The Universe of Discourse

Addenda to Apostol's proof that sqrt(2) is irrational
Yesterday I posted Tom Apostol's wonderful proof that √2 is irrational. Here are some additional notes about it.

1. Gareth McCaughan observed that:

   It's equivalent to the following simple algebraic proof: if a/b is the "simplest" integer ratio equal to √2 then consider (2b-a)/(a-b), which a little manipulation shows is also equal to √2 but has smaller numerator and denominator, contradiction.

2. According to Cut-the-knot, the proof was anticipated in 1892 by A. P. Kiselev and appeared on page 121 of his book Geometry.

[Other articles in category /math] permanent link