1. Prove that if $$a+b \ge 0$$ and $$ab \ge 0$$, then $$a \ge 0$$ and $$b \ge 0$$. 2. Prove that for all integers $$a$$ and $$b$$, $$a^2 - 4ab \ne 2$$. --- ### Problem 1 If $$a+b \ge 0$$ and $$ab \ge 0$$, then $$a \ge 0$$ and $$b \ge 0$$. #### Scratchwork Direct proof? Hmm, not sure if it works.\ Contrapositive? Maybe: > If $$a < 0$$ or $$b < 0$$, then $$a + b < 0$$ or $$ab < 0$$. "$$a < 0$$ or $$b < 0$$" sounds like splitting the proof into *cases*. Plausible?\ Examples: $$a = -1$$, $$b = -1$$. Then $$ab = 1 > 0$$ but $$a + b = -2 < 0$$. More generally, if $$a < 0$$ and $$b \le 0$$ then $$a + b \le a + 0 = a < 0$$. What if $$b > 0$$? Then $$ab < 0$$ (multiplying positive and negative number). #### Proof. We will prove the contrapositive, > If $$a < 0$$ or $$b < 0$$, then $$a + b < 0$$ or $$ab < 0$$. There are two cases: $$a < 0$$ and $$b < 0$$. Case $$a < 0$$:\ There are two subcases: $$b \le 0$$ and $$b > 0$$. If $$a < 0$$ and $$b \le 0$$ then $$a + b \le a + 0 = a < 0$$. If $$a < 0$$ and $$b > 0$$ then $$ab < 0$$. Case $$b < 0$$:\ There are two subcases: $$a \le 0$$ and $$a > 0$$. If $$b < 0$$ and $$a \le 0$$ then $$a + b \le 0 + b = b < 0$$. If $$b < 0$$ and $$a > 0$$ then $$ab < 0$$. --- ### Problem 2 For all integers $$a$$ and $$b$$, $$a^2 - 4ab \ne 2$$. (Two different proofs) #### Proof 1. For the sake of contradiction, assume $$a^2 - 4ab = 2$$.\ Rearranging, we get $$a^2 = 2 - 4ab = 2(1-2ab)$$. The definition of even numbers now says that $$a^2$$ is even. Proposition 7 of the Proof notes says that if $$a^2$$ is even, then $$a$$ is even. By definition of even numbers, there exists an integer $$k$$ such that $$a = 2k$$.\ Going back to the original statement, we have $$2 = a^2 - 4ab = (2k)^2 - 4ab = 4k^2 - 4ab = 4(k^2 - ab)$$, or $$2 = 4(k^2 - ab)$$. Simplifying, we get $$1 = 2(k^2 - ab)$$, which means that $$1$$ is an even number, contradicting the fact that $$1$$ is odd. We conclude that $$a^2 - 4ab \ne 2$$. #### Scratchwork When working with integers, it is often helpful to do cases where $$x < 0$$, $$x = 0$$, $$x > 0$$; or cases where $$x$$ is even, $$x$$ is odd. Let's try the latter. #### Proof 2. There are two cases: $$a$$ is even and $$a$$ is odd. Case $$a$$ is even:\ By definition of even numbers, there exists an integer $$k$$ such that $$a = 2k$$. Then $$a^2 - 4ab = (2k)^2 - 4ab = 4k^2 - 4ab = 4(k^2 - ab)$$. So $$a^2 - 4ab$$ is a multiple of $$4$$. Since we know $$2$$ is not a multiple of $$4$$, $$a^2 - 4ab \ne 2$$. Case $$a$$ is odd:\ By definition of odd numbers, there exists an integer $$k$$ such that $$a = 2k + 1$$. Then $$a^2 - 4ab = (2k + 1)^2 - 4ab = 4k^2 + 4k + 1 - 4ab = 2(2k^2 + 2k - 2ab) + 1.$$\ So $$a^2 - 4ab$$ is also an odd number. Since we know that $$2$$ is even, $$a^2 - 4ab \ne 2$$. --- --- --- --- ---