Rational Numbers
Rational numbers on number line
Rational numbers can be represented on number line in the similar manner like fractions
and integers.
Negative rational numbers are marked to the left of 0 while positive rational numbers are
marked to the right of 0.
Example: Represent on number line.
Solution: The given rational number is negative. Therefore, it will lie to the left of 0.
The space between –1 and 0 is divided into 5 equal parts. Therefore, each part represents
.
Marking at 2 units to the left of 0, we obtain the number line as shown below.
To find rational numbers between any two given rational numbers, firstly we have to make
their denominators same and then find the respective rational numbers.
Example: Find some rational numbers between and .
Solution: The L.C.M. of 6 and 8 is 24.
Now, we can write
Therefore, some of the rational numbers between and are
Natural numbers are a collection of all positive numbers starting from 1.
Whole numbers are a collection of all natural numbers including 0.
Integers are the set of numbers comprising of all the natural numbers 1, 2, 3 ... and their
negatives −1, −2, −3 ..., and the number 0.
Rational numbers are the numbers that can be written in form, where p and q are
integers and q ≠ 0
Closure property
o Whole numbers are closed under addition and multiplication. However, they are not closed
under subtraction and division.
o Integers are also closed under addition, subtraction and multiplication. However, they
are not closed under division.
o Rational numbers:
1. Rational numbers are closed under addition.
Example: is a rational number.
2. Rational numbers are closed under subtraction.
Example: is rational number.
3. Rational numbers are closed under multiplication.
Example: is a rational number.
4. Rational numbers are not closed under division.
Example: 2 ÷ 0 is not defined.
Commutativity
o Whole numbers are commutative under addition and multiplication. However, they are not
commutative under subtraction and division.
o Integers are commutative under addition and multiplication. However, they are not
commutative under subtraction and division.
o Rational numbers:
1. Rational numbers are commutative under addition.
Example:
2. Rational numbers are not commutative under subtraction.
Example :
and
3. Rational numbers are commutative under multiplication.
Example:
4. Rational numbers are not commutative under division.
2÷5≠5÷2
Associativity
o Whole numbers are associative under addition and multiplication. However, they
are not associative under subtraction and division.
o Integers are associative under addition and multiplication. However, they
are not associative under subtraction and division.
o Rational numbers:
1. Rational numbers are associative under addition.
Example:
2. Rational numbers are not associative under subtraction.
Example:
3. Rational numbers are associative under multiplication.
Example:
4. Rational numbers are not associative under division.
Example:
0 is the additive identity of whole numbers, integers, and rational numbers.
∴ 0 + a = a + 0 = a, where a is a rational number
1 is the multiplicative identity of whole numbers, integers, and rational numbers.
a×1=1×a=a
Rational numbers are distributive over addition and subtraction.
i.e., for any rational numbers a, b, and c, a (b + c) = ab + ac, a( b – c) = ab – ac
Additive inverse of a number is the number, which when added to a number, gives 0. It is
also called the negative of a number.
a + (– a) = (– a) + = 0
∴Additive inverse of
Reciprocal or multiplicative inverse of a number is the number, which when multiplied by
the number, gives 1. Therefore, the reciprocal of a is .
∴ Reciprocal of
