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I had a little back and forth with my logic professor earlier today about proving a number is irrational. I proposed that 1 + an irrational number is always irrational, thus if I could prove that 1 + irrational number is irrational, then it stood to reason that was also proving that the number in question was irrational.

Eg. $\sqrt2 + 1$ can be expressed as a continuous fraction, and through looking at the fraction, it can be assumed $\sqrt2 + 1$ is irrational. I suggested that because of this, $\sqrt2$ is also irrational.

My professor said this is not always true, but I can't think of an example that suggests this.

If $x+1$ is irrational, is $x$ always irrational? Actually, a better question is: if $x$ is irrational, is $x+n$ irrational, provided $n$ is a rational number?

I had a little back and forth with my logic professor earlier today about proving a number is irrational. I proposed that 1 + an irrational number is always irrational, thus if I could prove that 1 + irrational number is irrational, then it stood to reason that was also proving that the number in question was irrational.

Eg. $\sqrt2 + 1$ can be expressed as a continuous fraction, and through looking at the fraction, it can be assumed $\sqrt2 + 1$ is irrational. I suggested that because of this, $\sqrt2$ is also irrational.

My professor said this is not always true, but I can't think of an example that suggests this.

If $x+1$ is irrational, is $x$ always irrational? 

Actually, a better question is: if $x$ is irrational, is $x+n$ irrational, provided $n$ is a rational number?

I had a little back and forth with my logic professor earlier today about proving a number is irrational. I proposed that 1 + an irrational number is always irrational, thus if I could prove that 1 + irrational number is irrational, then it stood to reason that was also proving that the number in question was irrational.

Eg. $2^{1/2} + 1$ can be expressed as a continuous fraction, and through looking at the fraction, it can be assumed $2^{1/2} + 1$ is irrational. I suggested that because of this, $2^{1/2}$ is also irrational.

My professor said this is not always true, but I can't think of an example that suggests this.

If $x+1$ is irrational, is $x$ always irrational? Actually, a better question is: if $x$ is irrational, is $x+n$ irrational, provided $n$ is a rational number?

I had a little back and forth with my logic professor earlier today about proving a number is irrational. I proposed that 1 + an irrational number is always irrational, thus if I could prove that 1 + irrational number is irrational, then it stood to reason that was also proving that the number in question was irrational.

Eg. $\sqrt2 + 1$ can be expressed as a continuous fraction, and through looking at the fraction, it can be assumed $\sqrt2 + 1$ is irrational. I suggested that because of this, $\sqrt2$ is also irrational.

My professor said this is not always true, but I can't think of an example that suggests this.

If $x+1$ is irrational, is $x$ always irrational? Actually, a better question is: if $x$ is irrational, is $x+n$ irrational, provided $n$ is a rational number?