Rational Numbers

A rational number is a number that can be expressed as the quotient or fraction p/q of two integers, where q is not equal to 0. In other words, a rational number is any number that can be written in the form a/b, where a and b are integers and b is not equal to 0.

Examples of Rational Numbers

Examples of rational numbers include:

• 1/2
• 3/4
• -5/7
• 6 (which can be written as 6/1)

Properties of Rational Numbers

Rational numbers have several key properties:

• They can be added, subtracted, multiplied, and divided.
• They can be represented on the number line.
• They can be written in decimal form, either terminating or repeating.

Comparison with Irrational Numbers

Rational numbers differ from irrational numbers, which cannot be expressed as a fraction of two integers. Irrational numbers include numbers such as the square root of 2 (approximately 1.41421356) and π (approximately 3.14159).

Conclusion

Rational numbers form an important part of the number system and are used in various mathematical calculations and applications.