Difference between Fraction and Rational Number

Difference between fractions and rational number are added in the table below:

Aspect

Fraction

Rational Number

Definition

Represents a part of a whole or ratio of two numbers

Any number expressible as the quotient of two integers.

Form

Written as numerator over denominator (e.g., 4/7)

Can be written in fraction form or as a decimal (e.g., 0.59)

Examples

2/5, 3/4

3/4, 0.45, -0.57

Can it be Negative?

Yes, if numerator or whole fraction is negative

Yes, if the number itself is negative

Simplicity

Fractions represent values in their simplest form, with the numerator and denominator having no common factors other than 1

Rational numbers may be expressed in various forms, some of which may not be in their simplest form

Applications

Common in everyday life

Widely used in Mathematics and Everyday life

Note: Fractions are subset of Rational Numbers.

Difference Between Fraction And Rational Number

Fractions and rational numbers are fundamental concepts in mathematics, often used interchangeably. However, subtle differences between the two are crucial to understand.

This article has covered definitions of Fractions and Rational Numbers and their differences in detail.

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