[Math] wrong with the proof by contradiction

elementary-number-theoryproof-verificationproof-writing

There exist no integers $a$ and $b$ for which $18a+6b=1$.

Proof: Assume that $18a+6b=1$. We find that
$$6(3a + b)=1$$
which leads to
$$3a+b=\frac16$$
We know that the sum of two integers can't produce a non-integer result, therefore a contradiction arises, as the proof demonstrates that two integers can produce a non-integer value. $\blacksquare$

My professor said that if one ends up with fractions in a proof, there is likely a problem. Can someone explain why this is the case?

Best Answer

I'm assuming you're in a number theory class or abstract algebra. At this level of such a course, we haven't formally reintroduced $\Bbb Q $ so fractions don't formally exist yet.

We have multiplication and addition. And we have the integers.

The better proof is to show that $\gcd(18,6)=6$ and hence that the smallest positive linear combination of $18$ and $6$ we can make is $6$.

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