54.8k views
0 votes
Show that the curve x²+y²−3=0 has no rational points

User Ofer Zelig
by
7.4k points

1 Answer

4 votes

Final answer:

To show that the curve x²+y²−3=0 has no rational points, we can use contradiction. Assume that there exists a rational point (a,b) on the curve. Substituting these values into the equation x²+y²−3=0, we can find a contradiction by showing that the left and right sides of the equation cannot both be integers squared.

Step-by-step explanation:

To show that the curve x²+y²−3=0 has no rational points, we can use contradiction. Assume that there exists a rational point (a,b) on the curve. This means that a and b can be expressed as fractions in the form a=p/q and b=r/s, where p, q, r, and s are integers and s and q are not zero.

Substituting these values into the equation x²+y²−3=0, we get (p/q)²+(r/s)²−3=0. Multiplying both sides by q²s², we have p²s²+r²q²−3q²s²=0.

Simplifying the equation, we have p²s²−3q²s²=-r²q². Since p, q, r, and s are all integers, the left side of the equation is an integer. But the right side of the equation is the square of an integer (-r²q²), which means it is also an integer. This implies that p²s²−3q²s²=-r²q² is an equation of an integer equal to the square of another integer. However, there is no such case, which contradicts our assumption. Therefore, the curve x²+y²−3=0 has no rational points.

User East
by
9.4k points

No related questions found

Welcome to QAmmunity.org, where you can ask questions and receive answers from other members of our community.

9.4m questions

12.2m answers

Categories