Irrationality of Logarithm

From ProofWiki
Jump to navigation Jump to search

Theorem

Let $a, b \in \N_{>0}$ such that both $\nexists m, n \in \N_{>0}: a^m = b^n$.

Then $\log_b a$ is irrational.


Proof

Aiming for a contradiction, suppose $\log_b a$ is rational.

Then:

$\exists p, q \in \N_{>0} : \log_b a = \dfrac p q$

where $p \perp q$.


Then:

\(\ds \log_b a\) \(=\) \(\ds \dfrac p q\)
\(\ds \leadsto \ \ \) \(\ds b^{\frac p q}\) \(=\) \(\ds a\) Definition of Real General Logarithm
\(\ds \leadsto \ \ \) \(\ds \sqrt [q] {\paren {b^p} }\) \(=\) \(\ds a\) Definition of Rational Power
\(\ds \leadsto \ \ \) \(\ds b^p\) \(=\) \(\ds a^q\) Definition of Root of Number

which contradicts the initial assumption:

$\nexists m, n \in \N: a^m = b^n$

Hence the result by Proof by Contradiction.

$\blacksquare$