Final answer:
The square root of 17 is an irrational number because it can't be expressed as a simple fraction and has a non-terminating and non-repeating decimal representation.
The correct answer is B.
Step-by-step explanation:
The question is asking us to identify which number among the options is an irrational number. An irrational number is a number that cannot be expressed as a simple fraction - its decimal goes on forever without repeating. Given the options:
- A. 5.499 (a terminating decimal, thus a rational number)
- B. square root of 17 (a non-perfect square, which cannot be expressed as a simple fraction, thus an irrational number)
- C. negative square root of 9 (-3, which is a whole number and therefore a rational number)
- D. -10 (a whole number, and therefore a rational number)
The square root of 17 is an irrational number because it cannot be precisely expressed as a fraction and its decimal representation is non-terminating and non-repeating.