The sum of two irrational numbers may be a rational number or an irrat...
The sum of two irrational numbers is SOMETIMES irrational." The sum of two irrational numbers, in some cases, will beirrational. However, if the irrational parts of the numbers have a zero sum (cancel each other out), the sum will be rational
The sum of two irrational numbers may be a rational number or an irrat...
**Yes**, the sum of two irrational numbers may be either a rational number or an irrational number. To understand this, we need to first define what irrational numbers and rational numbers are.
**Rational Numbers:**
Rational numbers are numbers that can be expressed as a fraction of two integers, where the denominator is not zero. For example, 1/2, 3/4, and -5/7 are all rational numbers.
**Irrational Numbers:**
Irrational numbers are numbers that cannot be expressed as a fraction of two integers. Their decimal representations are non-terminating and non-repeating. Examples of irrational numbers include √2, π (pi), and e (Euler's number).
**Sum of Two Rational Numbers:**
If we take the sum of two rational numbers, the result will always be a rational number. This is because the sum of two fractions can be expressed as a fraction itself. For example, if we add 1/2 and 3/4, we get 5/4, which is a rational number.
**Sum of Two Irrational Numbers:**
When we add two irrational numbers, the result can be either rational or irrational. It depends on the specific numbers being added.
**Example 1:**
If we add √2 and √2, we get 2√2. This number cannot be expressed as a fraction, and its decimal representation is non-terminating and non-repeating. Therefore, the sum of these two irrational numbers is also an irrational number.
**Example 2:**
On the other hand, if we add √2 and -√2, the result is 0. This is a rational number because it can be expressed as the fraction 0/1.
**Conclusion:**
In conclusion, the sum of two irrational numbers can be either a rational or an irrational number. It depends on the specific numbers being added.
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