<s>[INST] Prove that x is rational Let $x$ be a real number with the properties that $x^3+x$ and $x^5+x$ are rational.
Prove that $x$ is rational. Denote $a=x^3+x$; $b=x^5+x$. We can multiply and add them together until we get the desired result. I also know some non-elementary proofs of this, but have you some nice elementary proofs?
Thank you.
 [/INST] We may take $x>0$. $\frac{x^5+x}{x^3+x}$ is rational, so $bx^4+b = ax^2 +a$ for some integers $a,b$ and $x = \sqrt{k}$, where $k=c+\sqrt{d}$ is the root of a quadratic equation, with $c,d\in\mathbb{Q}$, $d=0$ or $d>0$ not a square.
If $k$ is rational ($d=0$) but not a square, $x^2-1$ is rational and $x^5+x = (x^3+x)(x^2-1)+2x$ is irrational, a contradiction.
If $k$ is irrational, ($d\neq 0$), then expanding $x^3+x$ we get
$$x^3+x = c^3+3cd+c + (3c^2+d+1)\sqrt{d}$$
is irrational, a contradiction.
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