Final answer:
The numbers p, q, and their product p*q are the same type of number. The type of number they could be is rational numbers.
Step-by-step explanation:
The numbers p, q, and the product p*q are all the same type of number. To determine which type of number they could be, we need to consider the options: negative numbers, prime numbers, complex numbers, and rational numbers. If the numbers were negative numbers, then their product would always be positive because multiplying two negatives gives a positive result. This means that p*q cannot be negative numbers. If the numbers were prime numbers, their product would never be prime, except when one of the numbers is 1. Since the product of p*q is the same type of number as p and q, it means that p*q cannot be prime numbers. Complex numbers are numbers that have both real and imaginary parts. Their product is not guaranteed to be the same type of number as the factors. Therefore, p*q cannot be complex numbers. Rational numbers are numbers that can be expressed as a fraction where the numerator and denominator are both integers. The product of two rational numbers is also a rational number. Therefore, p*q can be rational numbers. Based on the logic explained above, the correct answer is (D) rational numbers.