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Rational Result? Ridiculous! (Posted on 2004-12-20) Difficulty: 3 of 5
Can an irrational number, raised to an irrational power, give a rational result?

See The Solution Submitted by Old Original Oskar!    
Rating: 2.7500 (4 votes)

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Some Thoughts re: My solution | Comment 6 of 20 |
(In reply to My solution by Jer)

Jer,

This is a valid example, but I think it has a missing step.

You state that b is irrational, but do not prove it. However, you don't need to. We know that b is either rational or irrational. If it is rational, then it is the example of an irrational to an irrational power which is rational. If b is irrational, then a^b is such an example.

This proof is one of my favorites since it shows that there must be an example, but doesn't state which. Of course, you have to believe in the law of the excluded middle, so any constructivists out there feel free to yell at me.

-steveh


  Posted by SteveH on 2004-12-20 17:24:48
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