Final answer:
The number 53 is a rational number because it can be expressed as the fraction ⅛ 53/1, with 53 as the numerator and 1 as the non-zero integer denominator.
Step-by-step explanation:
The number 53 is a rational number. A rational number is defined as a number that can be expressed as the quotient or fraction ⅛ of two integers, where the numerator is an integer and the denominator is a non-zero integer. In this case, the number 53 can be expressed as a fraction ⅛ with the numerator being 53 and the denominator being 1 (53/1), which satisfies the condition of a rational number. Therefore, 53 is a rational number because it can be written as a simple fraction.