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$n = (\frac{a}{b})^2$, where $a$ and $b$ have no common divisors. This yields

$nb^2 = a^2$

$ra^2b^2 = a^2$ (because $n = ra^2$)

I don't understand why $n$ is equal to $ra^2$.

marwalix
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1 Answers1

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Since n is an integer, so is $({a\over b})^2$. There are two possibilities:

1) ${a\over b}$ is an irrational number which is not possible.

2) ${a\over b}$ is a rational number. Therefore it is an integer because $({a\over b})^2$ is. Since ${a\over b}$ is an integer, there is some $q\in \mathbb Z$ such that $a=b.q$. Hence $n=q^2$.

Fermat
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