Chapter 1

Real Numbers

NCERT solutions and explanations for Class 10 Mathematics Chapter 1 Real Numbers — covering Euclid division algorithm, HCF, Fundamental Theorem of Arithmetic, irrationality proofs, and decimal expansion of rational numbers.

Questions

6
Q1

State Euclid's division lemma and explain how it is used to find the HCF of two positive integers.

Euclid's division lemma says that for positive integers aa and bb, there exist unique integers qq and rr such that a=bq+ra=bq+r, where 0r<b0\le r<b. Repeated use of this relation gives Euclid's division algorithm for finding HCF.
Q2

Find the HCF of 135135 and 225225 using Euclid's division algorithm.

Using Euclid's algorithm: 225=135×1+90225=135\times1+90, 135=90×1+45135=90\times1+45, 90=45×2+090=45\times2+0. Therefore, HCF =45=45.
Q3

State the Fundamental Theorem of Arithmetic. How does it help in finding HCF and LCM?

The Fundamental Theorem of Arithmetic states that every composite number can be expressed as a product of primes, and this factorisation is unique apart from the order of the prime factors. HCF uses the lowest powers of common primes; LCM uses the highest powers of all primes.
Q4

Use the Fundamental Theorem of Arithmetic to prove that 2\sqrt{2} is irrational.

Assume 2=pq\sqrt{2}=\frac{p}{q} in lowest terms. Then p2=2q2p^2=2q^2, so p2p^2 is even and hence pp is even. Let p=2kp=2k. Then 4k2=2q24k^2=2q^2, so q2=2k2q^2=2k^2, making qq even. This contradicts that pp and qq are coprime. Hence 2\sqrt{2} is irrational.
Q5

When does the rational number pq\frac{p}{q} have a terminating decimal expansion?

If pp and qq are coprime and the prime factorisation of qq is of the form 2m5n2^m5^n, then pq\frac{p}{q} has a terminating decimal expansion. Otherwise it has a non-terminating recurring decimal expansion.
Q6

Decide whether 133125\frac{13}{3125} and 176\frac{17}{6} have terminating decimal expansions.

For 133125\frac{13}{3125}, 3125=553125=5^5, so it terminates. For 176\frac{17}{6}, 6=2×36=2\times3 contains prime factor 33, so it is non-terminating recurring.