document.write( "<A HREF=/cgi-bin/jump-to-question.mpl?question=803135>Question 803135</A>: <I><SPAN STYLE=\"word-break: break-all;\"> What is a rational number? I learning about them and I am confused. And also I am having trouble on finding the tab on dividing decimals.  </SPAN>\n" );
document.write( "</I><HR><TABLE width=100%><TR><TD><B><A HREF=http://www.algebra.com/>Algebra.Com's</A> Answer #484143 by </B><A HREF=/tutors/aboutme.mpl?userid=KMST><B>KMST(5328)</B></A><img src=\"/images/stars/stars-13.gif\" alt=\"\" >&nbsp;<A HREF=/tutors/aboutme.mpl?userid=KMST><IMG SRC=http://www.algebra.com/images/aboutme-small.gif BORDER=0 alt=\"About Me\" VALIGN=MIDDLE></A>&nbsp;<IMG SRC=http://www.algebra.com/cgi-bin/show-face.mpl?user=KMST><BR>You can <A HREF=\"/cgi-bin/embed-solution.mpl?show=1&solution=484143\">put this solution on YOUR website!</A><BR><SPAN STYLE=\"word-break: break-all;\"> RATIOnal numbers are all numbers that can be expressed as a RATIO of integers.<BR>\n" );
document.write( "That includes integers and fractions, such as <IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=3=3%2F1 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"3=3%2F1\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" >, <IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=-2=%28-2%29%2F1 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"-2=%28-2%29%2F1\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" >, <IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=1%2F2 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"1%2F2\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" > and <IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=-3%2F7 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"-3%2F7\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" >.<BR>\n" );
document.write( "Some rational numbers can be expressed as \"terminating\" decimals like <IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=1%2F8=0.125 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"1%2F8=0.125\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" >.<BR>\n" );
document.write( "Other rationals, turn into decimals with an infinite number of repeating digits, like <IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=1%2F11=0.09090909 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"1%2F11=0.09090909\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" ><IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=%22.....%22 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"%22.....%22\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" >.<BR>\n" );
document.write( " <BR>\n" );
document.write( "The irrational numbers do not include numbers like <IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=pi ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"pi\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" > or <IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=sqrt%282%29 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"sqrt%282%29\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" >. Those are called irrational numbers.<BR>\n" );
document.write( "Irrational numbers cannot be written as fractions, and the digits in their decimal approximations do not repeat, ever.<BR>\n" );
document.write( " <BR>\n" );
document.write( "Irrational numbers are real numbers, just like the rational numbers.<BR>\n" );
document.write( "After all, the length of the diagonal of a square with side length 1 is <IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=sqrt%282%29 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"sqrt%282%29\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" >.<BR>\n" );
document.write( "However, they are a pain to work with in math class.<BR>\n" );
document.write( "For practical purposes we use approximations like <IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=3.14 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"3.14\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" > for <IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=pi ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"pi\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" > and <IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=1.42 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"1.42\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" > for <IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=sqrt%282%29 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"sqrt%282%29\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" >.<BR>\n" );
document.write( " <BR>\n" );
document.write( "Sometimes teachers will try to trick you and ask you about expressions, like<BR>\n" );
document.write( "<IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=sqrt%284%29 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"sqrt%284%29\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" >,  that look like they would be irrational, but<BR>\n" );
document.write( "<IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=sqrt%284%29=2 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"sqrt%284%29=2\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" > is an integer, and all integers are part of the rational numbers.<BR>\n" );
document.write( "Stay alert. Don't let them trick you. Those are rational numbers in disguise. </SPAN>\n" );
document.write( "</TD></TR></TABLE>\n" );