In mathematics, a rational number is any number that can be expressed as the quo

tient or fraction p/q of two integers, a numerator p and a non-zero denominator

q.[1] Since q may be equal to 1, every integer is a rational number. The set of
all rational numbers, often referred to as "the rationals", the field of rationa
ls or the field of rational numbers is usually denoted by a boldface Q (or black
board bold {\displaystyle \mathbb {Q} } \mathbb {Q} , Unicode Q);[2] it was thus
denoted in 1895 by Giuseppe Peano after quoziente, Italian for "quotient".
The decimal expansion of a rational number always either terminates after a fini
te number of digits or begins to repeat the same finite sequence of digits over
and over. Moreover, any repeating or terminating decimal represents a rational n
umber. These statements hold true not just for base 10, but also for any other i
nteger base (e.g. binary, hexadecimal).
A real number that is not rational is called irrational. Irrational numbers incl
ude v2, p, e, and f. The decimal expansion of an irrational number continues wit
hout repeating. Since the set of rational numbers is countable, and the set of r
eal numbers is uncountable, almost all real numbers are irrational.[1]
Rational numbers can be formally defined as equivalence classes of pairs of inte
gers (p, q) such that q ? 0, for the equivalence relation defined by (p1,q1) ~ (
p2,q2) if, and only if, p1q2 = p2q1.
The rational numbers together with addition and multiplication form field which
contains the integers and is contained in any field containing the integers. Fin
ite extensions of Q are called algebraic number fields, and the algebraic closur
e of Q is the field of algebraic numbers.[3]
In mathematical analysis, the rational numbers form a dense subset of the real n
umbers. The real numbers can be constructed from the rational numbers by complet
ion, using Cauchy sequences, Dedekind cuts, or infinite decimals.
Contents [hide]
1 Terminology
2 Arithmetic
2.1 Embedding of integers
2.2 Equality
2.3 Ordering
2.4 Addition
2.5 Subtraction
2.6 Multiplication
2.7 Division
2.8 Inverse
2.9 Exponentiation to integer power
3 Continued fraction representation
4 Other representations
5 Formal construction
6 Properties
7 Real numbers and topological properties
8 p-adic numbers
9 See also
10 References
11 External links