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Rational and Irrational Numbers

Rational Numbers Definition

A real number that can be written or expressed as a ratio of two integers is rational.

All integers, positive or negative are rational numbers because they divide by 1.

Zero is a rational number that can be written as a ratio of two integer numbers, as 0/1.

Rational numbers can be written or expressed as either an ordinary (terminating) decimal or as an infinite repeating decimal.

Infinate Repeating and Ordinary Terminating numbers are Rational.

Rational Numbers Examples:

5 can be written as a ratio of two numbers, 5/1. It can be written as 5.0, an ordinary decimal.
1/11 is a ratio of two integers. Its decimal equivalent is .090909… The decimal portion 09 repeats. The decimal value never terminates.
2/3 is a ratio of two integer numbers. Its decimal equivalent is .6666666… The decimal is infinite repeating, but never terminates. It is a rational number.
0.5 is the decimal equivalent of two integer numbers, 1/2. It is a decimal that terminates, but does not repeat. It is a rational decimal.
√4 can be written as a ratio of two numbers. The √4 is 2. 2 can be written as 2/1. There is no decimal place value for 2 or 2/1. It is a rational square root number.
Some other rational square root numbers are: √9, √16, √36, √49, √64.
log10 x is 2 when x = 100. 2 is an integer, it is rational.

Irrational Numbers Definition

Real numbers that cannot be written as a ratio of two integers are irrational. They are decimal numbers that both do not terminate and do not repeat. Irrational numbers are infinite non-repeating decimal numbers.

Irrational Numbers are decimals that do not repeat or terminate and cannot be written as the ratio of two numbers.

Irrational Numbers Examples:

√2 is not a ratio of two integers. Its decimal equivalent is 1.4142135… The decimal never repeats and never terminates. It cannot be written as a ratio of two integers. It is an irrational square root number.
Other irrational square root numbers are:
√3, √5, √7, √10, 2 + √2, 4 − √7.
π is a math symbol with decimal value 3.1415926… It cannot be written as a ratio of two integers. It is an infinite non-repeating decimal number.
e is a math symbol with decimal value 2.71828… It cannot be written as a ratio of two integers. It is an infinite non-repeating decimal number.
log10 x when x = 2 is 0.30102999566… Is not a ratio of two integers. It is irrational.

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