Is -5 a Rational Number or Irrational- Decoding the Nature of Negative Fractions

Is -5 a rational number or irrational? This question might seem simple at first glance, but it delves into the fascinating world of number theory. To answer this question, we need to understand the definitions of rational and irrational numbers and then apply them to the number -5.

Rational numbers are numbers that can be expressed as a fraction of two integers, where the denominator is not zero. In other words, a rational number can be written in the form of p/q, where p and q are integers and q is not equal to zero. On the other hand, irrational numbers are numbers that cannot be expressed as a fraction of two integers. They are typically non-terminating and non-repeating decimals.

Now, let’s apply these definitions to the number -5. To determine if -5 is rational, we need to see if it can be expressed as a fraction of two integers. Since -5 is an integer, we can write it as -5/1, where the numerator (-5) and the denominator (1) are both integers. Therefore, -5 is a rational number.

In conclusion, -5 is a rational number because it can be expressed as a fraction of two integers. This example highlights the importance of understanding the definitions of rational and irrational numbers to differentiate between them correctly.