2 Prove that 3 + 2√5 is irrational.

Exercise 1.2 – Solutions

2. Prove that 3 + 2√5 is irrational

Assume that 3 + 2√5 is rational.

Since 3 is rational, subtracting 3 from both sides:
2√5 is rational.

Dividing both sides by 2:
√5 is rational.

But this contradicts the result that √5 is irrational.

Therefore, 3 + 2√5 is irrational.