# If p is prime, then its square root is irrational

1. Oct 13, 2013

### kaos

1. The problem statement, all variables and given/known data

Im trying to prove that if p is prime, then its square root is irrational.

3. The attempt at a solution

Is a proof by contradiction a good way to do this?

All i can think of is suppose p is prime and √p is a/b,

p= (a^2)/ (b^2)
Is there any property i can exploit to go on or is should i attempt other methods of proof
(contrapositive, direct, induction?)

2. Oct 13, 2013

### Dick

You can assume a and b have no common factors, right? Go for a contradiction. a must be divisible by p. Can you show that?

3. Oct 13, 2013

### guysensei1

attempt

I think we need to prove that no prime is square.

This makes sense in my head, but I can't seem to figure it out!

By the way, is there a theorem that says that square roots of non square numbers are irrational?

4. Oct 14, 2013

### HallsofIvy

Staff Emeritus
Yes, "no prime is a square" is exactly what "if p is a prime then it is not a square" says. If you "can't seem to figure it out", then look at the specifice words of the definitions of "prime" and "square".

Then do an indirect proof as Dick suggested. Suppose there exist a prime, p, that is a "square". Then $$p= n^2$$ for some integer n.

5. Oct 15, 2013

### kaos

I think its obvious that a prime number cant be a square of an integer (trivial by definition), but that does not imply it cannot be a square of a rational. The thing im trying to prove is that the square root of primes ,is not rational. Am i misunderstanding the logic ,overlooking or ignorant of something that i can use to advance in the proving?

6. Oct 15, 2013

### D H

Staff Emeritus
What does the rational root theorem have to say about x2-p=0, where p is a prime number?

7. Oct 15, 2013

### Dick

You didn't pay much attention to the hint I gave in post 2. So I won't repeat it.

8. Oct 15, 2013

### kaos

Well i dont really know how to use the hint. But anyway its been explained in my online course how to prove it using the fact that sqrt of 2 and 3 are irrational, and using it to generalise it to primes( we did the proofs for sqrt of 2 and 3 earlier in the course). Thanks for the help guys ,its very much appreciated.