Final answer:
Rational numbers can be expressed as fractions or terminating/repeating decimals, while irrational numbers cannot be expressed as fractions and have non-repeating/non-terminating decimals.
Step-by-step explanation:
Rational numbers and irrational numbers are both types of real numbers, but they have different characteristics. Rational numbers can be expressed as fractions, where the numerator and denominator are both integers. For example, 3/4, -5/2, and 1 are all rational numbers. Rational numbers can also be written as terminating or repeating decimals, such as 0.75, -2.5, and 1.0000. Irrational numbers, on the other hand, cannot be expressed as fractions. They are numbers that cannot be written as terminating or repeating decimals. Examples of irrational numbers include square roots of non-perfect squares, such as √2, √3, and √5, and constants like π (pi) and e.