answersLogoWhite

0


Best Answer

Any number that CAN be represented as a ratio of 2 integers is classified as a rational number (other than that you can't use 0 for the denominator)

Any number that CANNOT be represented as a ratio of 2 integers is classified as an irrational number

You can't have it both ways - either you can or cannot.

To paraphrase Yoda "Can or Cannot - there is no both"

NOTE: dividing by zero give you infinity which is a concept not a fixed number and thus neither inherently rational nor irrational

User Avatar

Wiki User

7y ago
This answer is:
User Avatar

Add your answer:

Earn +20 pts
Q: Why can't a number be both rational and irrational?
Write your answer...
Submit
Still have questions?
magnify glass
imp
Continue Learning about Math & Arithmetic

What is the mathematical symbol for an irrational number?

it's Q Bar. i cant find a symbol for it on the keyboard. but its basically like The rational Symbol (Q) with a horzontal line on top of it.


Why cant you assume that a number is irrational because it is expressed using the square root symbol?

Well, for example, the square root of 4 is 2, which is a rational number. As long as the number which is being square rooted is not a square number itself (i.e. 1, 4, 9, 16 etc.), then it will be irrational. So..... the square roots of 49, 100, 196, for example, are all rational numbers (7, 10 and 14 respectively.) They do not have to be integers. The square of of any rational number automatically has a rational square root eg the square root of 77.41792 is 77.4179 . Rational means expressable as a ratio of integers: 77.4179 is 774179/10000 .


Are irrational numbers real numbers?

A mathematical approach:Yes they are. Irrational numbers are very real, for example - the square root of two - which is irrational (but can be plotted in a number line without difficulty with a compass and straight edge). All numbers you can think of (even if you cant white them out) are real numbers.They are real, but they can't be expressed as fractions.A philosophical approach:According to ME, there should be a limit. If there is a number which is not ending, we can't say that it is a number because it has not ended yet, its not a complete number. That's why, any number which is not ending is not a number, so irrational numbers and some rational numbers are not numbers and we can't plot them on real line, no matter how much depth we are into it. If there is a number 1.0000... (100 million 0's) ...1, we can plot it by dividing real line into required many parts but we cant plot a number like 1.1111....1111....(up to, we don't know), actually that's not a number yet.Maths should be changed.


Why cant irrational numbers be represented in decimal form?

But irrational numbers are decimals that can't be expressed as fractions


How do you determine if a fraction is in simplest form?

if the fraction's numerator and denominator cant be divided by any number remembber both numerator and denominator must be divided by the same number

Related questions

Is 0.151155111555.Rational Or Irrational?

This number is rational as 0.151155111555 = 151155111555 / 1000000000000 = 151291 / 1000899 if 0.151155111555 is the beginning of the number 0.151155111555111155551111155555.... then it's irrational as the decimals are not repeating and the sequence is infinite


Can the difference of two rational numbers can be irrational?

No irrational numbers don't have patterns and cant be expressed as a ratio so you cant even subtract the number. Ex: 22/7 - sqrt(2), you wont be able to find the difference since you cant even put it in a complete number.


Can a number be irrational and rational at the same time?

No they cant because that would be contradicting each other ( The numbers wont end and don't have a pattern but rational is the complete opposite)


How do you know if a decimal is rational or irrational?

A decimal is rational if it:either ends and doesn't go on forever; ORit is a repeating decimal.A decimal is irrational if it goes on forever and ever and never stops without repeating.The number: 5.77777777 is rational because it goes on forever, REPEATING the same number (the digit 7).It can also repeat a group of numbers, like the number: 8.789789789789789789See how the "789" is REPEATING over and over again and never stops? That is a rational decimal!


What is the mathematical symbol for an irrational number?

it's Q Bar. i cant find a symbol for it on the keyboard. but its basically like The rational Symbol (Q) with a horzontal line on top of it.


Is -5 a rational number?

Yes.-5 is a rational number. It's the ratio of 5 to -1 .


Why cant you assume that a number is irrational because it is expressed using the square root symbol?

Well, for example, the square root of 4 is 2, which is a rational number. As long as the number which is being square rooted is not a square number itself (i.e. 1, 4, 9, 16 etc.), then it will be irrational. So..... the square roots of 49, 100, 196, for example, are all rational numbers (7, 10 and 14 respectively.) They do not have to be integers. The square of of any rational number automatically has a rational square root eg the square root of 77.41792 is 77.4179 . Rational means expressable as a ratio of integers: 77.4179 is 774179/10000 .


What is a number that cant be written as a fraction or decimal?

Irrational, possibly transcendental


Why cant irrational number be presented as a decimal?

All irrational numbers are non-terminating decimals that can't be expressed as fractions


What is an irrational number between 5 to 10?

An irrational number is a number that cannot be expressed as a fraction. So whole numbers and fractions are out. You can then just make a number like 6.34298374923743333333. You put a bar over the 3 so it repeats, and the number cant be expressed as a fraction, makin git an irrational number.


How do you know if 2 is a rational number?

first you think that is 2 a repeating decimal.... and can u reduce it if its not a repeating decimal and u cant reduce it then it is a rational number


What is The set of all numbers that are not rational?

there are so many irational numbers so it cant be placed on a list. This is like counting numbers, there are infinitive solutions! But you can clasify irational numbers. Irrational numbers normally are one number that has two rational numbers divided each other to get a number. to start this you will need some knowledge or examples or irrational examples. some examples are √3, √2, √5, √6, √7,√8,√10,√11,√12,√13,√14,√15,√17,√18,√19 ect, Also another example is π because there arent two rational numbers that multiply or divide to get the number. hope this hellped.