Neat little proof

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1 total messages Started by Sol Lerner Tue, 04 Aug 1992 12:02

#212

Author: Sol Lerner
Date: Tue, 04 Aug 1992 12:02

15 lines
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I am trying to remember a neat little proof that sqrt(2) is irrational.  I 
think it went something like this:

Assume sqrt(2) is rational, then sqrt(2) = p/q where q is the LCD.

Then 2 = p squared / q squared
...SOME MAGIC OCCURS...
q can not be the LCD therefore sqrt(2) is irrational.

Can anyone fill in the "...SOME MAGIC OCCURS..." line?

--------------------------------------------------------------
This is not a disclaimer...  
The lawyers at GTE Laboratories have not yet figured out that we need one.
(Oh yes, that should be GTE Laboratories _Inc._)

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