The connection between rational numbers and whole numbers lies in the fact that all whole numbers are classified as rational numbers. However, not all rational numbers qualify as whole numbers. This means that whole numbers are a specific subset within the larger category of rational numbers.
For example, the whole number 5 can be expressed as a rational number in the form of a fraction, such as \( \frac{5}{1} \). Similarly, the whole number 0 is also a rational number, as it can be represented as \( \frac{0}{1} \). On the other hand, a rational number like \( \frac{3}{4} \) is not a whole number since it is a fraction that falls between whole numbers. Therefore, while all whole numbers are rational, not all rational numbers can be classified as whole numbers.