What is an irrational number?
2006-11-06 09:59:14 · 8 answers · asked by mochaspice16 1 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Mathematics
In mathematics, an irrational number is any real number that is not a rational number, i.e., that cannot be expressed by a quotient of two integers, i.e. it cannot be written as a fraction in which the numerator and denominator are integers.
It can readily be shown that the irrational numbers are precisely those numbers whose expansion in any given rational base (decimal, binary, etc) never ends and never enters a periodic pattern.
2006-11-06 10:01:33 · answer #1 · answered by DanE 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋
You want a simple concise answer that wasn't copied out of a book or website and is easy to understand?
An irrational number is a number that cannot be written as a fraction (putting a 1 in the denominator doesn't count).
Most of the things already written are characteristics of irrational numbers, but not the actual definition.
2006-11-06 10:04:57 · answer #2 · answered by A W 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
With respect to A W, an irrational number is a number which can't be written as a fraction *with integers in the numerator and denominator*. You can still count 1 as an integer, but if the number in question can be represented with a 1 in the denominator and any other integer in the numerator then it is rational and not irrational.
The definition of irrational numbers was covered in the first definition adequately, in my opinion. Cheers!
2006-11-06 10:19:44 · answer #3 · answered by bag o' hot air 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
An irrational number is any number whose decimal places never end, the square root of a negative number, or any fraction that has zero in the denominator.
2006-11-06 10:03:04 · answer #4 · answered by moonfreak♦ 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Irrational numbers are decimal numbers that neither repeat nor terminate. They cannot be expressed as fractions with integers for the numerator and denominator.
Let's say Pi or 3.14........ It never terminates but it doesn't repeat either.
2006-11-06 10:02:18 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
A number that can not be expressed as the ratio of 2 integers.
examples are π, e, √2.
2006-11-06 10:10:05 · answer #6 · answered by yupchagee 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
A number that cannot be exactly expressed as a ratio of two integers. I hope this helps.
2006-11-06 10:09:04 · answer #7 · answered by vanityspice 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
It is a number that gets drunk all the time and only considers booze and sex as sensible aspects of life. A good student - from a student's perspective - or it was in my day anyway!
2006-11-06 10:05:00 · answer #8 · answered by interested_party 4 · 0⤊ 2⤋