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Introduction to Rational Numbers

Whole Numbers and Natural Numbers

Natural numbers are set of numbers  starting from 1 counting up to infinity. The set of
natural numbers is denoted as N ′ ′

Whole numbers are set of numbers starting from 0 and going up to infinity. So basically
they are natural numbers with the zero added to the set. The set of whole numbers is
denoted as W ′ ′

Closure Property
Closure property is applicable for whole numbers in the case of addition and multiplication
while it isn’t in the case for subtraction and division. This applies to natural numbers as well.

Commutative Property
Commutative property applies for whole numbers and natural numbers in the case of
addition and multiplication but not in the case of subtraction and division.

Associative Property
Associative property applies for whole numbers and natural numbers in the case of addition
and multiplication but not in the case of subtraction and division.

Integers

In simple terms Integers are natural numbers and their negatives. The set of Integers is
denoted as ′
Z
′
or ′
I
′

Closure Property
Closure property applies to integers in the case of addition, subtraction and multiplication
but not division. 

Commutative Property
Commutative property applies to integers in the case of of addition and multiplication but
not subtraction and division.

Associative Property
Associative property applies to integers in the case of addition and multiplication but not
subtraction and division.

Rational Numbers

A rational number is a number that can be represented as a fraction of two integers in the
form of , where q must be non-zero. The set of rational numebrs is denoted as Q.
p

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For example: is a rational number where -5 and 7 are integers. Even 2 is a rational
−5

number since it can be written as 2

1
where 2 and 1 are integers.

Properties of Rational Numbers

Closure Property of Rational Numbers

For any two rational numbers a and b a ∗ b = c ∈ Q i.e. For two rational numbers say a and b
the results of addition, subtraction and multiplication operations gives a rational number. 

Since the sum of two numbers ends up being a rational number, we can say that the closure
property applies to rational numbers in the case of addition.
(8+9)

For example : The sum of is also a rational number where 17 and 12 are
2 3 17
+ = =
3 4 12 12

integers.

The difference between two rational numbers result in a rational number. Therefore, the
closure property applies for rational numbers in the case of subtraction. For example : The
(16−15)

difference between  is also a rational number where 1 and 20 are

4 3 1
− = =
5 4 20 20

integers.

The multiplication of two rational numbers results in a rational number. Therefore we can
say that the closure property applies to rational numbers in the case of multiplication as
well.
For example :  The product of which is also a rational number where -2
1 −4 −4 −2
× = =
2 5 10 5

and 5 are integers.

In the case with division of two rational numbers, we see that for a rational number a, a ÷ 0
is not defined. Hence we can say that the closure property does not apply for rational
numbers in the case of division. 
 

Commutative Property of Rational Numbers

For any two rational numbers a and b a ∗ b = b ∗ a. i.e., Commutative property is one where
in the result of an equation must remain the same despite the change in the order of
operands.

Given two rational numbers a and b, (a + b) is always going to be equal to (b + a). Therefore
addition is commutative for rational numbers.
For example: + = + 2

3
4

3
4

3
2

3
6 6
⇒ =
7 7

Considering the difference between two rational numbers a and b, (a − b) is never the same
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as (b − a). Therefore subtraction is not commutative for rational numbers.

For example:
2 4 2
− = −
3 3 3

Whereas
4 2 2
− =
3 3 3

When we consider the product of two rational numbers a and b, (a × b) is the same as (b × a)
. Therefore multiplication is commutative for rational numbers.
For example:
2 4 8
× =
3 3 9

4 2 8
× =
3 3 9

Considering the division of two numbers a and b, (a ÷ b) is different from (b ÷ a). Therefore
division is not commutative for rational numbers.
For example: 2 ÷ 3 = is definitely different from 3 ÷ 2 =
2 3

3 2

Associative Property of Rational Numbers

For any three rational numbers a, b and c,  (a ∗ b) ∗ c = a ∗ (b ∗ c). i.e., Associative property is
one where the result of an equation must remain the same despite a change in the order of
operators.

Given three rational numbers a, b and c, it can be said that :

(a + b) + c = a + (b + c). Therefore addition is associative.
(a − b) − c ≠ a − (b − c). Because (a-b)-c = a-b-c whereas a-(b-c) = a-b+c. Therefore we can

say that subtraction is not associative.

(a × b) × c = a × (b × c) . Therefore multiplication is associative.
(a ÷ b) ÷ c ≠ (a ÷ b) ÷ c . Therefore division is not associative.

Distributive Property of Rational Numbers

Given three rational numbers a, b and c, the distributivity of multiplication over addition and
subtraction is respectively given as :
a(b + c) = ab + ac

a(b − c) = ab − ac

Negatives and Reciprocals

Negation of a Number

For a rational number , 

a

. i.e., when zero is added to any rational number the result is the same rational
a a
+ 0 =
b b

number. Here '0' is known as additive identity for rational numbers.

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If ( a
) + (−
a
) = (−
a
) + (
a
) = 0 , then it can be said that the additive inverse or negative
b b b b

of a rational number  is − . 
a a

b b

Also − is the additive inverse or negative of .

a a

b b

For example : The additive inverse of is − (

−21 −21 21
) =
8 8 8

Reciprocal of a Number

For any rational number a

b
, 
a
× 1 =
a
. i.e., When any rational numbers is multiplied by '1' ,the result is same rational
b b

number. Therefore '1'  is called multiplicative identity for rational numbers.

If a
×
c
= 1 , then it can be said that the c
 is reciprocal or the multiplicative inverse of a
b d d

rational number a

b
.
Also   is reciprocal or the multiplicative inverse of a rational number
a c

b d

For example : The reciprocal of is as

2 3 2 3
× = 1
3 2 3 2

Representing on a Number Line

Representation of Rational Numbers on the Number Line

In order to represent a given rational number a

n
, where a and n are integers, on the number
line :

Step 1 :  Divide the distance between two consecutive integers into ‘n parts. ′

For example : If we are given a rational number , we divide the space between 0 and 1, 1
2

and 2 etc. into three parts

Step 2: Label the rational numbers till the range includes the number you need to mark

Similar steps can be followed for negative rational numbers by repeating the steps towards
negative direction.

Rational Numbers between Two Rational Numbers

Rational Numbers between Two Rational Numbers

The number of rational numbers between any two given rational numbers aren’t definite,
unlike that of whole numbers and natural numbers.
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For example : Between natural numbers 2 and 10 there are exactly 7 numbers but between
and there are infinite numbers that could exist.
2 8

10 10

Method 1
Given two rational numbers, ensure both of them have the same denominators. Once there
is a common denominator, we can pick out any rational number that lies in between.

Method 2
Given two rational numbers, we can always find a rational number between them by
calculating their mean or midpoint.

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