101k views
2 votes
Which term applies to numbers that cannot be written in this form a/b

User Gruzilkin
by
6.0k points

1 Answer

4 votes
Assuming 'a' and 'b' are integers, with b as nonzero, then a/b is known as a rational number. The term "ratio" is buried in "rational". A ratio is effectively a fraction of two values so that's a good way to remember the term. Some examples of rational numbers are 2/3 or 4/9. Whole numbers are rational because something like 7 is the same as 7/1

Any numbers that cannot be written as a ratio of whole numbers, we consider them irrational (aka opposite of rational, or not rational). Something like pi = 3.14 or sqrt(2) = 1.414 are irrational as we cannot express them in the form a/b. We can get close but not exact.

In summary, the answer is irrational
User Seano
by
6.4k points
Welcome to QAmmunity.org, where you can ask questions and receive answers from other members of our community.