Thinking Mathematically (6th Edition)

Published by Pearson
ISBN 10: 0321867327
ISBN 13: 978-0-32186-732-2

Chapter 5 - Number Theory and the Real Number System - 5.4 The Irrational Numbers - Exercise Set 5.4 - Page 299: 108

Answer

given below

Work Step by Step

The subtraction of square roots is defined as the difference of coefficients multiplied with the common square root when the square roots possess same radicand. Example: Consider two irrational numbers\[5\sqrt{3},\sqrt{3}\]. Subtraction of above numbers is calculated as: \[\begin{align} & 5\sqrt{3}-\sqrt{3}=\left( 5-1 \right)\sqrt{3} \\ & =4\sqrt{3} \end{align}\] Thus, the subtraction of any two irrational numbers is may or may not be an irrational number.
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