Rational number
A rational number is any number that can be expressed as the ratio of two integers, where the denominator is not zero
A rational number is any number that can be expressed as the ratio of two integers, where the denominator is not zero. In other words, it can be written in the form a/b, where a and b are integers and b is not equal to zero.
Examples of rational numbers include: 1/2, -3/4, 6/1, and 0/5. Note that whole numbers and integers are also considered rational numbers, as they can be written as a fraction with a denominator of 1.
It is important to note that not all numbers are rational. For instance, irrational numbers like √2 and π cannot be expressed as the ratio of two integers. These numbers have decimal expansions that neither terminate nor repeat.
Rational numbers have many properties that make them useful in mathematics. They can be added, subtracted, multiplied, and divided. The sum or product of two rationals is also a rational number. Moreover, rational numbers form a dense set, meaning that between any two rational numbers, there exists another rational number. This property is useful for approximation and finding rational number solutions to equations.
To determine if a number is rational, you can try to express it as a fraction. If the number can be written as a ratio of two integers, it is rational. However, if the number cannot be expressed in this form and has a non-repeating decimal expansion, it is irrational.
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