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Question from John:

mathcentral.uregina.ca/QQ/database/QQ.09.06/sylvia1.html
In the initial assumption of that proof, root 6 is assumed to be a/b where a and b have no common factors,
but why does having a common factor make it irrational?

Hi John,

The assumption is that $\sqrt 6$ is rational and hence can be written as a fraction $\frac{c}{d}$ where $c$ and $d$ are integers. From your knowledge of equivalent fractions you know there is a fraction $\frac{a}{b}$ which is equivalent to $\frac{c}{d}$ where $a$ and $b$ have no common factors. Hence if $\sqrt 6$ is rational than it can be written as $\frac{a}{b}$ where $a$ and $b$ have no common factors.

The remainder of the proof shows from this assumption you can prove that $a$ and $b$ do have a common factor. Hence the assumption that $\sqrt 6$ is rational must be false.

I hope this helps,
Penny

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