Q. Is 2 an irrational number?Choices:(A) yes(B) no
Understand irrational numbers: Step 1: Understand the concept of an irrational number. An irrational number is a number that cannot be expressed as a simple fraction. It's decimal representation is non-terminating and non-repeating.
Consider 2: Step 2: Consider the number 2.We need to determine if 2 can be expressed as a fraction.
Attempt fraction expression: Step 3: Attempt to express 2 as a fraction.Assume 2 can be written as ba, where a and b are integers with no common factors other than 1, and b is not zero.
Square to eliminate root: Step 4: Square both sides to eliminate the square root.(2)2=(ba)22=b2a22b2=a2
Analyze equation 2b2=a2: Step 5: Analyze the equation 2b2=a2. This equation implies that a2 is an even number (since it's 2 times another integer). Therefore, a must also be even (since only even numbers squared give even results).
Substitute a=2k: Step 6: If a is even, there exists an integer k such that a=2k. Substitute a=2k into the equation: 2b2=(2k)22b2=4k2b2=2k2
Follow b2=2k2: Step 7: From b2=2k2, it follows that b2 is also even, and hence b is even. This contradicts our initial assumption that a and b have no common factors other than 1, as both are divisible by 2.
Conclude 2 is irrational: Step 8: Conclude that 2 cannot be expressed as a fraction of two integers. Since our assumption led to a contradiction, 2 must be irrational.
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