RATIONAL NUMBERS

Two Kinds of Real Numbers

Rational Numbers Irrational Numbers

Rational Numbers
A rational number is a real number that can be written as a ratio of two integers. A rational number written in decimal form is terminating or repeating.

Examples of Rational Numbers

16 1/2 3.56

-8 1.3333 - 3/4

Irrational Numbers
An irrational number is a number that cannot be written as a ratio of two integers. Irrational numbers written as decimals are non-terminating and non-repeating.

Integers
One of the subsets of rational numbers

What are integers?

Integers are the whole numbers and their opposites. Examples of integers are 6 -12 0 186 -934

Constructing a Number Line

A number line is drawn by choosing a starting position, usually 0, and marking off equal distance from that point

 The set of numbers used on the number line is called the set of integers This set can be written {, -3, -2, -1, 0, 1, 2, 3, }

 The number line is made up of 3 sets of numbers

Natural numbers 1, 2, 3, 4, Whole numbers 0, 1, 3, 4, Integers , -2, -1, 0, 1, 2,

 You should not include the number 0 You should not include numbers less than 0 (negative numbers) You should not include the number 6 or any higher

Rational Numbers
The term, Rational Numbers, refers to any number that can be written as a fraction. This includes fractions that are reduced, fractions that can be reduced, mixed numbers, improper fractions, and even integers and whole numbers.
An integer, like 4, can be written as a fraction by putting the number 1 under it.

4 4= 1

Types of Rational Numbers

2 Reduced Fractions: 3

Not Reduced Fractions: 4 Mixed Numbers:

1 5 4 4 6

Improper Fractions: 6 Integers and Whole 6 Numbers:

1

Simplifying Fractions
Simplifying fractions by dividing the numerator (top number) and denominator (bottom number) by the same value. Repeat this until there are no more numbers that divide into both the numerator & denominator. 4 2 2 Example: 6 2 = 3 Example: 15 5 = 3 10 5 2 Example: 36 6 6 = 42 6 7

Simplifying Fractions
Example: Example:
15 is already simplified. 14 2 3 5 + 2 17 3 = = is already simplified. 5 5 5

(Rewrite mixed numbers as improper fractions before you simplify.) Example:

36 2 18 3 6 = = 42 2 21 3 7

(If after you divide, the fraction can still be simplified, keep going.)

Adding Fractions
To add fractions, they must have a common denominator. If the denominators are the same, add the numerators, and put the result over the denominator. If the answer can be simplified, then simplify it. Example: Example:

2 9 2 + 9 11 + = = 5 5 5 5 2 8 2 + 8 10 5 2 + = = = =2 5 5 5 5 5 1

Getting a Common Denominator

Use this formula to get two fractions to have a common denominator:

2 4 + 3 5

Common Denominator = 35=15.

2 4 2 5 + 4 3 + = 3 5 15 2 4 2 5 + 4 3 22 + = = 3 5 15 15

Cross Multiply & Add.

Simplify if possible.

More Examples
3 1 3 6 + 1 4 22 = 22 2 = 11 1) + = = 4 6 4 6 24 24 2 12
Cross Multiply & Add.

Common Denominator

Divide to Simplify.

5 2 + 38 = 34 = 34 2 = 17 5 3 = 2) + 16 16 2 8 8 2 8 2

More Examples
6 10 6 10 3) = + 5 3 5 3
Change Subtraction to Addition. (KeepChange_Change.)

6 3 + (10) 5 18 + (50) 32 = = = 5 3 15 15
Note: A fraction with a negative numerator or denominator is a negative fraction.

32 32 32 = = 15 15 15

More Examples

Change Subtraction to Addition (KeepChange_Change.).

1 5 (3 4 + 1) (1 6 + 5) 4) 3 1 = 4 6 4 6
Change Mixed Numbers to Improper Fractions.

13 11 = + 4 6

13 11 (13) 6 + (11) 4 + = 4 6 4 6
Get Common Denominator, Cross Multiply & Add.

122 = 24
Simplify.

61 = 12 61 = 12

You Try It!

Find each sum or difference.

3 4 1) + 5 3 2 1 3) 5 + 2 5 4

1 7 2) 8 10 1 1 4) - 3 2 5

Solutions
3 4 3 3 + 4 5 29 1) + = = 5 3 5 3 15 1 7 1 7 1 1 0+ ( 7) 8 4 6 23 2) = + = = = 8 10 8 10 8 1 0 80 40 2 1 27 9 27 4 + 9 5 153 3) 5 + 2 = + = = 5 4 5 4 5 4 20
1 1 7 1 7 1 ( 7)5 + (1)2 37 4) - 3 = = + = = 2 5 2 5 2 5 2 5 10