Irrational Numbers
We saw, in the previous section, that there may be numbers on the number line that are not rationals.
Here, we are going to investigate these numbers. So far, all the numbers you have come across, are of the form `p/q` where p and q are integers and `q ne 0`.
Let us formally define these numbers.
A number `‘s’` is called irrational, if it cannot be written in the form `p/q` where `p` and `q` are integers and `q ne 0.`
You already know that there are infinitely many rationals. It turns out that there are infinitely many irrational numbers too.
Some examples are: `color{orange}(sqrt2,sqrt3,sqrt15, pi, 0.10110111011110...)`
`"Remark :"` Recall that when we use the symbol `sqrt2` we assume that it is the positive square root of the number. So sqrt4 = 2though both 2 and -2 are square roots of 4.
Some of the irrational numbers listed above are familiar to you. For example, you have already come across many of the square roots listed above and the number `pi`.
The Pythagoreans proved that `2` is irrational. Later in approximately `425 BC,` Theodorus of Cyrene showed that `color{green}(sqrt3 , sqrt5, sqrt6,sqrt7,sqrt10,sqrt11,sqrt12,sqrt13,sqer14,sqrt15)` and `color{orange}(sqrt17)` are also irrationals.
Proofs of irrationality of `sqrt2,sqrt3,sqrt5` etc., shall be discussed.
As to `pi`, it was known to various cultures for thousands of years, it was proved to be irrational by Lambert and Legendre only in the late 1700s. In the next section, we will discuss why `0.10110111011110...` and p are irrational.
If we now put all irrational numbers into the bag, will there be any number left on the number line? The answer is no!
It turns out that the collection of all rational numbers and irrational numbers together make up what we call the collection of real numbers, which is denoted by R.
Therefore, a real number is either rational or irrational. So, we can say that every real number is represented by a unique point on the number line. Also, every point on the number line represents a unique real number. This is why we call the number line, the real number line.
Here, we are going to investigate these numbers. So far, all the numbers you have come across, are of the form `p/q` where p and q are integers and `q ne 0`.
Let us formally define these numbers.
A number `‘s’` is called irrational, if it cannot be written in the form `p/q` where `p` and `q` are integers and `q ne 0.`
You already know that there are infinitely many rationals. It turns out that there are infinitely many irrational numbers too.
Some examples are: `color{orange}(sqrt2,sqrt3,sqrt15, pi, 0.10110111011110...)`
`"Remark :"` Recall that when we use the symbol `sqrt2` we assume that it is the positive square root of the number. So sqrt4 = 2though both 2 and -2 are square roots of 4.
Some of the irrational numbers listed above are familiar to you. For example, you have already come across many of the square roots listed above and the number `pi`.
The Pythagoreans proved that `2` is irrational. Later in approximately `425 BC,` Theodorus of Cyrene showed that `color{green}(sqrt3 , sqrt5, sqrt6,sqrt7,sqrt10,sqrt11,sqrt12,sqrt13,sqer14,sqrt15)` and `color{orange}(sqrt17)` are also irrationals.
Proofs of irrationality of `sqrt2,sqrt3,sqrt5` etc., shall be discussed.
As to `pi`, it was known to various cultures for thousands of years, it was proved to be irrational by Lambert and Legendre only in the late 1700s. In the next section, we will discuss why `0.10110111011110...` and p are irrational.
If we now put all irrational numbers into the bag, will there be any number left on the number line? The answer is no!
It turns out that the collection of all rational numbers and irrational numbers together make up what we call the collection of real numbers, which is denoted by R.
Therefore, a real number is either rational or irrational. So, we can say that every real number is represented by a unique point on the number line. Also, every point on the number line represents a unique real number. This is why we call the number line, the real number line.
