Which of the following statements is true?a)Every fraction is a ration...
- Rational Numbers: a rational number is defined as one that can be expressed in the form a/b, where a is an integer and b is a natural number. This means that every fraction is a rational number.
- But every rational number is not a fraction. For example, -4/9 is a rational number but not a fraction, as fractions include only whole numbers as numerators and natural numbers only as denominators.
- In addition, every integer can be expressed as a fraction (for example, as the integer divided by 1). Therefore, all three statements are true.
Which of the following statements is true?a)Every fraction is a ration...
Understanding Rational Numbers and Fractions
To determine which statements are true, we need to clarify the definitions of rational numbers and fractions.
What is a Fraction?
- A fraction is a way of representing a part of a whole. It is expressed as a/b, where "a" is the numerator and "b" is the denominator (b ≠ 0).
- Every fraction can be expressed as a division of two integers.
What is a Rational Number?
- A rational number is any number that can be expressed as a fraction (a/b) where both "a" and "b" are integers and "b" is not zero.
- This means that all fractions are rational numbers.
Analyzing the Statements
- Statement (a): Every fraction is a rational number.
- True! Since every fraction can be expressed in the form a/b, it falls under the definition of a rational number.
- Statement (b): Every rational number is a fraction.
- False! While many rational numbers can be expressed as fractions, some rational numbers can also be whole numbers (e.g., 5 can be expressed as 5/1).
- Statement (c): Every integer is a rational number.
- True! Any integer can be expressed as a fraction by writing it over 1 (e.g., 4 can be written as 4/1).
Conclusion
- Since both statements (a) and (c) are true, the correct answer is option 'D': Both (a) and (c).
- This understanding highlights the relationship between fractions, rational numbers, and integers, providing clarity on their definitions and interconnections.