SOLUTION: If a is a irrational number and b is an rational number, prove that either (b − a) or (b + a) is irrational.

Algebra ->  Proofs -> SOLUTION: If a is a irrational number and b is an rational number, prove that either (b − a) or (b + a) is irrational.      Log On


   



Question 544773: If a is a irrational number and b is an rational number, prove that either (b − a) or (b + a) is
irrational.

Answer by richard1234(7193) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
Both must be irrational. Suppose that b-a is, on the contrary, a rational number r. Then a = b-r, contradiction because the sum/difference of two rational numbers is always rational (another way we can say this is that addition and subtraction are closed under rational numbers). The same logic applies to b+a = r.