Number Systems

 Irrational Numbers
o Irrational numbers are those which cannot be expressed in the form , where p, q are
integers and q ≠ 0.
Example: are irrational numbers.

Irrational numbers are the numbers which neither terminate nor repeat.
Example: or as 3.14, both of which are rationals.

 Decimal expansion of a rational number can be of two types:

(i) Terminating
(ii) Non-terminating and repetitive

In order to find decimal expansion of rational numbers we use long division method.

For example, to find the decimal expansion of .

We perform the long division of 1237 by 25.

Hence, the decimal expansion of is 49.48. Since the remainder is obtained as zero, the
decimal number is terminating.

 Decimal expansion of irrational numbers

o The decimal expansion of an irrational number is non-terminating and non-

repeating. Thus, a number whose decimal expansion is non-terminating and non- repeating
is irrational.
 For example, the decimal expansion of is 1.41421…. , which is clearly non-terminating
and non-repeating. Thus, is an irrational number.

o The number is irrational if it is not possible to represent a in the form bn, where b is a
factor of a.
For example, is irrational as 12 cannot be written in the form b6, where b is a factor of
12.

 Conversion of decimals into equivalent rational numbers:

o Non-terminating repeating decimals can be easily converted into their equivalent rational
numbers.
For example, can be converted in the form , where p and q are integers and q ≠ 0
as follows:
Let x =
⇒ x = 2.35961961... … (1)
On multiplying both sides of equation (1) with 100, we obtain:
100x = 235.961961961... … (2)
On multiplying both sides of equation (2) with 1000, we obtain:
100000x = 235961.961961961... … (3)
On subtracting equation (2) from equation (3), we obtain:
99900x = 235726

Thus,

 Irrational numbers between any two rational numbers:

There are infinite irrational numbers between any two rational numbers.
We can find irrational numbers between two rational numbers using the following steps:

Step 1: Find the decimal representation (up to 2 or 3 places of decimal) of the two given
rational numbers. Let those decimal representations be a and b, such that a < b.

Step 2: Choose the required non-terminating and non-repeating decimal numbers (i.e.,
irrationl numbers) between a and b.

Example: 0.34560561562563…, 0.3574744744474444… and

0.369874562301…are three irrational numbers beween 0.33 and 0.4.

 Representation of rational numbers on number line using successive

magnification:

Example: Visualize on the number line, upto 4 decimal places.

 Solution:

Step 1: As 3 < 3.3232 < 4, so divide the gap between 3 and 4 on the number line into 10
equal parts and magnify the distance between them.

Step 2: As 3.3 < 3.3232 < 3.4, so again divide the gap between between 3.3 and 3.4 into 10
equal parts to locate the given number more accurately.

Step 3: As 3.32 < 3.3232 < 3.33 so, we continue the same procedure by dividing the gap
between 3.32 and 3.33 into 10 equal parts.

Step 4: Also, 3.323 < 3.3232 < 3.324, so by dividing the gap between 3.323 and 3.324 into
10 equal parts, we can locate 3.3232.

 Represent irrational numbers on the number line:

We can represent irrational numbers of the form on the number line by first
plotting , where n is any positive integer.
Example: Locate on the number line.

Solution:

As
 To locate on the number line, we first need to construct a length of .

By Pythagoras theorem, OB2 = OA2 + AB2 = 22 + 12 = 5

Steps:
Mark O at 0 and A at 2 on the number line, and then draw AB of unit length perpendicular
to OA. Then, by Pythagoras Theorem, .
Construct BD of unit length perpendicular to OB. Thus, by Pythagoras theorem,

Using a compass with centre O and radius OD, draw an arc intersecting the number line at
point P.
Thus, P corresponds to the number .

 Representation of real numbers of the form on the number line, where n is any
positive real number:

We cannot represent on number line directly, so we will use the geometrical method to
represent on the number line.

Example:

Represent on the number line.

Solution:

Step 1: Draw a line and mark a point A on it. Mark points B and C such that AB = 8.3 units
and BC = 1 unit.
 Step 2: Find the mid-point of AC and mark it as M. Taking M as the centre and MA as the
radius, draw a semi-circle.

Step 3: From B, draw a perpendicular to AC. Let it meet the semi-circle at D. Taking B as the
centre and BD as the radius, draw an arc that intersects the line at E.

Now, the distance BE on this line is units.

 Operation on irrational numbers:

o Like terms: The terms or numbers whose irrational parts are the same are known as like
terms. We can add or subtract like irrational numbers only.
o Unlike terms: The terms or numbers whose irrational parts are not the same are known as
unlike terms.

We can perform addition, subtraction, multiplication and division involving irrational

numbers.

Note:

(1) The sum or difference of a rational and an irrational number is always irrational.
(2) The product or quotient of a non-zero rational number and an irrational number is
always irrational.

Example:

(1)

(2)
 (3)

(4)

 Closure Property of irrational numbers:

Irrational numbers are not closed under addition, subtraction, multiplication and division.

Example: , and , which are not an irrational

numbers.

 Identities related to square root of positive real numbers:

If a and b are positive real numbers then

We can use these identities to solve expressions involving irrational numbers.

Example:
 Rationalization of denominators:

o The denominator of can be rationalized by multiplying both the numerator and the
denominator by , where a, b, x and y are integers.

o The denominator of can be rationalized by multiplying both the numerator and the
denominator by , where a, b, c and d are integers.
Note: and are the conjugates of and respectively.

Example: Rationalize

Solution:

 Laws of rational exponents of real numbers:

Let a and b be two real numbers and m and n be two rational numbers then
Example: