Question about non-trivial equation

[flying2000]

Q: write roo(3)-1 in another way,and use this to produce a non-trivial equation for root(3) in terms of itself..

I don't ever know what it means?
Any hints appreciated..

thanx

 

[Andrew Mason]

Q: write roo(3)-1 in another way,and use this to produce a non-trivial equation for root(3) in terms of itself..

So \frac{1}{\sqrt{3}} = ?

Try multiplying the top and bottom by \sqrt{3}

Other than that, I am not sure what the question would be asking.

AM

 

[flying2000]

The following is the rest of the whole question..

1)write root(3)-1 in another way,and use this to produce a non-trivial equation for root(3) in terms of itself

2)suppose m,n(m,n is natural numbers) are such that m/n=root(3),use (1) to write root(3)as another combination of m and n.
3)use (2) to show that root(3) in not rational.

Any hints appreciated..

So \frac{1}{\sqrt{3}} = ?

Try multiplying the top and bottom by \sqrt{3}

Other than that, I am not sure what the question would be asking.

AM