answersLogoWhite

0

No. The irrational parts may cancel out.

For example, 1 + sqrt(2) and 5 - sqrt(2) are both irrational but their sum is 1 + 5 = 6.

User Avatar

Jasen Runte

Lvl 10
3y ago

Still curious? Ask our experts.

Chat with our AI personalities

RafaRafa
There's no fun in playing it safe. Why not try something a little unhinged?
Chat with Rafa
BeauBeau
You're doing better than you think!
Chat with Beau
ReneRene
Change my mind. I dare you.
Chat with Rene
More answers

The square root of 2 is irrational; this is proven in many high school algebra books. The same proof can be applied to any natural number that is not a perfect square; that is, the square roots of 3, 5, 6, 7, 8, 10, 11, 12, ... are all irrational.

User Avatar

Wiki User

8y ago
User Avatar

It may be either. Examples:

pi + pi = 2pi (irrational).

pi + (5-pi) = 5 (rational).

User Avatar

Wiki User

15y ago
User Avatar

Add your answer:

Earn +20 pts
Q: Is the sum of 2 irrational numbers rational?
Write your answer...
Submit
Still have questions?
magnify glass
imp
Continue Learning about Basic Math

Can you add two irrational numbers to get a rational number?

Yes Yes, the sum of two irrational numbers can be rational. A simple example is adding sqrt{2} and -sqrt{2}, both of which are irrational and sum to give the rational number 0. In fact, any rational number can be written as the sum of two irrational numbers in an infinite number of ways. Another example would be the sum of the following irrational quantities [2 + sqrt(2)] and [2 - sqrt(2)]. Both quantities are positive and irrational and yield a rational sum. (Four in this case.) The statement that there are an infinite number of ways of writing any rational number as the sum of two irrational numbers is true. The reason is as follows: If two numbers sum to a rational number then either both numbers are rational or both numbers are irrational. (The proof of this by contradiction is trivial.) Thus, given a rational number, r, then for ANY irrational number, i, the irrational pair (i, r-i) sum to r. So, the statement can actually be strengthened to say that there are an infinite number of ways of writing a rational number as the sum of two irrational numbers.


Is the sum of two irrational numbers also an irrational number?

Not necessarily. 3+sqrt(2) and 3-sqrt(2) are both irrational numbers. Their sum is 6 - a rational.


Is two thirds a rational or an irrational number?

2/3 is rational. Rational numbers are numbers that can be written as a fraction. Irrational numbers cannot be expressed as a fraction.


Is the sum of two irrational numbers irrational?

not always. nothing can be generalized about the sum of two irrational number. counter example. x=(sqrt(2) + 1), y=(1 - sqrt20) then x + y = 1, rational.


Can 2 irrational numbers add together to form a rational?

Yes. For example: a = 10 - pi b = pi Both are irrational; the sum a + b is 10.