MathCastle
Proof WritingChallengeContrapositive and Contradiction

Contrapositive and Contradiction · Challenge problem

A slick proof that 2\sqrt2 is irrational: if 2=pq\sqrt2 = \dfrac pq with qq the SMALLEST possible positive denominator, then 2=2q−pp−q\sqrt2 = \dfrac{2q - p}{p - q}, with a smaller denominator. Apply the map pq↦2q−pp−q\dfrac pq \mapsto \dfrac{2q - p}{p - q} to the approximation 9970\dfrac{99}{70}. What fraction results?