A rational number is a type of number that can be expressed as a fraction or ratio of two integers, where the numerator is any integer and the denominator is a non-zero integer. In simpler terms, if you can write a number in the form of a/b, where a is an integer (which can be positive, negative, or zero), and b is a positive integer, then that number is a rational number.
For example, the number 1/2 is a rational number because it can be written as the ratio of the integers 1 and 2. Similarly, numbers like -3/4, 5 (which can be rewritten as 5/1), and 0 (which is 0/1) are all rational numbers.
On the flip side, there are numbers that cannot be expressed as such fractions, known as irrational numbers. These include numbers like π (pi) and √2 (the square root of 2). Rational numbers are quite significant in mathematics, often used in computations, measurements, and various forms of data analysis.
In essence, rational numbers are a fundamental component of our number system, making it easier for us to perform mathematical operations and understand the world around us.