Prove that 5^(2/3) is irrational

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Homework Statement


Prove that 5^(2/3) is irrational

Homework Equations





The Attempt at a Solution



I tried writing a proof but that is not getting me any where.

This is what I did so far -

Show that 52/3 is irrational

Proof: Suppose that 52/3 is rational:
52/3 = a/b
52/33/2 = a3/2/b3/2
5(b3/2) = a3/2
Substitute a = 2n + 1, b = 2m + 1;

I don't know if I'm suppose to do like this?
 
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P-Illiterate said:

Homework Statement


Prove that 5^(2/3) is irrational

Homework Equations





The Attempt at a Solution



I tried writing a proof but that is not getting me any where.

This is what I did so far -

Show that 52/3 is irrational

Proof: Suppose that 52/3 is rational:
52/3 = a/b
52/3 3/2 = a3/2/b3/2
5(b3/2) = a3/2
Substitute a = 2n + 1, b = 2m + 1;

I don't know if I'm suppose to do like this?

It might be simpler to use the fact that 52/3 = ##\sqrt[3]{25}##
 
Mark44 said:
It might be simpler to use the fact that 52/3 = ##\sqrt[3]{25}##

:approve:
Gracias
 
There are two things I don't understand about this problem. First, when finding the nth root of a number, there should in theory be n solutions. However, the formula produces n+1 roots. Here is how. The first root is simply ##\left(r\right)^{\left(\frac{1}{n}\right)}##. Then you multiply this first root by n additional expressions given by the formula, as you go through k=0,1,...n-1. So you end up with n+1 roots, which cannot be correct. Let me illustrate what I mean. For this...
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