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Rational Numbers

Positive and negative numbers are rational numbers and terminating decimals are rational numbers. So, what is an irrational number? Ahhh…you know how you had some of those 'weird' fractions that when you divided you just kept getting a non-terminating decimal that was non-repeating? Well, THAT'S an irrational number. So, let's just concentrate, shall we? on the RATIONAL ones (yeah! the ones that kinda make sense?) right now.

All rational numbers have one

A rational number is a number that can be written as a fraction where both a and b are integers; b cannot be zero.

 a

where

b ≠ 0

This means that there are basically three types of rational numbers. Let's take a look and see what they are.

Integers

ALL integers are rational numbers.

Why? Think about it…you can re-write all integers as fractions because you can use 1 as the divisor (denominator).

14
14

becomes

–9
–9

becomes

Terminating Decimals

Terminating decimals can be converted to fractions where the numerator a and denominator b are both integers so this means that terminating decimals are also rational numbers.

 25  1
.25

converts to

=

Repeating Decimals

Repeating decimals can always be converted to fractions where the numerator a and denominator b are both integers despite the fact that they have a pattern that repeat so this means that repeating decimals are rational numbers.

rationalnumbers7
 2

converts to

rationalnumbers8

FYI: The repeating section is called the repetend.

The bar denotes the part that repeats and is called the vinculum.

SO, what does this all mean? IF you come across a number that cannot fit any of the three 'rules' then it is probably (drum roll, please) an irrational number! The famous one you will be dealing with is π .

*Note: There are some 'other' numbers, like Imaginary numbers but we won't be getting into those…

©2011–2017 Sherry Skipper Spurgeon.

All Rights Reserved.

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