• Student Access
  • CONTACT
MATH IN DEMAND
  • Student Access
  • CONTACT
MATH IN DEMAND

Rationals vs Irrationals

Objectives:
  • Identify the different types of numbers in the real number system.
  • Classify a number as a rational or irrational number.

What is the real number system?
The real number system consists of numbers that fall on the number line.  This means that the real number system consists of EVERY number in the universe!
Picture
Numbers play an important part in the real world by assigning values and weighing variables.  We use the real number system every day.  The real number system is broken down into two kinds of numbers: rationals and irrationals.  We can further break down rational numbers into integers, whole numbers, and natural numbers.
Picture
We can also demonstrate the real number system by creating a tree diagram.
Picture

Rational Number vs Irrational Number

What is a rational number?  How about an irrational number?  Also, how do we identify a rational or irrational number?
What is a rational number?
A rational number can be written as a ratio of integers.  As shown in the diagram above, it is a/b where a and b are integers and b does not equal zero.
Picture
What is an irrational number?
Unlike a rational number, an irrational number cannot be written as a ratio of integers.
Picture

Examples

Determine if the following numbers are rational or irrational:
Picture
Click HERE to see answer to #1
Click HERE to see answer to #2
Click HERE to see answer to #3
Click HERE to see answer to #4
Click HERE to see answer to #5
Click HERE to see answer to #6
Click HERE to see answer to #7
Click HERE to see answer to #8
Click HERE to see answer to #9
Click HERE to see answer to #10

Quiz

You will take the quiz after you have researched and taken notes.

​CLICK HERE FOR QUIZ
(C) 2025 MATH IN DEMAND​