Chapter – 1

RATIONAL
NUMBERS
 Rational Numbers
Rational Number

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 etc.,

A number is called Rational if it can
be expressed in the form p/q where
p and q are integers (q > 0).

All negative and positive numbers

including zero are called Integers.

All the natural numbers including

zero are called Whole Numbers.

All the positive integers from 1, 2, 3,

……, ∞ are Natural Numbers.
 Closure Property
Rational Number

It shows that the operation of any two same types of numbers is also the same type or
not.
 Closure Property – Whole Numbers Number

If p and q are whole numbers then

Operation Addition Subtraction Multiplication Division

p + q will also be
Whole p – q will not always be pq will also be the p ÷ q will not always be a whole
the whole
number a whole number. whole number. number.
number.

Example 6+0=6 8 – 10 = – 2 3 × 5 = 15 3 ÷ 5 = 3/5

Closed or
Closed Not closed Closed Not closed
Not
 Closure Property – Integers

If p and q are 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
 Closure Property – Rational Numbers

If p and q are 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 p ÷ q will not always be a
Numbers rational number. rational number. rational number. rational number

p÷0
Example
= not defined

Closed or
Closed Closed Closed Not  closed
not
 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
 Commutative Property – Whole Numbers Number

If p and q are whole numbers then

Operation Addition Subtraction Multiplication Division

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

Example 3+2=2+3 8 –10 ≠ 10 – 8 – 2 ≠ 2 3×5=5×3 3÷5≠5÷3

Commutative Yes No Yes No 

 Commutative Property – Integers

If p and q are integers then

Operation Addition Subtraction Multiplication Division

Integers p+q=q+p p – q ≠ q – p  p×q=q×p p÷q≠q÷p

Example 3 + 2 = 2+3 5 – 7 = – 7 – (5) - 5 × 8 = 8 × (–5) - 5 ÷ 7 ≠ 7 ÷ (-5)

Cumulative Yes No Yes No

 Commutative Property – Rational Numbers

If p and q are rational numbers then

Operation Addition Subtraction Multiplication Division

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

Example

Cumulative Yes No Yes No

 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
 Associative Property – Whole Numbers Number

If p, q and r are three whole numbers then

Operation Addition Subtraction Multiplication Division

Whole p + (q + r) = (p +
p – (q – r) = (p – q) – r p × (q × r) = (p × q) × r p ÷ (q ÷ r)  ≠ (p ÷ q) ÷ r
number q) + r

3 + (2 + 5) = (3
Example 8 – (10 – 2) ≠ (8 -10) –2 3 × (5 × 2) = (3 × 5) × 2 10 ÷ (5 ÷ 2) ≠ (10 ÷ 5) ÷ 2
+ 2) + 5

Associative Yes No Yes No 

 Associative Property – Integers

If p, q and r are three integers then

Operation Addition Subtraction Multiplication Division

p × (q × r) = (p × q) × r
Integers p + (q + r) = (p + q) + r p – (q – r) = (p – q) – r p ÷ (q ÷ r) ≠ (p ÷ q) ÷ r

(– 6) + [(– 4)+(–5)] = (– 4) × [(– 8) ×(–5)] = [(– 4) [(–10) ÷ 2] ÷ (–5) ≠ (–10) ÷ [2

Example 5 – (7 – 3) ≠ (5 – 7) – 3
[(– 6) +(– 4)] + (–5) × (– 8)] × (–5) ÷ (– 5)]

Associative Yes No Yes No

 Associative Property – Rational Numbers

If p, q and r are three rational numbers then

Operation Addition Subtraction Multiplication Division

Rational p + (q + r) = (p + q) p – (q – r) = (p – q) – r
p × (q × r) = (p × q) × r p ÷ (q ÷ r) ≠ (p ÷ q) ÷ r
Numbers +r

Example

Commutative Yes No Yes No

 Role Of Zero- Additive Identity
Zero is the additive identity for whole numbers, integers and rational
numbers

Identity Examples

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

whole number 

Integer b + 0 = 0 + b = b Addition of zero to an (-2)+1=1+(-2) = -1

integer 

Rational number c + 0 = 0 + c = c Addition of zero to a 2/5 + 0 = 0 + 2/5 =

rational number  2/5
Role Of One- Multiplicative Identity
One is the multiplicative identity for whole numbers, integers and rational
numbers

Identity Examples

Whole number a ×1 = a Multiplication of one a ×1 = a

to the whole number 

Integer b × 1= b Multiplication of one b × 1= b

to an integer 

Rational number c × 1= c Multiplication of one 2/5 x 1 = 2/5

to a rational number 
Negative of a Number (Additive Inverse)

Identity Examples

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

number 

Integer b +(- b) = 0 Where b is an 5 + (-5) = 0

integer 

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

number
Reciprocal (Multiplicative Inverse)

The multiplicative inverse of any rational number is 1.

For Example,
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
Exercise