What type of number will result from 5/12 x the square root of 16?

A: Radical, because one factor is a radical

B: irrational because one factor is irrational

C: Rational because both numbers are rational

D: irrational , because both factors are irrational

1 answer

Let's evaluate the expression \( \frac{5}{12} \times \sqrt{16} \).

  1. Calculate \( \sqrt{16} \): \[ \sqrt{16} = 4 \]

  2. Now substitute back into the expression: \[ \frac{5}{12} \times 4 \]

  3. Multiply \( 4 \) by \( \frac{5}{12} \): \[ \frac{5 \times 4}{12} = \frac{20}{12} \]

  4. Simplify \( \frac{20}{12} \): \[ \frac{20}{12} = \frac{5}{3} \quad (\text{after dividing numerator and denominator by } 4) \]

Since \( \frac{5}{3} \) is a rational number, the answer is:

C: Rational because both numbers are rational.