To determine whether the number \( 2 + (-6) \) is rational or irrational, we first need to simplify the expression.
Calculating \( 2 + (-6) \):
\[ 2 + (-6) = 2 - 6 = -4 \]
Now, we check if \(-4\) is a rational number. A number is considered rational if it can be expressed as a fraction \( \frac{a}{b} \) where \( a \) and \( b \) are integers and \( b \neq 0 \).
The number \(-4\) can be expressed as:
\[ \frac{-4}{1} \]
Since both \(-4\) and \(1\) are integers and \(1 \neq 0\), \(-4\) is a rational number.
Thus, the result \( 2 + (-6) = -4 \) is rational.