Rational numbers and whole numbers are related, but they are not the same thing. Let’s break it down!
Rational Numbers: A rational number is any number that can be expressed as the fraction of two integers (numbers that can be positive, negative, or zero), where the bottom number (called the denominator) is not zero. For example, 1/2, -3/4, and 5 can all be considered rational numbers because they can be written as fractions: 1/2 (itself), -3/4 (itself), and 5 can be written as 5/1.
Whole Numbers: Whole numbers are the numbers 0, 1, 2, 3, and so on. They do not include negative numbers or fractions. So, the set of whole numbers looks like this: {0, 1, 2, 3, 4, ...}.
Now, let’s answer the questions:
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Are all rational numbers also whole numbers?
No, not all rational numbers are whole numbers. For example, the rational number 1/2 is not a whole number because it is a fraction and not whole like 0, 1, or 2. -
Are all whole numbers also rational numbers?
Yes, all whole numbers are rational numbers. This is because each whole number can be written as a fraction. For example, the whole number 3 can be written as 3/1, which makes it a rational number.
Examples:
- A rational number that is NOT a whole number: 3/4 (it’s a fraction).
- A whole number that is also a rational number: 4 (it can be written as 4/1).
In summary, while all whole numbers are rational numbers, not all rational numbers are whole numbers!
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