A security analyst is verifying a property of an encryption key generation algorithm. The analyst needs to prove the following statement:
'For every non-zero rational number α\alphaα and every irrational number β\betaβ, the result of the calculation 5αβ\frac{5\alpha}{\beta}β5α is always an irrational number.'
Identify the correct starting assumption for a proof by contradiction of this statement.
368 exam-style questions on Edexcel A Level Maths Algebraic Methods, covering 1.1 Proof by Contradiction, 1.2 Algebraic Fractions, 1.3 Partial Fractions, 1.4 Repeated Factors, and 1.5 Algebraic Division. Each one has a worked solution and a mark scheme showing where the marks go.