Rational numbers and whole numbers are both subsets of the number system, but they are not the same. Rational numbers are defined as numbers that can be expressed as the quotient of two integers, where the denominator is not zero. This means that rational numbers include integers, fractions, and repeating or terminating decimals, such as \( \frac{1}{2} \), \( -3 \), and \( 0.75 \).
Whole numbers, on the other hand, are a subset of integers that include all non-negative integers: \( 0, 1, 2, 3, \ldots \). While every whole number is indeed a rational number (for example, the whole number 3 can be expressed as \( \frac{3}{1} \)), not all rational numbers are whole numbers. For instance, \( \frac{1}{2} \) and \( -3 \) are examples of rational numbers that are not whole numbers, as they do not fit the definition of being non-negative integers. Thus, while there is a clear relationship between the two—whole numbers are rational numbers—rational numbers encompass a broader range that includes fractions and negative numbers, which whole numbers do not.