Is zero a rational number?

Answer 1

Zoe Adams

Yes, though it's open to debate.

A whole number divided by another whole number is called a rational number.

Since two integers can only ever add up to another integer, a whole number is always the product of two other integers.

Therefore, #0# is an integer because it is #3 + (-3)#, both of which are whole.

And so #0# may be written as a whole number divided by a whole number as

#0/1# or even #(3-3)/1 = 0#

You can also think of #0# being an integer because it falls in the arithmetic sequence #a_(n+1) = a_n + 1#, where #a_0# is the hypothetical lowest possible integer.

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Answer 2

Aurora Arias

Yes, zero is a rational number.

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Answer from HIX Tutor

When evaluating a one-sided limit, you need to be careful when a quantity is approaching zero since its sign is different depending on which way it is approaching zero from. Let us look at some examples.