Chapter-1(Rational Numbers)-Introduction

(A Unit of Delhi Public School PVT.LTD)

 Chapter 1: Chapter-1(Rational Numbers)
Chapter Notes
Rational Numbers
A number is called Rational if it can be expressed in the form p/q where p and q are integers (q > 0). It
includes all natural, whole number and integers.
Example: 1/2, 4/3, 5/7,1 etc.

Natural Numbers
All the positive integers from 1, 2, 3,……, ∞.
Whole Numbers
All the natural numbers including zero are called Whole Numbers.
Integers
All negative and positive numbers including zero are called Integers.
Properties of Rational Numbers
1. Closure Property

This shows that the operation of any two same types of numbers is also the same type or not.

a. Whole Numbers
If p and q are two whole numbers then

Operation Addition Subtraction Multiplication Division

Whole p + q will also be the p – q will not always be a pq will also be the whole p ÷ q will not always
number whole number. whole number. number. be a whole number.
Example 6+0=6 8 – 10 = – 2 3 × 5 = 15 3 ÷ 5 = 3/5
Closed or
Closed Not closed Closed Not closed
Not

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b. Integers
If p and q are two integers then

Operation Addition Subtraction Multiplication Division

p+q will also be an p-q will also be an pq will also be an p ÷ q will not always be an
Integers
integer. integer. integer. integer.
Example -3+2=–1 5–7=–2 - 5 × 8 = – 40 - 5 ÷ 7 = – 5/7
Closed or
Closed Closed Closed Not closed
not
c. Rational Numbers
If p and q are two rational numbers then

Operation Addition Subtraction Multiplication Division

Rational p + q will also be a p – q will also be a pq will also be a rational p ÷ q will not always
Numbers rational number. rational number. number. be a rational number

p÷0
Example
= not defined

Closed or Not Closed Closed Closed Not closed

2. Commutative Property

This shows that the position of numbers does not matter i.e. if you swap the positions of the numbers then also
the result will be the same.

a. Whole Numbers
If p and q are two whole numbers then

Operation Addition Subtraction Multiplication Division

Whole number p+q=q+p p–q≠q–p p×q=q×p p÷q≠q÷p

Example 3+2=2+3 8 –10 ≠ 10 – 8 – 2 ≠ 2 3×5=5×3 3÷5≠5÷3
Commutative yes No yes No
c. Rational Numbers
If p and q are two rational numbers then

Operation Addition Subtraction Multiplication Division

Rational numbers p+q=q+p p –q ≠ q - p p×q=q×p p÷q≠q÷p

Example

Commutative yes No yes No

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3. Associative Property

This shows that the grouping of numbers does not matter i.e. we can use operations on any two numbers first
and the result will be the same.

a. Whole Numbers
If p, q and r are three whole numbers then

Operation Addition Subtraction Multiplication Division

Whole
p + (q + r) = (p + q) + r p – (q – r) = (p – q) – r p × (q × r) = (p × q) × r p ÷ (q ÷ r) ≠ (p ÷ q) ÷ r
number
3 + (2 + 5) = (3 + 2) + 8 – (10 – 2) ≠ (8 -10) – 3 × (5 × 2) = (3 × 5) × 10 ÷ (5 ÷ 1) ≠ (10 ÷ 5) ÷
Example
5 2 2 1
Associative yes No yes No
b. Integers
If p, q and r are three integers then

Operation Integers Example Associative

Addition p + (q + r) = (p + q) + r (– 6) + [(– 4)+(–5)] = [(– 6) +(– 4)] + (–5) Yes

Subtraction p – (q – r) = (p – q) – r 5 – (7 – 3) ≠ (5 – 7) – 3 No
Multiplication p × (q × r) = (p × q) × r (– 4) × [(– 8) ×(–5)] = [(– 4) × (– 8)] × (–5) Yes
Division p ÷ (q ÷ r) ≠ (p ÷ q) ÷ r [(–10) ÷ 2] ÷ (–5) ≠ (–10) ÷ [2 ÷ (– 5)] No
c. Rational Numbers
If p, q and r are three rational numbers then

Operation Integers Example Associative

Addition p + (q + r) = (p + q) + r yes

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Subtraction p – (q – r) = (p – q) – r No

Multiplicationp × (q × r) = (p × q) × r yes

Division p ÷ (q ÷ r) ≠ (p ÷ q) ÷ r No

The Role of Zero in Numbers (Additive Identity)

Zero is the additive identity for whole numbers, integers and rational numbers.

Identity Example

Whole number a+0=0+a=a Addition of zero to whole number 2+0=0+2=2

Integer b+0=0+b=b Addition of zero to an integer False
Rational number c+0=0+c=c Addition of zero to a rational number 2/5 + 0 = 0 + 2/5 = 2/5

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The Role of one in Numbers (Multiplicative Identity)
One is the multiplicative identity for whole numbers, integers and rational numbers.

Identity Example

Whole number a ×1 = a Multiplication of one to the whole number 5×1=5

Integer b × 1= b Multiplication of one to an integer -5×1=–5

Rational Number c × 1= c Multiplication of one to a rational number

Negative of a Number (Additive Inverse)

Identity Example

Whole number a +(- a) = 0 Where a is a whole number 5 + (-5) = 0

Integer b +(- b) = 0 Where b is an integer True

Rational number c + (-c) = 0 Where c is a rational number

Reciprocal (Multiplicative Inverse)

The multiplicative inverse of any rational number

Example
The reciprocal of 4/5 is 5/4.
Distributivity of Multiplication over Addition and Subtraction for Rational Numbers

This shows that for all rational numbers p, q and r

1. p(q + r) = pq + pr

2. p(q – r) = pq – pr

Example
Check the distributive property of the three rational numbers 4/7,-( 2)/3 and 1/2.

Solution
Let’s find the value of

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This shows that

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Representation of Rational Numbers on the Number Line

On the number line, we can represent the Natural numbers, whole numbers and integers as follows

Rational Numbers can be represented as follows

Rational Numbers between Two Rational Numbers

There could be n number of rational numbers between two rational numbers. There are two methods to find
rational numbers between two rational numbers.

Method 1
We have to find the equivalent fraction of the given rational numbers and write the rational numbers which
come in between these numbers. These numbers are the required rational numbers.

Example
Find the rational number between 1/10 and 2/10.

Solution
As we can see that there are no visible rational numbers between these two numbers. So we need to write the
equivalent fraction.

2/10 = 20/100((multiply the numerator and denominator by 10)

Hence, 2/100, 3/100, 4/100……19/100 are all the rational numbers between 1/10 and 2/10.

Method 2
We have to find the mean (average) of the two given rational numbers and the mean is the required rational
number.

Example
Find the rational number between 1/10 and 2/10.

Solution
To find mean we have to divide the sum of two rational numbers by 2.

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3/20 is the required rational numbers and we can find more by continuing the same process with the old and
the new rational number.

Remark: 1. This shows that if p and q are two rational numbers then (p + q)/2 is a rational number between p
and q so that
p < (p + q)/2 < q.

2. There are infinite rational numbers between any two rational numbers.

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