Chapter 1 Real Numbers
Chapter 1 Real Numbers
Prerequisite (5 min): Before starting the chapter, Questions will be asked based on the following topics to test their previous
knowledge.
2. Math Activity
Asks them to divide and find the HCF using the Euclidean algorithm
"For any two positive integers a and b, there exist unique whole numbers q and r such that:
a=bq+r, where 0≤r<b.
Exercise 1.1:
(i) 420
Solution:
420 = 2 x 2 x 3 x 5 x 7
∴ 420 = 22x 3 x 5 x 7.
(ii) 468
Solution:
468 = 2 x 2 x 3 x 3 x 13
(iii) 945
Solution:
945 = 3 x 3 x 3 x 5 x 7
∴ 945 = 33x 5 x 7.
(iv) 7325
Solution:
7325 = 5 x 5 x 293
∴ 7325 = 52 x 293
(i) 20570
Solution:
20570 = 2 x 5 x 11 x 11 x 17
∴ 20570 = 2 x 5 x 112x 17
(ii) 58500
Solution:
58500 = 2 x 2 x 3 x 3 x 5 x 5 x 5 x 13
(iii) 45470971
Solution:
45470971 = 7x7x13x13x17x17x19
∴ 45470971 = 72x132x172x19.
EXERCISE 1.1:
3. Explain why 7 x 11 x 13 + 13 and 7 x 6 x 5 x 4 x 3 x 2 x 1 + 5 are
composite numbers.
Solution:
So, basically, there are two types of numbers, i.e., prime numbers and composite
numbers.
Understanding that,
Prime numbers are those numbers having 1 and the number itself as factors.
And composite numbers are those numbers having factors other than 1 and itself.
= 13 x (77 + 1)
= 13 x 78
= 13 x 13 x 6
So, the given expression has 6 and 13 as its factors. Therefore, we can conclude
that it is a composite number.
Similarly,
= 5 x (1008 + 1)
= 5 x 1009
Since 1009 is a prime number, the given expression has 5 and 1009 as its factors
other than 1 and the number itself. Hence, it is a composite number.
4. Check whether 6n can end with the digit 0 for any natural number n.
Solution:
In order to check whether 6n can end with the digit 0 for any natural number n, let
us find the factors of 6.
It’s seen that the factors of 6 are 2 and 3.
So, 6n = (2 x 3)n
6n =2n x 3n
Since the prime factorisation of 6 does not contain 5 and 2 as its factor together, we
can conclude that 6n can never end with the digit 0 for any natural number n.
Solution:
Basically, there are two types of numbers, i.e., prime numbers and composite
numbers.
Understanding that,
Prime numbers are those numbers having 1 and the number itself as factors.
And composite numbers are those numbers having factors other than 1 and itself.
3 × 5 × 7+ 7 = 7 × (3 × 5 + 1) = 7 × (15 + 1) = 7 × 16
Since the given expression has 7 and 16 as its factors, we can conclude that it is a
composite number.
Proof : Let the prime factorisation of a be as follows : a = p1 p2 . . . pn , where p1 ,p2 , . . ., pn are primes,
not necessarily distinct. Therefore, a 2 = ( p1 p2 . . . pn )( p1 p2 . . . pn ) = p 2 1 p 2 2 . . . p 2 n . Now, we
are given that p divides a 2 . Therefore, from the Fundamental Theorem of Arithmetic, it follows that p is
one of the prime factors of a 2 . However, using the uniqueness part of the Fundamental Theorem of
Arithmetic, we realise that the only prime factors of a 2 are p1 , p2 , . . ., pn . So p is one of p1 , p2 , . . .,
pn . Now, since a = p1 p2 . . . pn , p divides a.
⇒ √2 = p/q
Let us assume that √2 is a rational number with p and q as co-prime integers and q ≠ 0
⇒ 2q2 = p2
On squaring both sides we get,
⇒ Here, 2q2 is a multiple of 2 and hence it is even. Thus, p2 is an even number. Therefore, p is also even.
