Final answer:
Irrational numbers are numbers that can't be written as a fraction, with decimal expansions that are non-terminating and non-repeating. Unlike rational numbers, they cannot be expressed exactly as fractions or decimals, but we can use scientific notation to represent very small or large numbers. Understanding fractions and their operations is fundamental in mathematics.
Step-by-step explanation:
Understanding Irrational Numbers
Irrational numbers are numbers that can't be written as a fraction.
Unlike rational numbers which can be expressed as the quotient of two integers (a fraction), irrational numbers cannot be written in such a manner.
An irrational number has a decimal expansion that does not terminate or repeat, making it impossible to express it exactly as a fraction.
Characteristics of Irrational Numbers
Examples of irrational numbers include the square root of 2, π (pi), and 'e' (the base of the natural logarithm).
It's important to note that while we often estimate these numbers to a certain number of decimal places for practicality, they actually have an infinite number of non-repeating decimal places.
Calculators can handle operations involving irrational numbers even though we can't express them fully in decimal or fractional form.
When dealing with scientific notation, fractions can also be used.
For example, the number 0.0000045 in scientific notation is expressed as 4.5 X 10-6. The format of scientific notation remains consistent whether the number is rational or irrational.
Fractions and Operations
A fraction represents a part of a whole and is typically written with a numerator and a denominator. Operations such as addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division can be applied to fractions, and understanding how to perform these operations is essential in mathematics.
Multiplying two fractions, for instance, involves multiplying their numerators and denominators respectively to get the product.
Intuition can help guide the understanding of operations with fractions and estimations, however, it's crucial to apply mathematical rules and practices to ensure accuracy.
The complete question is:content loaded
Irrational numbers are numbers that
Option 1: can be written as a fraction.
Option 2: can't be written as a fraction.
Option 3: you can think of.
Option 4: you can imagine.