Let be rational numbers, where p is not equal to zero and , then equals:
This section requires Javascript.
You are seeing this because something didn't load right. We suggest you, (a) try
refreshing the page, (b) enabling javascript if it is disabled on your browser and,
finally, (c)
loading the
non-javascript version of this page
. We're sorry about the hassle.
The determinant of a square 2×2 matrix is a d − b c . In this case it is p q − r π = 0 ⟶ p q = r π
Now since π is irrational the RHS is irrational (if r is non-zero).Thus the LHS should have an irrational number but that isn't the case since p,q,r are rational. However this isn't possible and we revert to the special case:
The LHS=RHS=0 . Then since p is non-zero q and r must be equal to 0 .
Thus, q 3 + r 3 = 0 3 + 0 3 = 0