So we can assume that p = 2x where x is an integer.
⇒ 2q2 = (2x)2
By substituting this value of p in 2q2 = p2, we get
⇒ 2q2 = 4x2
⇒ q2 = 2x2
⇒ q2 is an even number. Therefore, q is also even.
Since p and q both are even numbers, they have 2 as a common multiple which means that p and q are not
co-prime numbers as their HCF is 2.
This leads to the contradiction that root 2 is a rational number in the form of p/q with "p and q both co-
prime numbers" and q ≠ 0.
Thus, √2 is an irrational number by the contradiction method.
Prove: √3 is irrational
Proof:
Let us assume the contrary that root 3 is rational. Then √3 = p/q, where p, q are the integers i.e., p, q ∈ Z
and co-primes, i.e., GCD (p,q) = 1.
√3 = p/q
⇒ p = √3 q
p2 = 3q2
p2 / 3 = q2 ------- (1)
(1) shows that 3 is a factor of p. (Since we know that by theorem, if a is a prime number and if a
divides p2, then a divides p, where a is a positive integer)
Here 3 is the prime number that divides p2, then 3 divides p and thus 3 is a factor of p.
(3c)2 / 3 = q2
9c2/3 = q2
3c2 = q2
c2 = q2 /3 ------- (2)
Equation 1 shows 3 is a factor of p and Equation 2 shows that 3 is a factor of q. This is the contradiction
to our assumption that p and q are co-primes. So, √3 is not a rational number. Therefore, the root of 3 is
irrational.
Exercise 1.2:
Show that the following numbers are irrational.
(i) 1/√2
Solution:
Consider 1/√2 is a rational number
Let us assume 1/√2 = r where r is a rational number
On further calculation, we get
1/r = √2
Since r is a rational number, 1/r = √2 is also a rational number
But we know that √2 is an irrational number
So, our supposition is wrong.
Hence, 1/√2 is an irrational number.
(ii) 7√5
Solution:
Let’s assume, on the contrary, that 7√5 is a rational number. Then, there exist positive integers a and b
such that
⇒ √5 = a/7b
7√5 = a/b, where a and b are co-primes
⇒ √2 = a/b – 6
6 + √2 = a/b
⇒ √2 = (a – 6b)/b
⇒ √2 is rational [∵ a and b are integers ∴ (a-6b)/b is a rational number]
This contradicts the fact that √2 is irrational. So, our assumption is incorrect.
Hence, 6 + √2 is an irrational number.
(iv) 3 − √5
Solution:
Let’s assume, on the contrary, that 3-√5 is a rational number. Then, there exist coprime positive integers a
and b such that
⇒ √5 = a/b + 3
3-√5 = a/b
⇒ √5 = (a + 3b)/b
⇒ √5 is rational [∵ a and b are integers ∴ (a+3b)/b is a rational number]
This contradicts the fact that √5 is irrational. So, our assumption is incorrect.
Hence, 3-√5 is an irrational number.
Teacher will show flash cards where real numbers will be written. Students will classify them as
rational or irrational numbers
Self-study/Homework/ Assignments: FUNWORK:
Planned Exemplar Problems – Exercise 1.2(6th sum to 10th sum).
Assessments/ Class test/ Surprise test:
Informed/ Uninformed
Classroom assignments: (20 min) Exercise 1.2:
according to day plan 2. Prove that the following numbers are irrationals.
(i) 2/√7
Solution:
Let’s assume, on the contrary, that 2/√7 is a rational number. Then, there exist coprime positive integers a
and b such that
⇒ √7 = 2b/a
2/√7 = a/b
⇒ √5 = 3b/2a
3/(2√5) = a/b
⇒ √2 = a/b – 4
4 + √2 = a/b
⇒ √2 = (a – 4b)/b
⇒ √2 is rational [∵ a and b are integers ∴ (a – 4b)/b is a rational number]
This contradicts the fact that √2 is irrational. So, our assumption is incorrect.
