Chapter 2

Rational Numbers

Rational Number

Rational Number

A number that can be expressed as a/b, where a and b are integers and b cannot equal zero.

Examples of Rational Numbers

-4, 0.4, 1/4, 4

How to compare and order Rational numbers

1. Express all the numbers in the same form. ie. all written as fractions or all written as decimals.

2. Place the numbers on a number line.

   1. larger numbers are to the right of smaller numbers

How to compare rational numbers. ie. determine which one is larger or smaller

1. Use equivalent fractions.

   1. need a common denominator, then compare the numerators.

2. Use decimals.

   1. divide the numerator by the denominator

How to identify a Rational number between two given Rational numbers

1. convert to a decimal

   1. ex. 0.6 and 0.7

   2. 60 and 70

   3. 65

   4. =0.65

2. use a number line

Write a rational number as an equivalent fraction.

ex. a. -1/3

a. =1/3

You can switch a negative/positive with the opposite number