Question

Is -8 a rational number? why or why not?

Answer 1

By definition, a rational number is one that can be expressed as the division of two whole numbers, the denominator being different from zero, in other words

`\begin{gathered} a=(p)/(q)\text{ , }q\\e0 \\ \text{ Where} \\ p\text{ and }q\text{ are integers.} \\ a\text{ is a rational number} \end{gathered}`

As -8 you can express it in different ways, for example

`-8=(-8)/(1)=(8)/(-1)=-(16)/(2)=(72)/(-9)=\ldots`

So -8 meets the above definition, and therefore is a rational number.