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What is the ratio of the length of the diagonal of a perfect square to an edge?
What is the ratio of the length of the diagonal of a perfect square to an edge?
What is the ratio of the length of the diagonal of a perfect square to an edge?
The white area in the top square is (a2)/2.
What is the ratio of the length of the diagonal of a perfect square to an edge?
The white area in the top square is (a2)/2.So the white area in the lower square is 2a2.
What is the ratio of the length of the diagonal of a perfect square to an edge?
The white area in the top square is (a2)/2.So the white area in the lower square is 2a2. But this area can also be expressed as b2.
What is the ratio of the length of the diagonal of a perfect square to an edge?
The white area in the top square is (a2)/2.So the white area in the lower square is 2a2. But this area can also be expressed as b2. Thus, b2 = 2a2.
What is the ratio of the length of the diagonal of a perfect square to an edge?
The white area in the top square is (a2)/2.So the white area in the lower square is 2a2. But this area can also be expressed as b2. Thus, b2 = 2a2. Or, (b/a)2 = 2.
We conclude that the ratio of the diagonal to the edge of a square is the square root of 2, which can be written as √2 or 21/2.
• So √2 is with us whenever a perfect square is.
• So √2 is with us whenever a perfect square is.
• For a period of time, the ancient Greek mathematicians believed any two distances are commensurate (can be co-measured).
• So √2 is with us whenever a perfect square is.
• For a period of time, the ancient Greek mathematicians believed any two distances are commensurate (can be co-measured).
• For a perfect square this means a unit of measurement can be found so that the side and diagonal of the square are both integer multiples of the unit.
• This means √2 would be the ratio of two integers.
• This means √2 would be the ratio of two integers.
• A ratio of two integers is called a rational number.
• This means √2 would be the ratio of two integers.
• A ratio of two integers is called a rational number.
• To their great surprise, the Greeks discovered √2 is not rational.
• This means √2 would be the ratio of two integers.
• A ratio of two integers is called a rational number.
• To their great surprise, the Greeks discovered √2 is not rational.
• Real numbers that are not rational are now called irrational.
• This means √2 would be the ratio of two integers.
• A ratio of two integers is called a rational number.
• To their great surprise, the Greeks discovered √2 is not rational.
• Real numbers that are not rational are now called irrational.
• We believe √2 was the very first number known to be irrational. This discovery forced a rethinking of what “number” means.
• We will present a proof that √2 is not rational.
• We will present a proof that √2 is not rational.
• Proving a negative statement usually must be done by assuming the logical opposite and arriving at a contradictory conclusion.
• We will present a proof that √2 is not rational.
• Proving a negative statement usually must be done by assuming the logical opposite and arriving at a contradictory conclusion.
• Such an argument is called a proof by contradiction.
Theorem: There is no rational number whose square is 2.
Theorem: There is no rational number whose square is 2.
Proof : Assume, to the contrary, that √2 is rational.
Theorem: There is no rational number whose square is 2.
Proof : Assume, to the contrary, that √2 is rational.So we can write √2= n/m with n and m positive integers.
Theorem: There is no rational number whose square is 2.
Proof : Assume, to the contrary, that √2 is rational.So we can write √2= n/m with n and m positive integers.Among all the fractions representing √2, we select the one with smallest denominator.
So if √2 is rational (√2= n/m) then an isosceles right triangle with legs of length m will have hypotenuse of length n= √2m. n = √2m
So if √2 is rational (√2= n/m) then an isosceles right triangle with legs of length m will have hypotenuse of length n= √2m.
Moreover, for a fixed unit, we can take ΔABC to be the smallest isosceles right triangle with integer length sides.
n = √2m
Now, for the basic trick. Bisect the angle at A and fold the edge AB along the edge AC.
Now, for the basic trick. Bisect the angle at A and fold the edge AB along the edge AC.
Now, for the basic trick. Bisect the angle at A and fold the edge AB along the edge AC.This creates a new triangle ΔDEC with the angle at E being a right angle and the angle at C still being 45⁰.
Now, for the basic trick. Bisect the angle at A and fold the edge AB along the edge AC.This creates a new triangle ΔDEC with the angle at E being a right angle and the angle at C still being 45⁰.
AE=AB=m
Now, for the basic trick. Bisect the angle at A and fold the edge AB along the edge AC.This creates a new triangle ΔDEC with the angle at E being a right angle and the angle at C still being 45⁰.
AE=AB=nEC=AC-AE
Now, for the basic trick. Bisect the angle at A and fold the edge AB along the edge AC.This creates a new triangle ΔDEC with the angle at E being a right angle and the angle at C still being 45⁰.
AE=AB=nEC=AC-AE=n-m
Now, for the basic trick. Bisect the angle at A and fold the edge AB along the edge AC.This creates a new triangle ΔDEC with the angle at E being a right angle and the angle at C still being 45⁰.
AE=AB=nEC=AC-AE=n-mBD=DE
Now, for the basic trick. Bisect the angle at A and fold the edge AB along the edge AC.This creates a new triangle ΔDEC with the angle at E being a right angle and the angle at C still being 45⁰.
AE=AB=nEC=AC-AE=n-mBD=DE=EC=n-m
But, ifBD=DE=EC=n-m
and BC=m,
But, ifBD=DE=EC=n-m
and BC=m, thenDC=BC-BD
But, ifBD=DE=EC=n-m
and BC=m, thenDC=BC-BD=m-(n-m)
But, ifBD=DE=EC=n-m
and BC=m, thenDC=BC-BD=m-(n-m)=2m-n.
But, ifBD=DE=EC=n-m
and BC=m, thenDC=BC-BD=m-(n-m)=2m-n.
But, ifBD=DE=EC=n-m
and BC=m, thenDC=BC-BD=m-(n-m)=2m-n.Since n and m are integers, n-m and 2m-n are integers and ΔDEC is an isosceles right triangle with integer side lengths smaller than ΔABC .
This contradicts our choice of ΔABC as the smallest isosceles right triangle with integer side lengths for a given fixed unit of length.
This contradicts our choice of ΔABC as the smallest isosceles right triangle with integer side lengths for a given fixed unit of length.
This means our assumption that √2 is rational is false.Thus there is no rational number whose square is 2.
QED
This beautiful proof was adapted from Tom Apostol: “Irrationality of the Square Root of Two: A Geometric Proof”, American Mathematical Monthly,107, 841-842 (2000).
This beautiful proof was adapted from Tom Apostol: “Irrationality of the Square Root of Two: A Geometric Proof”, American Mathematical Monthly,107, 841-842 (2000).
Behold, √2 is irrational!