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How do you know if a radical is rational or irrational?

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Rational numbers, such as positive and negative integers, fractions, and irrational numbers, are all examples of Real numbers.  The set of real numbers, indicated by R, is the union of the set of rational numbers (Q) with the set of irrational numbers. This means that real numbers include natural numbers, whole numbers, integers, rational numbers, and irrational numbers. For example, 3, 0, 1.5, 3/2, 5, and so on are all real numbers.

Rational number 

Any integer that can be expressed as a fraction p/q is called a rational number. In a fraction, the numerator is ‘p,’ and the denominator is ‘q,’ where ‘q’ is not equal to zero. A natural number, a whole number, a decimal, or an integer are all examples of rational numbers.

1/2, -2/3, 0.5, and 0.333, for example, are rational numbers.

Irrational numbers 

Irrational numbers are a set of real numbers that cannot be represented as a fraction p/q, where p and q are integers and the numerator q is not equal to zero (q ≠0).

 Irrational numbers, such as (pi), are one example. 3.14159265.

The decimal value in this case is never finished. As a result, irrational numbers include numbers like 2, -7, and so on.

Radical 

The radical and root of a number are the same thing. The root can be a square root, a cube root, or an nth root in general. As a result, a radical is any number or expression that uses a root. The radical may be used to explain several types of roots for a number, such as square, cube, fourth, and so on. The index number or degree is the number written before the radical. This number indicates how many times the radicand must be multiplied by itself to equal the number.

The symbol ‘√’ for a number’s root is known as radical, and it is written as x radical n or nth root of x.

How do you know if a radical is rational or irrational?  

Solution: 

Radical is rational only when the square root of any number is itself a number in result or if the number is the perfect square of radical then its a rational number otherwise its an irrational number. For example: 

√25 = Square root of 25 is 5, 

Which is a perfect square of 5. Hence 5 can be represented as in the form of p/q,

 Therefore √25 is rational radical.

√15 = Square root of 15 is 3.87298334…

Which is not a perfect square, hence it cannot be represented as p/q and neither its terminating nor recurring after decimal. 

Therefore √15 is an irrational radical.

Sample Questions

Question 1: How do you know √16 is a rational or not?

Solution: 

Given, √16 

Here the square root of 16 is 4.

Which shows it is a perfect square, and 4 can be represented in form of 4/1.

Therefore √16 is a rational radical.

Question 2: Examine whether Radical of 8 is rational or not?

Solution: 

Radical is rational only when the square root of any number is itself a number in result or if the number is the perfect square of radical then its a rational number otherwise its an irrational number.

Here given: √8 

Square root of 8 is 2.828427.. which is not a perfect square.

Therefore radical 8 is not  a rational number.

Question 3: Examine whether Radical of 100 is rational or not?

Solution: 

Radical is rational only when the square root of any number is itself a number in result or if the number is the perfect square of radical then its a rational number otherwise its an irrational number.

Here given: √100

Square root of 100 is 10.. which is a perfect square.

Therefore radical 100 is a rational number.

Question 4: Examine whether the Radical of 5 is rational or not?

Solution: 

Radical is rational only when the square root of any number is itself a number in result or if the number is the perfect square of radical then its a rational number otherwise its an irrational number.

Here given: √5

Square root of 5 is 2.236067.. which is not a perfect square.

Therefore radical 5 is an irrational number.

Question 5:  Examine whether Radical of 144 is rational or not?

Solution: 

Radical is rational only when the square root of any number is itself a number in result or if the number is the perfect square of radical then its a rational number otherwise its an irrational number.

Here given: √144

Square root of 144 is 12, which is a perfect square.

Therefore radical 144 is a rational number.

Question 6: Examine whether Radical of 133 is rational or not?

Solution: 

Radical is rational only when the square root of any number is itself a number in result or if the number is the perfect square of radical then its a rational number otherwise its an irrational number.

Here given: √133

Square root of 133 is 11.53256, which is a perfect square.

Therefore radical of 133 is not a rational number.


Last Updated : 28 Feb, 2024
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