Hence, 4 + √2 is an irrational number.
(iv) 5√2
Solution:
Let’s assume, on the contrary, that 5√2 is a rational number. Then, there exist positive integers a and b
such that
⇒ √2 = a/5b
5√2 = a/b, where a and b are co-primes
⇒ √3 = 2 – a/b
2 – √3= a/b
⇒ √3 = (2b – a)/b
⇒ √3 is rational [∵ a and b are integers ∴ (2b – a)/b is a rational number]
This contradicts the fact that √3 is irrational. So, our assumption is incorrect.
Hence, 2 – √3 is an irrational number.
4. Show that 3 + √2 is an irrational number.
Solution:
Let’s assume, on the contrary, that 3 + √2 is a rational number. Then, there exist coprime positive integers
a and b such that
3 + √2= a/b
⇒ √2 = a/b – 3
⇒ √2 = (a – 3b)/b
⇒ √2 is rational [∵ a and b are integers ∴ (a – 3b)/b is a rational number]
This contradicts the fact that √2 is irrational. So, our assumption is incorrect.
Hence, 3 + √2 is an irrational number.
5. Prove that 4 − 5√2 is an irrational number.
Solution:
Let’s assume, on the contrary, that 4 – 5√2 is a rational number. Then, there exist coprime positive
integers a and b such that
⇒ 5√2 = 4 – a/b
4 – 5√2 = a/b
⇒ √2 = (4b – a)/(5b)
⇒ √2 is rational [∵ 5, a and b are integers ∴ (4b – a)/5b is a rational number]
This contradicts the fact that √2 is irrational. So, our assumption is incorrect.
Hence, 4 – 5√2 is an irrational number.
6. Show that 5 − 2√3 is an irrational number.
Solution:
Let’s assume, on the contrary, that 5 – 2√3 is a rational number. Then, there exist coprime positive
integers a and b such that
⇒ 2√3 = 5 – a/b
5 – 2√3 = a/b
⇒ √3 = (5b – a)/(2b)
⇒ √3 is rational [∵ 2, a and b are integers ∴ (5b – a)/2b is a rational number]
This contradicts the fact that √3 is irrational. So, our assumption is incorrect.
Hence, 5 – 2√3 is an irrational number.
7. Prove that 2√3 − 1 is an irrational number.
Solution:
Let’s assume, on the contrary, that 2√3 – 1 is a rational number. Then, there exist coprime positive
integers a and b such that
⇒ 2√3 = a/b + 1
2√3 – 1 = a/b
⇒ √3 = (a + b)/(2b)
⇒ √3 is rational [∵ 2, a and b are integers ∴ (a + b)/2b is a rational number]
This contradicts the fact that √3 is irrational. So, our assumption is incorrect.
Hence, 2√3 – 1 is an irrational number.
8. Prove that 2 − 3√5 is an irrational number.
Solution:
Let’s assume, on the contrary, that 2 – 3√5 is a rational number. Then, there exist co-prime positive
integers a and b such that
⇒ 3√5 = 2 – a/b
2 – 3√5 = a/b
⇒ √5 = (2b – a)/(3b)
⇒ √5 is rational [∵ 3, a and b are integers ∴ (2b – a)/3b is a rational number]
This contradicts the fact that √5 is irrational. So, our assumption is incorrect.
Hence, 2 – 3√5 is an irrational number.
9. Prove that √5 + √3 is irrational.
Solution:
Let’s assume, on the contrary, that √5 + √3 is a rational number. Then, there exist coprime positive
integers a and b such that
⇒ √5 = (a/b) – √3
√5 + √3 = a/b
⇒ √2 = (a/b) – √3
√2 + √3 = a/b
⇒ √p = (a/b) – √q
√p + √q = a/b