DISCRETE STRUCTURES (ITS 66204)

TUTORIAL 3

1. In a–b, use the definitions of even, odd, prime, and composite to justify each of your answers.
a. Assume that k is a particular integer.
i. Is −17 an odd integer?
Ans.
For a number to be odd it should be in the form 2k+1 where k is any integer.
Here,
Let,
-17 =2k+1
-17-1 =2k
-18 =2k
-18/2 =k
k =-9
-17 =2*(-9) +1
∴Hence, -17 is an odd number.

ii. Is 0 an even integer?

Ans.
For a number to be even it should be in the form 2k where k is any integer.
Here,
Let
0 =2k
0/2 =k
k =0
0 =2*0
∴Hence,0 is an even number

iii. Is 2k−1 odd?

Ans.
For a number to be odd it should be in the form 2k+1 where k is any integer.
Here,
Let
K =4
2k-1 =2*4-1
=8-1
=7
∴Hence, 2k-1 is odd number
 b. Assume that m and n are particular integers.
i. Is 6m +8n even?
Ans.
For a number to be even it should be in the form 2k where k is any integer.
=6m+8n
=2*(3m+4n)
=2*k {Let 3m+4n=k}
∴6m+3n is even.

ii. Is 10mn +7 odd?

Ans.
For a number to be odd it should be in the form 2k+1 where k is any integer.
=10mn+7
=10mn+6+1
=2(5mn+3) +1
=2k+1 {Let 5mn+3=k)
∴10mn+7 is odd.

iii. if m > n > 0, is m2−n2 composite?

Ans.
Let m=6 and n=4
Then
=62
-4
2
=36-16
=20
∴Hence,20 is a composite number.

2. Proof the statement in a – d.

c. There is an integer n > 5 such that 2n−1 is prime.
Ans.
Let n=7 then,
=2n-1
=27-1
=128-1
=127
∴2n-1 is prime when n=7.
 d. There is an integer n such that 2n2 −5n +2 is prime.
Ans.
Let n=3
Then,
=2*32-5*3+2
=2*9-15+2
=18-15+2
=3+2
=5
3. Disprove the statement in a-b by giving a counterexample.
a. For all real numbers a and b, if a < b then a2 < b2
Ans.
Let a=-4 and b=3
Here
-4<3
Now,
Or, -42=16
Or, 32=9
∴16 > 9 hence a2<b2 is not true.
b. For all integers m and n, if 2m + n is odd then m and n are both odd.
Ans.
Let m=4 and n=1 then
2m+n=2*4+1
=8+1
=9
∴2m+n given a odd value but m is not odd.

4. In a–d determine whether the statement is true or false. Justify your answer with proof or a
counterexample, as appropriate. In each case use only the definitions of the terms.
a. The product of any two odd integers is odd.
Ans.
Let the two numbers be a=2m+1 and b=2n+1
According to the question
=a*b
=(2m+1) * (2n+1)
=4mn+2m+2n+1
=2(2mn+m+n) +1 {Let 2mn+m+n=k}
=2k+1 which is the requirement for a integer to be odd.
∴The product of any two odd integers will always be odd.
 b. The negative of any odd integer is odd.
Ans.
For an integer to be odd it must be in the form of 2k+1 where k is any integer.
=2k+1
According to question,
=-(2k+1)
=-2k-1
=-2k-1-2+2
=-2k-2-1+2
=2(-k-1) +1
Which is in the form of 2k+1 hence the negative of any odd integer is odd.
∴Hence the given statement is true.

c. For all integers m, if m > 2 then m2−4 is composite.

Ans.
Let m=3
Then,
=32-4
=9-4
=5 which is not a composite number
∴Hence the given statement is false.
d. For all integers n, n2−n +11 is a prime number.
Ans.
Let n=11
Then,
n2-n+11=112-11+11
=121-11+11
=121
(Which is not a prime number)
∴Hence, the given statement is false.

5. The numbers in a-d are all rational. Write each number as a ratio of two integers.
𝟑𝟓
a. − 𝟔
Ans.
35
=− 6
= -35 : 6
b. 4.6037
Ans.
46037
= 10000
= 46037 : 10000
 c. 0.37373737...
Ans.
Here the number 3737 after the decimal is being repeated indefinitely so, The number
0.373737… cannot be represented as a ratio of two integers as it does not have a end
point.
d. 52.4672167216721...
Ans.
5246721
= 100000
= 5246721 : 100000

6. Prove that every integer is a rational number.

Ans.
p
A rational number is a number which can be represented as a fraction of two numbers q,
where both p and q are integers. And any integer, let’s assume (n) n can be represented as the
𝑛
fraction of here, n is an integer so is 1. we can write all integers as integer/1. which doesn't
1
affect the integer and can be represented as p/q form.
Example,
Let n=-1 (integer)
n can also be represented as
−1 𝑝
n= =
1 𝑞
(which is a rational number).
∴Hence, every integer is a rational number.
7. Consider the statement: The negative of any rational number is rational.
a. Write the statement formally using a quantifier and a variable.
Ans.
∀x, x is negative of any rational number, x is rational.
b. Determine whether the statement is true or false and justify your answer.
Ans.
𝑝
Let, x = 𝑞 be a rational number then
By question,
𝑝
x=−
𝑞
here only the sigh of the number is changed which does not affect the domain of the
number it is still a rational number but with a different sign.
∴The given statement is true.
8. Determine which of the statements below are true and which are false. Prove each true
statement directly from the definitions and give a counterexample for each false statement. In
case the statement is false, determine whether a small change would make it true. If so, make
the change and prove the new statement
a. The product of any two rational numbers is a rational number.
Ans.
𝑎 𝑐
Let x = and y = , be two rational numbers where a, b, c and d are intergers.
𝑏 𝑑
Then by question,
𝑎 𝑐
x*y= 𝑏 *𝑑
𝑎𝑐
= 𝑏𝑑
Here ac and bd are product of two integers hence ac and bd are also integers. So, the
ratio of two integers is a rational number.

b. The difference of any two rational numbers is a rational number.

Ans.
𝑎 𝑐
Let x = 𝑏 and y = 𝑑 , be two rational numbers where a, b, c and d are intergers.
Then by question,
𝑎𝑑−𝑏𝑐
x-y = 𝑏𝑑
Here ad, cb and bd are product of two integers hence ad, cb and bd are also integers.
So, the ratio of two integers is a rational number.

(𝒓+𝒔)
c. If r and s are any two rational numbers, then is rational.
𝟐
Ans.
𝑎 𝑐
Let r = 𝑏 and s = 𝑑 , be two rational numbers where a, b, c and d are intergers.
Then by question,

𝒂 𝒄
(𝒓+𝒔) +
𝟐
= 𝒃 𝟐𝒅

𝑎𝑑+𝑏𝑐
= 𝑏𝑑
2
𝑎𝑑−𝑏𝑐
= 2𝑏𝑑
Here ad, bd and cb are product of two integers hence ad, bd and cb are also integers.
So, the ratio of two integers is a rational number.