)(2b + 1) = 2(2ab + a + b) + 1
Since 2(2ab + a + b) is even, then 2(2ab + a + b) + 1 must be odd. Thus mn is odd. Therefore, the original
statement is true.
 4.7 (8)
Determine if the statement is true or false. Prove if that is true and disprove if that is false. The difference of

any two irrational numbers is irrational.

The statement is false. Providing a counterexample will be sufficient to disprove the statement .
For example, √3 - √3 = 0 , 0 is not irrational .

4.7 (16.c)

Determine if the statement is true or false. Prove if that is true and disprove if that is false.

√3 is irrational.

The statement is true .

Prove by Contradiction: Assume that √3 is rational. By definition of rational, √3= p/q ...(1) with q ≠ 0
for some integers p and q, with no common factors. [Dividing p and q by any common factors if
necessary.] Squaring both sides of equation (1) gives

3 = p2 / q2
Or, equivalently,
p2 = 3q2 ...... (2)

Note that equation (2) implies that p2 is divisible by 3 . It follows that p is also divisible by 3 ( as p is an integer) .
Let's represent p = 3k .......(3) , where k is an integer.

Substituting equation (3) into equation (2), we see

that (3k)2 = 3q2
=> 9k2 = 3q2

Dividing both sides by 3 gives

q2 = 3k2 .....(4)

Consequently, from equation (4) we found that q2 is also divisible by 3, and so is q ( as q is an integer) . But we also
know that p is also divisible by 3. [This is the fact we filed away.] Hence both p and q have a common factor of 3. But
this contradicts the supposition that p and q have no common factors. [Hence the supposition is false and so the theorem
is true.]