Real Numbers

Rational and Irrational

 The Real Number System
zero
• The natural numbers are the counting numbers, without _______.

zero
• Whole numbers include the natural numbers and ____________.

opposites
• Integers include all whole numbers and their ________________.

• Rational numbers are real numbers that can be written as a

 
_____________ where a and b are integers and b ≠ 0. Any rational
number can be represented as a terminating or a repeating
decimal
___________.

rational
• Irrational numbers are any real numbers that are not _________.
 The Real Number System
Rational numbers Irrational
numbers

Integers

Whole numbers

Natural numbers
 The Real Number System
Rational numbers Irrational
• Can be represented as a fraction of 2 integers numbers
• Cannot be
Integers represented
.… -3, -2, -1, 0, 1, 2, 3, …. as a fraction
of 2 integers
Whole numbers
0, 1, 2, 3, ….

Natural numbers
1, 2, 3, ….
 The Real Number System
Rational numbers Irrational
numbers

Integers

Whole numbers

Natural numbers

       
-7 ¶
   
0.25 0 0.1269278…
-9.1732
A number line - is an infinitely long line whose
points match up with the real number system.
Here are the rational numbers represented on
a number line.
 Integers
The coldest temperature on record in
the U.S. is -80° F, recorded in 1971 in
Alaska
 Integers are used to represent real-world
quantities such as temperatures, miles per
hour, making withdrawals from your bank
account, and other quantities. When you know
how to perform operations with integers, you
can solve equations and problems involving
integers.
 By using integers, you can express elevations
above, below, and at sea level. Sea level has
an elevation of 0 feet. Badwater Basin in Utah
is -282 below sea level, and Clingman’s Dome
in the Great Smokey Mountains is +6,643
above sea level.
If you remember, the whole numbers are the
counting numbers and zero:
0, 1, 2, 3,…
Integers - the set of all whole numbers and
their opposites. This means all the positive
integers and all the negative integers
together.
 Opposites – two numbers that are equal
distance from zero on a number line; also
called additive inverse.
The additive inverse property states that if
you add two opposites together their sum is 0
-3 + 3 = 0
 Integers increase in value as you move to the
right along a number line. They decrease in value
as you move to the left. Remember to order
numbers we use the symbol < means “less than,”
and the symbol > means “is greater than.”
A number’s absolute value - is it’s distance from
0 on a number line. Since distance can never be
negative, absolute values are always positive.
The symbol || represents the absolute value of a
number. This symbol is read as “the absolute
value of.” For example |-3| = 3.
Finding absolute value using a number line is
very simple. You just need to know the
distance the number is from zero. |5| = 5,
|-6| = 6
 Lesson Quiz
Compare, Use <, >, or =. 5) The coldest
1) -32 □ 32
2) 26 □ |-26|
3) -8 □ -12
4) Graph the numbers -2, 3,
-4, 5. and -1 on a number
line. Then list the
numbers in order from
least to greatest.
temperature ever
recorded east of the
Mississippi is fifty-
four degrees below
zero in Danbury,
Wisconsin, on January
24, 1922. Write the
temperature as an
integer.
 Integer Operations
Rules for Integer Operations
 Adding Integers
When we add numbers with the same signs,
1) add the absolute values, and
2) write the sum (the answer) with the sign of the
numbers.
When you add numbers with different signs,
1) subtract the absolute values, and
2) write the difference (the answer) with the sign of
the number having the larger absolute value.
Try the following
problems
1) -9 + (-7) = -16

2) -20 + 15 = -5

3) (+3) + (+5) = +8

4) -9 + 6 = -3

5) (-21) + 21 = 0

6) (-23) + (-7) = -30

 Subtracting Integers
You subtract integers by adding its opposite.
9 – (-3)
9 + (+3) = +12

-7 – (-5)
-7 + (+5) = -2
Try the following
problems

1) -5 – 4 =
-5 + (-4) = -9
2) 3 – (+5) =
3 + (-5) = -2
3) -25 – (+25) =
-25 + (-25) = -50
4) 9 – 3 =
9 + (-3) = +6
5) -10 – (-15) =
-10 + (+15) = +5
Multiplying and Dividing Integers
If the signs are the same,
the answer is positive.

If the signs are different,

the answer is negative.
 Try the following
problems
Think of multiplication as repeated addition.
3 · 2 = 2 + 2 + 2 = 6 and 3 · (-2) = (-2) + (-2) + (-2) = -6

1) 3 · (-3) = Remember multiplication is fast adding

= 3 · (-3) = (-3) + (-3) + (-3) = -9

2) -4 · 2 = Remember multiplication is fast adding

= -4 · 2 = (-4) + (-4) = -8
 Dividing Integers

Multiplication and division are inverse operations. They “undo”

each other. You can use this fact to discover the rules for
division of integers.
4 · (-2) = -8 -4 · (-2) = 8
-8 ÷ (-2) = 4 8 ÷ (-2) = -4

same sign positive different signs negative

The rule for division is like the rule for multiplication.
Try the following
problems

1) 72 ÷ (-9)
72 ÷ (-9) Think: 72 ÷ 9 = 8
-8 The signs are different, so the quotient is negative.

2) -144 ÷ 12
-144 ÷ 12 Think: 144 12 = 12
-12 The signs are different, so the quotient is negative.

