a rational number is a number that can, by definition, be expressed as a ratio of two numbers. In other words, all rational numbers can be expressed as fractions. Whole numbers are all rational (or as you put, fractional). 5 can be written as the fraction 5/1, same with any other whole number. Decimals are where it gets interesting. .5 is fractional as you can write it as 5/10 or 1/2. Pi (3.1415926......) is the classic example of an irrational number. The decimal goes on forever and doesn't repeat. Therefore, there is no way to write it as a fraction. Be careful though! Just because a decimal goes onto infinity doesn't guarantee that it is irrational. .66666666666666666 repeating might look irrational, but since that decimal can be written as 1/3 then the number itself is said to be fractional!
Chat with our AI personalities
The formal definition of an irrational number is onethat can't be converted into a fractional equivalent.
There is no difference. Rational numbers are numbers that can be written as a fraction. Irrational numbers cannot be expressed as a fraction.
Unless the integer is fractional it is not an irrational number.
22/7 * * * * * Since pi is a transcendental number, which is a kind of irrational number, there is no fractional form of pi. 22/7 is merely a fractional approximation.
22/7 (twenty two-sevenths). * * * * * Since pi is a transcendental number, which is a kind of irrational number, there is no fractional form of pi. 22/7 is merely a fractional approximation.