Rational

Numbers
Grade – 8
 Rational Numbers

Objectives:

1. Rational numbers are closed under the operations of addition, subtraction and multiplication.

2. The operations addition and multiplication are

(i) commutative for rational numbers.

(ii) associative for rational numbers.

3. The rational number 0 is the additive identity for rational numbers.

4. The rational number 1 is the multiplicative identity for rational numbers.

5. The additive inverse of the rational number.

6. The reciprocal or multiplicative inverse of the rational number

7. Distributivity of rational numbers.

8. Rational numbers can be represented on a number line.

9. Between any two given rational numbers there are countless rational numbers.

The idea of mean helps us to find rational numbers between two rational numbers.

Introduction:

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 Rational Numbers

Draw a number line.

                                     
                                     
−7 −5 −3 −1 1 3 5 7
-4 -3 -2 -1 0 1 2 3
2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2

Now, ask the students to identify:

Integers
Natural numbers
Whole numbers

Whole numbers

Integers Natural

Draw a corresponding Venn diagram and brief. Numbers

Mention: Natural numbers are also known as

Positive integers.

Now, redraw the number line by representing the integers as

Fractions, eg: 0 as 0/1, 2 as 2/1.

Now, define Rational Numbers:

p
The numbers that can be expressed in the form of a fraction: , q ≠ 0 (the denominator is non-zero),
q
where p and q are integers.

Ask a question: Are all integers’ rational numbers as well?

Then, are all rational numbers integers?

Discuss and complete the Venn diagram.

Discuss: Why do we need Rational Numbers?

Give the following equations to be solved:

x−7=0.

x +7=0.

2 x=1

Ask them to frame questions for them.

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 Rational Numbers

For example, Ayesha and Sameer share an orange. How much does each one get?

Then ask them to solve

3x + 7 = 0 3x + 7 = 2.

Homework:

Frame 5 equations such that:

(1) The solutions are positive integers.

(2) The solutions are negative numbers.

(3) The solutions are rational numbers (that cannot be simplified into integers).

Discuss:

How many Integers are there?

How many Rational Numbers are there?

Then,

How many integers are there

between 0 and 4?

Between 0 and -3?

Between -2 and -1?

How many Rational Numbers are there between any two Integers or any two Rational Numbers?

Ask the students: ½, 1/3, ¼, 1/5, ……. lie between which two Integers.

Let them work out.

Consolidate: They lie between 0 and 1.

Now ask them to find any rational number between 1 and 2.

For example, 3/2.

Now, find any rational number between 3/2 and 2.

 Convert them into equivalent fractions: 3/2 and 4/2.

 Add them: 7/2.
 Divide it by 2: 7/4 (Thus, we have taken mean of 3/2 and 2).
 Convert them into decimal equivalents.

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 Rational Numbers

We will find that 7/4 lies I between 3/2 and 2. It is the midpoint of 3/2 and 2.

Similarly, ask the students to find a rational number between 1 and 3/2.

Discuss the process once again.

Consolidation:

Thus, between any two rational numbers, there exists infinite number of rational numbers.

They can be found by averaging two rational numbers. (Mean is also known as average).

Discuss: Representing Rational Numbers on a Number Line.

Draw a number line such that the region between 0 and 1 is divided into 3 equal parts:

Now, ask the students to redraw the same number line such that all the numbers have the
denominator 3.

Explain: Each part is 1/3 rd of the total region between 0 and 1. So, there are three such parts.

Now, ask the students to extend this number line from 0 to 3.

Ask them: into how many one-thirds is the line now divided?

Consolidate:

Question: Write any 5 rational numbers between 0 and 2 using the above number line.

Task for students:

(a) Divide the region between 0 and 1 into 9 equal parts.

Does 5/9 fall in this region? If yes, how many one-ninth parts is it made of?

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 Rational Numbers

(b) Divide the region between 0 and -2 into one-fourth parts.

Is -7/4 closer to 0 or -2?

Activity:

Materials required: White paper, ruler, pencil, eraser.

Divide the class into 4 or 5 groups.

Ask each group to find out:

(i) four rational numbers between 3/10 and 8/10

(ii) show them on the number line.

(iii) 20 rational numbers between 3/10 and 8/10.

Note: Give them a hint to use equivalent fractions to solve (iii).

Ask them to write their answers in the sheet,

A member from each group would present their process and inference.

Consolidation:

3/10 can be written as 6/20, 9/30,…., 30/100, 300/1000,…….