3) -100 ÷ (-5) Think: 100 ÷ 5 = 20

-100 ÷ (-5) The signs are the same, so the quotient is positive.
 Lesson Quiz

Find the sum or difference Find the product or quotient

1) -7 + (-6) = 1) -8 · 12 =
2) -15 + 24 + (-9) = 2) -3 · 5 · (-2) =
Evaluate x + y for x = -2 3) -75 ÷ 5 =
and y = -15 4) -110 ÷ (-2) =
3) 3 – 9 = 5) The temperature in Bar
4) -3 – (-5) = Harbor, Maine, was -3 F.
Evaluate x – y + z for During the night, it
x = -4, y = 5, and z = -10 dropped to be four times
as cold. What was the
temperature then?
Rational Numbers
Fractions and Decimals
 Rational numbers – numbers that can be
written in the form a/b (fractions), with
integers for numerators and denominators.
Integers and certain decimals are rational
numbers because they can be written as
fractions.
a 1 2 3 4 5 …
b
1 1/1 2/1 3/1 4/1 5/1 …
2 1/2 2/2 3/2 4/2 5/2 …
3 1/3 2/3 3/3 4/3 5/3 …
4 1/4 2/4 3/4 4/4 5/4 …
5 1/5 2/5 3/3 4/5 5/5 …
…
Remember you can simplify a fraction into a decimal
by dividing the denominator into the numerator, or
you can reduce a decimal by placing the decimal
equivalent over the appropriate place value.

O.625 = 625/1000 = 5/8

 Hint: When given a rational number in decimal
form (such as 2.3456) and asked to write it as a
fraction, it is often helpful to “say” the decimal
out loud using the place values to help form the
fraction.
2 . 3 4 5 6
o a t h t ten-
n n e u h t
e d n n o h
s t d u o
h r s u
s e a s
d n a
T d n
h t d
s h t
s h
s
Write each rational number as
a fraction:

Rational number Rational number

In decimal form In fractional form
0.3 3/10
0.007 7/1000
-5.9 -59/10
Hint: When checking to see which fraction is
larger, change the fractions to decimals by
dividing and comparing their decimal values.

Which of the given numbers Using full calculator display to

is greater? compare the numbers
2/3 and 1/4
.6666666667 > .25
-7/3 and – 11/3
-2.333333333 > -3.666666667
 Examples of rational numbers are:

6 or 6/1 can also be written as 6.0

-2 or -2/1 can also be written as -2.0
½ can also be written as 0.5
-5/4 can also be written as -1.25
2/3 can also be written as .66
2/3 can also be written as 0.666666…
21/55 can also be written as 0.38181818…
53/83 can also be written as 0.62855421687…
the decimals will repeat after 41 digits
 Examples: Write each rational number as a
fraction:
1) 0.3

2) 0.007

3) -5.9

4) 0.45
 Since Real Numbers are
both rational and irrational
ordering them on a number
line can be difficult if you
don’t pay attention to the
details.
As you can see from the
example at the left, there
are rational and irrational
numbers placed at the
appropriate location on the
number line.
This is called ordering real
numbers.
Irrational numbers
√2 = 1.414213562…
no perfect squares here
Irrational number – a number that cannot be
expressed as a ratio of two integers (fraction)
or as a repeating or terminating decimal.

• An irrational number cannot be expressed as a

fraction.

• Irrational numbers cannot be represented as

terminating or repeating decimals.

• Irrational numbers are non-terminating, non-

repeating decimals.
 Below are three irrational numbers.
Decimal representations of each of these are
nonrepeating and nonterminating

10
0.101001000
Examples of irrational
numbers are:

= 3.141592654…
Note:
The √ of√2 = squares are rational numbers.
perfect
1.414213562…
√25 =5
0.12122122212
√16 =4
√81
√7,= √5,
9 √3, √11,
343√
Remember: Rational numbers when divided will produce terminating or repeating decimals.

Non-perfect squares
are irrational
numbers
NOTE:
Many students think that 
is a terminating decimal,
3.14, but it is not. Yes,
certain math problems ask
you to use  as 3.14, but
that problem is rounding
the value of  to make
your calculations easier.
It is actually an infinite
decimal and is an irrational
number.
There are many numbers
on a real number line
that are not rational.

The number is not a
rational number, and it
can be located on a real
number line by using
geometry. The number 
is not equal to 22/7,
which is only an
approximation of the
value. The number 
is exactly equal to the
ratio of the
circumference of a circle
to its diameter.
Enjoy your Pi
 Test
Which of the following statements are true and which ones are
false?
a) Every real number is a rational number
b) Every irrational number is a real number
c) A real number is either rational or irrational
d) There can be a real number which is both rational and
irrational
e) The product of two rational numbers is rational
f) The sum of two irrational numbers is irrational e.g., [(p +
√q) + p – √q)]
g) The product of two odd integers is an odd integer
h) For any real number x there is a real number y such that xy =
1 [y =0, xy ≠ 1]
I. If x is rational and y is irrational, then
xy is irrational
J. If x < y, then x2 < y2
[– 1< 1 but (– 1)2 > 1]
K. If x2 > 0, then x2 > x [x = ½ >0
but ½ > ½]
L. Quotient of natural numbers is natural
M. If a > b and c > o, then ac > bc
N. If a ≤ b and b ≤ a, then a = b
O. If a > b then a = b + c, where c is any
possible number
P. If a > 0 and b > 0, then a2 > b2 in all cases.
[True if a > b]
Answer Kit
a. F; m. T
• b. T; n. T
• c. T; o. T
• d. F p. T
• e. T;
• f. F;
• g. T;
• h. F
• i. T;
• j. F;
• k. F;
• l. F
 Number
Number System:
System: Problems
Problems
Which of the following statements are true and which ones are false?
a. If a < b then a  a  b  b
b. a  c  ad  bc 2 Ans:
b d a. T b. T c. 41 + 13
c. Multiply 4 – 3i by 3 + 7i d. −8/29 e. 3 + i

d. Simplify 3  2i  3  2i
2  3i 2  3i

e. Simplify: 9  7i
2  3i