 |
| ||
| |||
|
| Math Central | Quandaries & Queries |
|
Question from Allison, a student: It ask me to find an example of an irrational number less than -5 and I don't understand what the difference from a rational number and an irrational number besides the fact that a rational number can be repeated and shown in a simple fraction and an irrational number can't be written in a simple |
Hi Allison,
You have the essential facts about rational and irrational numbers correct with one small edit
A rational number can be written as a simple fraction and an irrational number can't be written in a simple fraction.
The "repeated" aspect is that when a simple fraction is represented in decimal form it has a repeated pattern, for example $\large \frac{17}{45} \normalsize = 0.3777 \cdot \cdot \cdot$ where the digit 7 is repeated.
You are to find an example of an irrational number which is less than -5. Can you give me any example of an irrational number?
Penny
| ||
| ||
| ||
 |
 |
|
|
||
Math Central is supported by the University of Regina and the Imperial Oil Foundation.