The answer is rational when you divide one whole number by another one.
A decimal is a way of representing a number in such a way that the place value of each digit is ten times that of the digit to its right. Any number can have a decimal representation. Rational numbers have decimal representations that are either terminating or recurring whereas non-recurring decimals represent irrational numbers.
The set of irrational numbers is larger than the set of rational numbers, as proved by Cantor: The set of rational numbers is "countable", meaning there is a one-to-one correspondence between the natural numbers and the rational numbers. You can put them in a sequence, in such a way that every rational number will eventually appear in the sequence. The set of irrational numbers is uncountable, this means that no such sequence is possible. All rational and irrationals (ie real numbers) are a subset of complex numbers. Complex numbers, in turn, are part of a larger group, and so on.
Either way, you'll end up with a rational number, but you won't get a sum if you multiply.
Counting your money would be one way.
The answer is rational when you divide one whole number by another one.
Negative rational numbers are used in the same way that negative whole numbers are used: they are simply the additive inverses of their positive counterparts.
A decimal is a way of representing a number in such a way that the place value of each digit is ten times that of the digit to its right. Any number can have a decimal representation. Rational numbers have decimal representations that are either terminating or recurring whereas non-recurring decimals represent irrational numbers.
The set of irrational numbers is larger than the set of rational numbers, as proved by Cantor: The set of rational numbers is "countable", meaning there is a one-to-one correspondence between the natural numbers and the rational numbers. You can put them in a sequence, in such a way that every rational number will eventually appear in the sequence. The set of irrational numbers is uncountable, this means that no such sequence is possible. All rational and irrationals (ie real numbers) are a subset of complex numbers. Complex numbers, in turn, are part of a larger group, and so on.
Either way, you'll end up with a rational number, but you won't get a sum if you multiply.
56 is a rational whole natural number. Or to put it another way: 56 is a Natural number, but as all natural numbers are also whole numbers 56 is also a whole number, but as all whole numbers are also rational numbers 56 is also a rational number. Natural numbers are a [proper] subset of whole numbers; Whole numbers are a [proper] subset of rational numbers. The set of rational numbers along with the set of irrational numbers make up the set of real numbers
Counting your money would be one way.
There is no meaningful way to talk about factors of rational numbers. A rational can be divided by any other non-zero rational to give a rational and, in that sense, every rational is a factor.
the easiest way is to use a calculator.
A rational number can be expressed as a simple fraction, an irrational number cannot. More formally: A rational number is any real number that can be expressed as a ratio of two integers (positive or negative whole numbers). (The denominator in the ratio cannot be zero.) An irrational number cannot be expressed in that way. The terms "rational" and "irrational" refer to the idea of "ratio".
Rational numbers are sometimes represented in tabular form, e.g. for proofs relating to different infinities. Irrational and real numbers are not because there is no way to do it.
Rational numbers can be expressed as a ratio of two integers, irrational numbers cannot be expressed in that way.