The Set of Rational

Numbers
 Rational Number
𝒂
,
- is any number that can be written in the form where a and b
𝒃
are integers, and where b, the integer in the denominator, is not
𝒂
equal to 0. The set of rational numbers is represented by: , a
𝒃
and b are integers, b≠ 0. The symbol ≠ is read as “ is not equal
to.”
𝒂
- A number is the form 𝒃 also means a ÷ b, where a is the
numerator and b is the denominator. Also, if a and b are both
𝑎
positive, 𝑖𝑠 𝑐𝑎𝑙𝑙𝑒𝑑 𝑎 𝑝𝑟𝑜𝑝𝑒𝑟 𝑓𝑟𝑎𝑐𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛 𝑖𝑓 a < b, an improper
𝑏
fraction if a > b, and a whole number if b divides exactly a.
Example 1.) Explain why each is a rational number.
𝟒 𝟓
a. b. −𝟑 𝒄. 𝟖 𝒅. 𝟎. 𝟕𝟓 ഥ
𝒆. 𝟎. 𝟑
𝟓
Answer:
𝟒
a.) The fraction 𝟓 𝒊𝒔 𝒂 𝒓𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏𝒂𝒍 number because it is a quotient of two
𝟒 𝒂
integers and the denominator is not 0. The fraction 𝟓
𝒊𝒔 𝒂 𝒇𝒐𝒓𝒎 𝒃
, where
a= 4 and b= 5.
𝟓 𝒂
b.) The fraction −𝟑 𝒊𝒔 𝒐𝒇 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒇𝒐𝒓𝒎 𝒃
, 𝒘𝒉𝒆𝒓𝒆 𝒂 = −𝟓, 𝒃 = 𝟑.
𝟖 𝟏𝟔
c.) The integer 8 is a rational number because it can be written as 𝟏
, 𝒐𝒓 𝟐 ,
etc. Thus, every integer is a rational number.
d.) The decimal 0.75 is a rational number because it can be expressed as a
𝟕𝟓 𝟑
quotient of two integers. That is, 0.75=𝟏𝟎𝟎 = 𝒘𝒉𝒆𝒓𝒆 𝒂 = 𝟑 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒃 = 𝟒.
𝟒
e.) The repeating decimal 0. 3ത (0.33333…) is a rational number because
1
ത
it can be expressed as a quotient of two integers. That is, 0.3 = 3.
Property: Every rational number can be represented by either
a terminating decimal or a non-terminating repeating
decimal.
Example 2.) Write each as a decimal.
𝟑 𝟐𝟒
a. −𝟖 𝒃. 𝟓𝟓

Property: Every terminating or non-terminating repeating

decimal represents a rational number.
Example 3.) Write each as a fraction in lowest terms.
a. -0.125 b. 3.45 c. 2.5ത d. −0. 23 e. 3.25ത
Note:
In repeating decimals or terminating decimals.
Every recurring number is 9 and the every number is not
recurred is 0.
 Try it!
I. Explain why each is a rational number.
3 11
a. 𝑏. − 5 𝑐. 15
4

II. Express the following in decimal form in simplest form.

9 11
a. − 15 𝑏. 25

III. Write each as a fraction in lowest terms.

a. 3.15 b. 2. 5ത c. −3. 13
A number line can be used to order rational numbers. If a
rational number lies to the right of another on the number
line, then it is greater than the other rational number. If a
rational number lies to the left of another on the number line,
then it is less than the other rational number.

Example 4.) Using the number line, plot and arrange the
following rational numbers.
1 1
a. 3 2 , −3.5, 2 , 5.1, 𝑎𝑛𝑑 − 2 (𝑖𝑛 𝑎𝑠𝑐𝑒𝑛𝑑𝑖𝑛𝑔)
4 3
b. −3 5 , −2.23, 5, 3 5 , 10, 12.5 (in descending order)
Note: For all integers a and b and all positive integers c and d.
𝒂 𝒃
1. 𝒄
> 𝒅
𝒊𝒇 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒐𝒏𝒍𝒚 𝒊𝒇 𝒂𝒅 > 𝒃𝒄
𝒂 𝒃
2. < 𝒊𝒇 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒐𝒏𝒍𝒚 𝒊𝒅 𝒂𝒅 < 𝒃𝒄.
𝒄 𝒅

Example 5.) Which is greater?

𝟑 𝟕 𝟑 𝟓
a. 𝟒
𝒐𝒓 𝟏𝟐
𝒃. 𝟏 𝟒 𝒐𝒓 𝟑
 Try it!

Arrange the following numbers.

𝟏
a. -0.5, −𝟑 𝟒 , −𝟔. 𝟕, 𝟏𝟎. 𝟓, −𝟏𝟎. 𝟔 (increasing order)
𝟑 𝟑 𝟐
b. 3.4, -5.6, 𝟒 𝟓 , −𝟐 𝟓 , 𝟑 𝟑 (decreasing order)

Which is greater?
𝟖 𝟔 𝟑 𝟏𝟑
a. − 𝒐𝒓 − 𝒃. 𝟐 𝒐𝒓
𝟗 𝟕 𝟒 𝟏𝟒
Density Property for Rational Numbers
Between every pair of distinct rational numbers, there is
another rational number.
Example 6.) Find a number between the following pairs of numbers.
1 1 1 2
a. ,
2 4
𝑏. 5 , 5 𝑐. 0.35, 0.36

Try it!
Find a number between the following pair of numbers.
1 1 1 2
a.) , 𝑏. ) 3 , 3 𝑐. )0.45, 0.46
3 4