Table of Contents
Last modified on August 3rd, 2023
Definition of Rational and Irrational Numbers
Below is the figure representing the Venn diagram of rational and irrational numbers.
Figure 1 (heading: Rational and Irrational Numbers, filename: Rational and Irrational Numbers)
[ Sample link: https://cdn1.byjus.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/Rational-and-Irrational-Numbers.png ]
We cannot make a list of rational and irrational numbers since both have an infinite range. Some examples are given below.
Common examples of rational numbers are:
Common examples of irrational numbers are:
While discussing about rational and irrational numbers, we need to compare to find the how the both terms mathematically differ from each other.
Below are the differences between rational and irrational numbers in a table.
Rational Numbers | Irrational Numbers |
---|---|
Can be written as ratio form, i.e., p/q | Cannot be written as ratio (p/q) form |
Include decimals that are terminating (finite) or recurring (repeated in patterns) | Include decimals that are non-terminating (infinite) or non-recurring (not repeated in patterns) |
Include perfect squares such as 1, 4, 9, 16, 25, 36. | Include surds (numbers that cannot be simplified to remove a square root or cube root etc.) such as √2, √3, √5 |
The numerator and denominator are whole numbers; the denominator is not 0. E.g., 3/4, 1/9 | It is impossible to write the numbers in fractional form. E.g., π, √7 |
Now, let us learn about identifying rational and irrational numbers through some examples.
identify the rational and irrational numbers from the given set – 1.36591237, 5/8, 0.36, 0.19755683…, 0.7711, and 1/36
As we know,
Rational numbers are finite or recurring and irrational numbers are infinite or non-recurring,
1.36591237… ⇒ irrational
– 5/8 = 0.625 ⇒ rational
0.04 = 1/25 ⇒ rational
0.19755683… ⇒ irrational
– 0.7711 ⇒ rational
1/36 = 0.0277777777777778; ⇒ rational
Ans. YES. The product of two irrational numbers may or may not be rational. For example √3 × √3 = 3; 3 is a rational number.
Last modified on August 3rd, 2023