SOLUTION: How can you tell the difference between rational and illrational numbers?

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Question 263485: How can you tell the difference between rational and illrational numbers?
Answer by oberobic(2304) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
Rational numbers can be depicted as a fraction or ratio of whole numbers. Irrational numbers cannot be.
For example, 355/113 is an excellent approximation of pi, but it does NOT equal pi. Pi is irrational. Irrational numbers often are the result of measurements or calculations involving real numbers.


Note that if you find a decimal that repeats (instead of just continuing to go on and on and on with different values), then you have a rational number. The challenge then would be to find the two whole numbers that define the rational number. For example, the decimal 6.412121212... is equal to 6348/990.