# Trancendental number

## Homework Statement

Prove that $$e^{\frac{n}{m}}$$ is trancendental, where m>0 and n are integers.

## Homework Equations

e is trancendental

## The Attempt at a Solution

A hint I got said this:
"Let ln(m\n)=m\n"
so I did this:
then$$\frac{m}{n} = e^{\frac{m}{n}}$$
so then $$(\frac{m}{n})^n=(e^{\frac{m}{n}})^n$$
and then $$(\frac{m}{n})^n-e^m=0$$
this contradicts the trancendence of e, therefore e^n\m is trancendental.

I'm confused about the hint, and I'm not convinced that this is actually valid. This hint came from one of my classmates and aside from pulling out if the thin air, I don't see how he arrived at this.
Any input will be appreciated.
CC

Last edited:

Related Calculus and Beyond Homework Help News on Phys.org
StatusX
Homework Helper
ln(m/n)=m/n is never true. You probably mean ln(m/n)=p/q, ie, assume ln(m/n) is rational and reach a contradiction.

Hi,
So if I change the m\n to p\q and say ln(m\n) is rational, does the argument above hold, or do I need to completely start over?

StatusX
Homework Helper
Why don't you try it?

Let ln(m\n)=p\q, where m>0,n,p and q are integers. So then ln(m\n) is rational.

then$$\frac{m}{n} = e^{\frac{p}{q}}$$

so then $$(\frac{m}{n})^q=(e^{\frac{p}{q}})^q$$

and then $$(\frac{m}{n})^q-e^p=0$$

this contradicts the trancendence of e, so e^(n\m) must be trancendental.
Am I closer?
CC

StatusX
Homework Helper
You've reached a contradiction, so you have to reject you assumption, which was that ln(m/n) was rational. This is different from e^n/m. But it shouldn't be hard to modify your proof to get what you want (hint: switch m/n and p/q)

EDIT: Sorry, I just realized I suggested doing it the wrong way around. Anyway, like I said, it shouldn't be hard to fix.

Last edited:
Dick
Homework Helper
Never mind. I see.

Last edited:
I thought that if I got a polynomial with e as a root that I would get a contradiction. That was my idea. I don't know if the little invented equation up there is of any use. This is one of those problems that I have stared at so long I can't think of any other method. Please help me go the right way of you can.
Thanks,
CC

StatusX
Homework Helper
You're right, I didn't notice that.

Let's start over. Note that if a satisfies a polynomial f(x), then any nth root of a satisfies the polynomial f(x^n). Thus if a number is algebraic, so are all its nth roots, and so, rearranging things a little, if a number is transcendental, so are all its nth powers (do you see how to get this?). If you can similarly show that the mth power of an algebraic number is algebraic, you'll be done.

Dick
Homework Helper
Let ln(m\n)=p\q, where m>0,n,p and q are integers. So then ln(m\n) is rational.

then$$\frac{m}{n} = e^{\frac{p}{q}}$$

so then $$(\frac{m}{n})^q=(e^{\frac{p}{q}})^q$$

and then $$(\frac{m}{n})^q-e^p=0$$

this contradicts the trancendence of e, so e^(n\m) must be trancendental.
Am I closer?
CC
This is a proof that ln(m/n) must be irrational, not that e^(n/m) is transcendental. I think your hint may apply to some other problem. Follow StatusX's suggestion!

Ok,
Assume that $$e^{\frac{n}{m}}$$ is algebraic.
Then it satisfies a polynomial of the form
$$x^m-e^n=0$$ for every value of n and m.
Now let m=n=1

then $$x-e=0$$

Is that valid?
CC

Last edited:
Dick
Homework Helper
No it's not valid. In fact, the more I read it the less I understand it, sorry. StatusX suggests that you prove the result by first proving that if c^(n/m) is algebraic then c is algebraic. That puts you one step away from a proof by contradiction.

I'm not sure how to prove that if c^(n\m) is algrbraic then c is algebraic.

I was considering something like 2^(5/6). It satisfies x^6-2^5=0, and any other algebraic number of that form c^(n\m) satisfies a polynomial of that looks like x^m-c^n=0.

Is it an inductive type proof that if c^(n\m) is algebraic then c is algebraic? I'm not really sure where to start. I can see why that's true, but I don't know where to start with a proof. Any input will be appreciated.
CC

Dick
Homework Helper
Ok. The easy case is c^n algebraic implies c is algebraic. Can you do that one? The 'harder' case is c^(1/m) algebraic implies c is algebraic. Don't try to construct an explicit polynomial in this case. Have you proved that algebraic numbers are closed under multiplication?

Yes, we have that proof in the book.Ok. I'm going to work on the c^n thing and try out the c^1\m. Then I just invoke algebraic times algebraic is algebraic?

Dick
Homework Helper
If you already know closure, then the c^(1/m) is the easy case. c=c^(1/m)*c^(1/m)*...*c^(1/m) (m times). So if c^(1/m) is algebraic, c is ???. Now try the other case. Then put them together to prove c^(n/m) algebraic implies c algebraic.

dextercioby
Homework Helper
One can give a direct proof

Hypothesis

e is transcendental, i.e.

$$a_{1} e^{k} +a_{2}e^{k-1}+...+a_{k}e+a_{k+1}=0 \rightarrow \left\{a_{i}\right\}_{i=1}^{i=k+1}=0 \ , \ \forall a_{i}\in\mathbb{Z} \ , \forall k\in\mathbb{N}}$$

Conclusion

$$a_{1} e^{\left(\frac{m}{n}\right)k} +a_{2}e^{\left(\frac{m}{n}\right)(k-1)}+...+a_{k}e^{\frac{m}{n}}+a_{k+1}=0 \rightarrow \left\{a_{i}\right\}_{i=1}^{i=k+1}=0 \ , \ \forall a_{i}\in\mathbb{Z} \ , \forall k\in\mathbb{N}$$

Proof: Pick k=n p, p arbitrary in $\mathbb{N}$ Rename mp=k' still in $\mathbb{N}$ Endproof.

Last edited:
Dick
Homework Helper
Sorry. I don't really buy the proof of your conclusion. To show e^(n/m) transcendental, you have to show the implication holds for ALL k, not selected ones.

dextercioby
Homework Helper
"k" is arbitrary, it's n/m times an arbitrary natural number. When k' generates N, k generates N, since m,n are natural numbers (coprime if you prefer).

Dick
Homework Helper
Then what is the k=n*p restriction? Furthermore, this still doesn't reduce all of the exponents to integers. Isn't that what you are trying to do?

dextercioby
Homework Helper
It needn't reduce all exponents, you might choose a_{2}, a_{3},...,a_{k} =0 from the very beginning. I've written the most general polynomial of "k-th order"(apparently superfluously) but it's enough to prove for the a_{1}x^{k}+a_{k+1} polynomial...

Can I just say that if a^n is algebraic over a finite field F then a is algebraic because $$a\in F$$ and every element of a finite field is algebraic?

Dick
Homework Helper
You can't restrict the choice of polynomials "from the beginning". It has to hold for ALL polynomials.

dextercioby
Can I just say that if a^n is algebraic over a finite field F then a is algebraic because $$a\in F$$ and every element of a finite field is algebraic?