Prove that for any prime positive integer p, is an irrational number.

Let assume that √p is rational


Therefore it can be expressed in the form of , where a and b are integers and b≠0


Therefore we can write √p =


(√p)2 = ( )2


P =


a2 = pb2


Since a2 is divided by b2, therefore a is divisible by b.


Let a = kc


(kc)2 = pb2


K2c2 = pb2


Here also b is divided by c, therefore b2 is divisible by c2. This contradicts that a and b are co-primes. Hence is an irrational number.


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