Similarly 8/10 can also be represented I equivalent fractions.

Thus, 31/100 to 50/100 is one such possible set of rational numbers for (iii).

Encourage for alternative answers.

Now, sum up the entire discussion:

There are infinite rational numbers between any two rational numbers and we have learnt two ways
to find them:

(i) by finding the mean.

(ii) By equivalent fractions.

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 Rational Numbers

Classwork:

Ask the students to read the sections 1.1, 1.3 and 1.4 from the NCERT Mathematics grade 8 textbook,
clarify the doubts, if any and solve the included examples.

Classwork and continued Homework:

(i) Solving Exercise 1.2.

(ii) Reading Section 1.2.

Discuss the problems of Exercise 1.2 in class that majority of them could not solve. Encourage them to
verify answers within the activity groups formed earlier.

Subject Enrichment Activity:

Divide the class into 4 Groups:

Assign the tasks of Presentation as follows:

Group 1: Closure, Commutativity and Associativity of Whole numbers

Group 2: Closure, Commutativity and Associativity of Integers

Group 3: Closure, Commutativity and Associativity of Rational Numbers

Group 4: Role of zero (additive identity), role of 1 (multiplicative identity), negative of a number
(additive inverse) and reciprocal (multiplicative inverse), and Distributivity of multiplication over
addition for rational numbers.

Each group will present their understanding with examples and counter-examples.

Then discuss this table for each of closure, associativity and commutativity.

Property (closure/associativity/commutativity)
Addition Subtraction Multiplication Division
Whole numbers
Integers
Rational Numbers

Then, brief the following by giving appropriate examples:

Additive Identity: It is the number when added to a given number results in the given number as the
sum.
When we add zero to whole numbers or integers or rational numbers, the result is same as the
numbers. No quantity is added.

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 Rational Numbers

Therefore, zero is the additive identity of whole numbers, integers and rational numbers.

Multiplicative Identity: The number which when multiplied by the given number results in the given
number as the product.
When we multiply a whole number, an integer or a rational number with 1, the value of the product
is same as the given number.
Therefore, 1 is the multiplicative identity of whole numbers, integers and rational numbers.

Additive Inverse: The number when added to a given number results in additive identity. Such a
number is called Additive Inverse.
In case of whole numbers, integers and rational numbers, the additive inverse is the negative of the
given number.

For example:
Given 3, which is an integer, the negative of 3 is -3.
When we add 3 with -3, the sum is 0, which is the additive identity of integers.

Multiplicative Inverse: The number when multiplied to a given number results in multiplicative
identity. Such a number is called Multiplicative Inverse.

When we multiply 5 with 1/5, we get 1. Similarly, when we multiply 3/2 with 2/3, we get 1 which is
the multiplicative identity of integers and rational numbers.
The number such as 1/5, which is a result of inverting the given number, is called the reciprocal
number.
−1 1
It is represented as : 5 = or ¿
5

Discuss:

Do all integers/whole numbers/ rational numbers have reciprocals?

Is there a rational number which when divided by 0 gives 1?

Can we divide with zero?

We cannot divide with zero because division is breaking down a large quantity into smaller quantities.
But zero means nothing. Thus, we cannot divide a quantity into nothing. It makes no sense. Thus, we
cannot divide with zero.

Consolidate:
Every rational number other than zero have a reciprocal, thus have multiplicative inverse.

Give the following example:

A box has 5 apples. Another box has 4 apples. Each apple costs 20 rupees. How much do both the
boxes cost together?
Discuss the various ways in which it can be solved.

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 Rational Numbers

Way 1:
Cost of box 1 = (5 x 20) = 100 rupees.
Cost of box 2 = (4 x 20) = 80 rupees.
Total cost: (5x20) + (4 x 20) = 100 + 80 = 180 rupees.

Way 2:
Total number of apples = (5+4) = 9
Total cost = (5 + 4) x 20 = (9 x 20) = 180 rupees.

Thus, from ways 1 and 2, we can see that:

(5 + 4) x 20 = (5 x 20) + (4 x 20) = 180

Here, we see that the multiplication with 20 is distributed over addition (5 + 4) resulting in
(5 x 20 ) + (4 x 20).

Classwork:
Ask the students to solve the examples 1 to 5 from the textbook and seek clarifications.

Homework:

Exercise 1.1

Unit Check 1 based on the concepts of Rational Numbers

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