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The following are example proofs by contradiction that particular values are not part of particular sets.

1 Non-integral numbers

23Z{2 \over 3} \notin \mathbb Z

Assume that 23Z{2 \over 3} \in \mathbb Z. That means xZ  .  x=23\exists x \in \mathbb Z \;.\; x = {2 \over 3}; i.e., 3x=23 x = 2. By the fundamental theorem of arithmetic, each number has a unique prime factorization, which means that both 3x3x and 22 must have the same prime factors. But 33 is a factor of 3x3x and not a factor of 22, which is a contradiction.

Because assume that 23Z{2 \over 3} \in \mathbb Z led to a contradiction, it must be the case that 23Z{2 \over 3} \notin \mathbb Z.

2 Irrational roots

2Q\sqrt{2} \notin \mathbb Q

Assume that 2Q\sqrt{2} \in \mathbb Q. That means x,yZ  .  xy=2\exists x,y \in \mathbb Z \;.\; {x \over y} = \sqrt{2} where xx and yy are relatively prime. Rearranging, we have x2=2y2x^2 = 2 y^2. By the fundamental theorem of arithmetic, each number has a unique prime factorization, which means that both x2x^2 and 2y22 y^2 must have the same prime factors.

Because xx and yy are relatively prime, at most one of xx and yy can have 2 in its prime factorization; we thus proceed by cases:

Case 1: 2 is a factor of xx
Then x2x^2 has 2 as a factor with multiplicity 2\ge 2. Because 2 is not a factor of yy, 2y22y^2 has 2 as a factor with multiplicity 11. But 1<21 < 2, which is a contradiction.
Case 2: 2 is not a factor of xx
Then x2x^2 also does not have 2 as a factor, but 2y22y^2 does, which is a contradiction.

Because both cases led to a contradiction, assuming 2Q\sqrt{2} \in \mathbb Q leads to a contradiction in general, which means it must be the case that 2Q\sqrt{2} \notin \mathbb Q.

3 Irrational logs

log2(3)Q\log_2(3) \notin \mathbb Q

Assume that log2(3)Q\log_2(3) \in \mathbb Q. That means x,yZ  .  xy=log2(3)\exists x,y \in \mathbb Z \;.\; {x \over y} = \log_2(3) where xx and yy are relatively prime. Rearranging, we have x=log2(3)y=log2(3y)x = \log_2(3) y = \log_2(3^y), or 2x=3y2^x = 3^y. By the fundamental theorem of arithmetic, each number has a unique prime factorization, which means that both 2x2^x and 3y3^y must have the same prime factors. But all of 2x2^x’s prime factors are 2s and none of 3y3^y’s are, which is a contradiction.

Because assuming log2(3)Q\log_2(3) \in \mathbb Q leads to a contradiction it must be the case that log2(3)Q\log_2(3) \notin \mathbb Q.