Rational numbers: A number which can be written in the form of p/q where q≠0 and p and q are integers.
- A rational number includes natural number, whole number,and integers also.
- A rational number can be terminating,or non terminating repeating number also like 4.5,8.9,-5.6,0.2222....,5.232323.....etc.
Like natural numbers,whole numbers and integers, Rational number can be represented on number line.
To represent Rational numbers on number line we draw a horizontal line segment which goes indefinitely in both directions. The right side is called positive X axis and left side is called negative X axis.we mark zero in the middle and mark 1,2,3,4,5,6 ...on right side of number line at equal distances which goes till +∞. Similarly we mark -1,-2,-3,-4,-5.....on left side of number line at equal distances which goes till -∞.
I have shown different rational numbers on the number line which is depicted in the picture below.
If the rational number is non terminating repeating like 0.44444....
Then follow the following procedure.
put x=0.4444... ------------(1)
The digit is repeating after single digit so multiply by 10 on both sides of the equation.If the digits are repeating after every two digits then multiply by 100 on both sides of the equation.
10 x=4.44444... ----------(2)
Subtracting (1) from (2) the equation reduces to
9 x=4
x=4/9
So, 0.444... reduces to 4/9.