Proof of \sqrt{ab} = \sqrt{a}\sqrt{b} for all ab>0

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Homework Statement



[tex]\sqrt{ab}[/tex] = [tex]\sqrt{a}[/tex][tex]\sqrt{b}[/tex] for all ab>0

Homework Equations





The Attempt at a Solution



let a=0, [tex]\sqrt{0}[/tex] = [tex]\sqrt{0}[/tex]

assume that it's true for some a, consider a+1

[tex]\sqrt{(a+1)b}[/tex] = and I'm lost
 
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annoymage said:

Homework Statement



[tex]\sqrt{ab}[/tex] = [tex]\sqrt{a}[/tex][tex]\sqrt{b}[/tex] for all ab>0

Homework Equations





The Attempt at a Solution



let a=0, [tex]\sqrt{0}[/tex] = [tex]\sqrt{0}[/tex]

assume that it's true for some a, consider a+1

[tex]\sqrt{(a+1)b}[/tex] = and I'm lost

Why do you think that this should be done by induction?
 
ooops, yea, on second thought, induction is for integer, not real numbers

is there any ways to proof this?
 
but wait,

[tex]\sqrt{ab}[/tex] = [tex]\sqrt{a}[/tex][tex]\sqrt{b}[/tex] for all integer a and b such that ab>0

how about that? can i solve this using induction?
 
How is the problem stated? Does it explicitly specify that a and b are integers? Also, does it say ab > 0 or does it say a > 0 and b > 0? There's a difference.
 
Mark44 said:
How is the problem stated? Does it explicitly specify that a and b are integers? Also, does it say ab > 0 or does it say a > 0 and b > 0? There's a difference.

no, i just made one up.

but what about

[tex]\sqrt{ab}[/tex] = [tex]\sqrt{a}[/tex][tex]\sqrt{b}[/tex] for all integer a and b such that ab>0

can't i prove it using induction?
 
Induction really isn't a good fit here. With an induction proof you have a sequence of statements P(1), P(2), P(3), ..., P(n), ... With the problem you made up, you have two variables a and b, both of which should be real and nonnegative.