$n = (\frac{a}{b})^2$, 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 $ra^2$.
$n = (\frac{a}{b})^2$, 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 $ra^2$.
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 $n=q^2$.