Difference between revisions of "Irrational number"

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An '''irrational number''' is a number that when expressed in decimal notation, never terminates nor repeats, and cannot be expressed as a fraction. Examples are <math>\pi, \sqrt{2}, e, \sqrt{32134},</math> etc.
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An '''irrational number''' is a [[real number]] that cannot be expressed as the [[ratio]] of two [[integer]]s.  Equivalently, an irrational number, when expressed in [[decimal notation]], never terminates nor repeats. Examples are <math>\pi, \sqrt{2}, e, \sqrt{32134},</math> etc.
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Because the [[rational number]]s are [[countable]] while the reals are [[uncountable]], one can say that the irrational numbers make up "almost all" of the real numbers.
  
  

Revision as of 12:09, 23 June 2006

An irrational number is a real number that cannot be expressed as the ratio of two integers. Equivalently, an irrational number, when expressed in decimal notation, never terminates nor repeats. Examples are $\pi, \sqrt{2}, e, \sqrt{32134},$ etc.

Because the rational numbers are countable while the reals are uncountable, one can say that the irrational numbers make up "almost all" of the real numbers.


See Also