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Someone copies the " is irrational" proof word for word to "prove" that is irrational. Where does the copied argument actually break down?

Class 10Real NumbersNumber Systems
  • AAt the very first step, because cannot be written as
  • BAt " is divisible by 4, so is divisible by 4" — that implication needs the divisor to be PRIME, and is divisible by 4 while 6 is not
  • CAt the squaring step, because both sides may not be squared
  • DNowhere — the argument is fine and is irrational

Step-by-Step Solution

" divides ⇒ divides " follows from unique factorisation only when is PRIME. For it fails: 36 is divisible by 4 but 6 is not. And indeed is rational, so any "proof" of its irrationality must contain a broken step.
Answer: B) At " is divisible by 4, so is divisible by 4" — that implication needs the divisor to be PRIME, and is divisible by 4 while 6 is not

Key idea: Sum/product of rational and irrational

**Useful results**:

1. The sum or difference of a rational and an irrational is IRRATIONAL.
Proof: if (rational + irrational) = rational, then irrational = rational − rational = rational. Contradiction.

2. The product of a NON-ZERO rational and an irrational is IRRATIONAL.

3. The sum/product of two irrationals can be RATIONAL or IRRATIONAL.
Example: (irrational); (rational).
Example: (rational); (irrational).

These are the rules you cite when proving expressions like ' is irrational'.

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