Basic Properties of Numbers Solutions. (1) Prove the following: (a) If ax = a for some number a = 0, then x = 1. Solution.

Since a = 0, there exists a1 such that a1 a = 1. Multiplying both sides by a1 , we have a1 ax = a1 a = 1, hence 1x = 1, hence x = 1. (b) x2 y 2 = (x y)(x + y) Solution. x2 y 2 = x2 y 2 + (xy xy) = xx + (yy) + xy + (xy) = xx + xy + (xy) + (yy) = x(x + y) + (yx) + (yy) = x(x + y) + (y)x + (y)y = x(x + y) + (y)(x + y) = (x y)(x + y)

(c) If x2 = y 2 , then x = y or x = y Solution. If x2 = y 2 , then x2 y 2 = 0. By 1b, then x2 y 2 = (x y)(x + y) = 0, and we have seen earlier that it must be the case that either x y = 0 or x + y = 0. Therefore either x = y or x = y. (d) x3 y 3 = (x y)(x2 + xy + y 2 ). Solution. x3 y 3 = x3 y 3 + (x2 y x2 y + xy 2 xy 2 ) = x3 + x2 y + xy 2 x2 y xy 2 y 3 = (x)x2 + (x)xy + (x)y 2 + (y)x2 + (y)xy + (y)y 2 = (x)(x2 + xy + y 2 ) + (y)(x2 + xy + y 2 ) = (x y)(x2 + xy + y 2 )

(e) xn y n = (x y)(xn1 + xn2 y + . . . + xy n2 + y n1 )

1

Solution. x y n =xn + xn1 y 1 + xn2 y 2 + + x2 y n2 + x1 y n1 xn1 y 1 xn2 y 2 x2 y n2 x1 y n1 y n =(x)(xn1 + xn2 y + + xy n2 + y n1 )+ (y)(xn1 + xn2 y + + xy n2 + y n1 ) =(x y)(xn1 + xn2 y + + xy n2 + y n1 )
n

(f) x3 + y 3 = (x + y)(x2 xy + y 2 ) Solution. Using 1e we can replace y with y. Thus we have x3 (y)3 = (x (y))(x2 + x(y) + (y)2 ) x3 + (y)(y)(y) = (x + (y))(x2 xy + (y)(y)) x3 + (y 3 ) = (x + y)(x2 xy + y 2 ) x3 + y 3 = (x + y)(x2 xy + y 2 ) Weve used the fact that (y) = y, which we get from adding y to both sides of the denition of the additive inverse (y) + (y) = 0. Also, as the text mentions, this hints at an easy way to factor any xn + y n for odd n. Since y n = (y)n for odd n (proof is trivial by induction), we have xn + y n = xn (y)n , and therefore we can plug y into equation 1e to nd the factor (x (y)) = (x + y). (2) What is wrong with the proof? Solution. If x = y then x y = 0 and therefore we dont know that there exists a number (x y)1 . Therefore (x + y)(x y) = y(x y) does not imply that (x + y) = y. (3) Prove the following: a ac (a) = , if b, c = 0 b bc a ac Solution. = ab1 = ab1 1 = ab1 (cc1 ) = ac(b1 c1 ) = b bc a c ad + bc (b) + = , if b, d == 0 b d bd a c ad cb ad cb Solution. + = + (by 3a) = + = ad(bd)1 +cb(bd)1 = b d bd db bd bd ad + bc (ad + cb)(bd)1 = bd (c) (ab)1 = a1 b1 , if a, b = 0 Solution. If a, b = 0 then a1 , b1 and (ab)1 exist, and hence (ab)1 (ab) = 1 by denition of the multiplicative inverse. Multiplying both sides by b1 and a1 , we have (ab)1 = b1 a1 = a1 b1 as desired. a c ac (d) = if b, d == 0 b d db

Solution. ac(bd)1

a c a c = ab1 and = cd1 , so = ab1 cd1 = acb1 d1 = b d b d ac ac = as required. = bd db

(e)

a c ad / = if b, c, d = 0. b d bc Solution. a c a c = ab1 and = cd1 so / = (ab1 )(cd1 )1 = b d b d ad (ab1 )(c1 d) = (ad)(b1 c1 ) = (ad)(bc)1 = bc

c a (f) If b, d = 0, then = if and only if ad = bc. Also determine when b d b a = . b a a c Solution. If ad = bc then ab1 = cd1 and so = . Whereas if b d the latter is true, the former is established in much the same way by a b applying multiplicative inverses to both sides. Finally, = b a 2 2 2 2 a = b a b = 0 (a + b)(a b) = 0 a + b = 0 or a b = 0 a = b or a = b. (4) Find all numbers x for which (a) 4 x < 3 2x Solution. 4 x < 3 2x 4 < 3 2x + x 4 3 < 2x + x 1 < x x < 1

(b) 5 x2 < 8 Solution. 5 x2 <8 0 <x2 + 3

This is true for all x since x2 cannot be less than zero. (c) 5 x2 < 2

Solution. 5 x2 <2 3 <x2 3 < x2 3 <|x| So by the denition of absolute value, if x > 0 then x = |x| > 3. If x < 0 then x = |x| > 3, and so x < 3. Therefore x > 3 or x < 3. (d) (x 1)(x 3) > 0 Solution. The product of two numbers is positive when both numbers are positive or both are negative. Hence either x > 1 and x > 3 in which case x > 3, or x < 1 and x < 3, in which case x < 1. Thus x < 1 or x > 3. (e) x2 2x + 2 > 0 Solution. x2 2x + 2 > 0 (x 1)2 > 0 This is true for all x. (f) x2 + x + 1 > 2 Solution. x2 + x + 1 > 2 x2 + x + 1/4 > 5/4 (x + 1/2)2 > 5/4 |x + 1/2| > 5/2 So x > 51 5+1 or x < . 2 2

(g) x2 x + 10 > 16

Solution. x2 x + 10 > 16 x2 x 6 > 0 (x 3)(x + 2) > 0 x 3 > 0; x + 2 > 0 x > 3; x > 2 x>3 or x 3 < 0; x + 2 < 0 x < 3; x < 2 x < 2

(5)