| Exam Board | Edexcel |
| Module | PMT Mocks (PMT Mocks) |
| Topic | Proof |
7. (i) Given that \(a\) and \(b\) are integers such that
$$a + b \text { is odd }$$
Use algebra to prove by contradiction that at least one of \(a\) and \(b\) is odd.
(ii) A student is trying to prove that
$$( p + q ) ^ { 2 } < 13 p ^ { 2 } + q ^ { 2 } \quad \text { where } p < 0$$
The student writes:
$$\begin{gathered}
\qquad \begin{array} { c }
p ^ { 2 } + 2 p q + q ^ { 2 } < 13 p ^ { 2 } + q ^ { 2 }
2 p q < 12 p ^ { 2 }
\text { so as } p < 0 \quad 2 q < 12 p
q < 6 p
\end{array}
\end{gathered}$$
a. Identify the error made in the proof.
b. Write out the correct solution.