Chapter 1 - NUMBER SYSTEM

Table of Contents
1.1 Classification of number system
1.2 Decimal expansion
p
1.3 Writing rational numbers in form.
q
1.4 Locating rational numbers on a number line.
1.5 Finding a few rational numbers between two numbers.
1.6 Checking irrational numbers
1.7 Operations on irrational numbers
1.8 Identities to square roots
1.9 Simplify examples
1.10 Rationalize the denominator
1.11 Laws of exponents for real numbers
1.12 Essentials

Classification of Number System

 Numbers
Number Meaning Example

Counting numbers are called Natural Numbers.

Natural Numbers E.g. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, …
Denoted by N.
All Natural numbers including 0 are called Whole
Whole Numbers E.g. 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6…
numbers. Denoted by W.
All natural numbers, negatives of natural numbers and
Integers E.g. …, -3, -2, -1, 0, 1, 2, 3, …
0, together are called Integers. Denoted by I or Z.

Even Numbers Numbers divisible by 2 are Even Numbers. E.g. 2, 4, 6, 8, 10…

Odd Numbers Numbers not divisible by 2 are Odd Numbers E.g. 1, 3, 5, 7, 9…

Numbers having only two factors i.e. 1 or itself are

Prime Numbers E.g. 2, 3, 5, 7, 9…
called Prime Numbers
Numbers having more than 2 factors / are divisible by
Composite Numbers E.g. 4, 6, 8, 9, 10…
more than two numbers are Composite.

Co-prime Numbers Numbers having no factor in common are Co-primes. E.g. 3 and 5, 4 and 9,

A number is called a Rational number if it is in the

Rational Number p All of the above
form , where p and q are the Co-prime.
q
All numbers including both rational and irrational
Real Numbers numbers are called Real Numbers. They can be found Eg. – 2, – (2/3), 0, 3 and √ 2
on a Number line.

WAYS TO IDENTIFY RATIONAL

NUMBERS:
1. TERMINATING after a definite decimal expansion .

10 17
e.g. = 5, = 2.125 - These numbers end after definite decimal.
2 8

2. NON-TERMINATING but REPEATING

 10 10
e.g. = 3.3333…., = 0.9090909…. Never ending but repeating
3 99

WAYS TO IDENTIFY IRRATIONAL

NUMBERS:
NON-TERMINATING and NON-REPEATING
e.g.,  = 3.141592…., √ 3= 1.7320508…… - Same goes with √ 5, √ 7, etc…
These numbers neither end nor repeat after decimal, therefore they are considered to be
IRRATIONAL NUMBERS.

How to find a rational number between two given numbers?

a+b
To find a rational number between two given numbers ‘a’ and ‘b’, is used.
2

Examples
Example: Find 2 rational numbers between 4 and 5.
Solution:
Remark: There could be
To find the rational number between 4 and 5 unlimited rational
numbers between any
a+b 4+5 9 two rational numbers.
= =
2 2 2
To find another number we will follow the same process again with new number obtained.

1
2 ( )()
9
4+ =
2
1 17 17
2 2
=
4

Hence the two rational numbers between 4 and 5 are 9/2 and 17/4.
p
Q1. Is zero a rational number? Can you write it in the form , where p and q are integers and q ≠ 0?
q
Solution. Yes, zero is a rational number.
0 0 0
Zero can be written in forms like , , , … . . etc.
2 3 4
Thus, 0 can be written as p/q, where p = 0 and q is any non-zero integer.
Hence, 0 is a rational number.

3 4
Q2. Find five rational numbers between and .
5 5
3 4
Solution: Since we want 5 rational numbers between and ,
5 5
METHOD 1:
3 4 3 13 7 15 4
+ 3 numbers are 5 , 20 , 10 , 20 , 5
a+b 5 5 7 7
= = =
2 2 5 × 2 10
3 13 12+13
+
3 7 4 Again, 5 20 20 25
, , = =
5 10 5 2 2 40
3 7 6+7 4 15 16 +15
+ +
Again, 5 10 10 13 and 5 20 20 31
= = = =
2 2 20 2 2 40
7 4 7+ 8 3 25 13 7 15 31 4
+ 5 numbers are , , , , ,
And 10 5 10 15 5 40 20 10 20 40 5
= =
2 2 20

METHOD 2:
3 4
Add 5 rational numbers between and .
5 5
Take LCM of denominator if denominators are different.
But here denominators are same.
That is why we directly multiply both numerator and denominator by 10.
3× 10 30 4 × 10 40
Then, = and =
5× 10 50 5 ×10 50
30
∧40
Now, just write any 5 numbers between 50 .
50
31 32 33 34 35
So, answer will be , , , , , etc…
50 50 50 50 50
Q3 State whether the following statements are true or false. Give reasons for your answers.
1. Every natural number is a whole number.
2. Every integer is a whole number.
3. Every rational number is a whole number.
Solution:
(1) True: Every natural number lies in the collection of whole numbers.
(2) False: -3 is not a whole number.
−3
(3) False: is not a whole number.
5

Q4 State whether the following statements are true or false. Justify your answers.
1. Every irrational number is a real number.
2. Every point on the number line is of the form √ m, where m is a natural number.
3. Every real number is an irrational number.
Solution:
(1) True (∵ Real numbers = Rational numbers + Irrational numbers.)

(2) False (∵ no negative number can be the square

root of any natural number.)

(3) False (∵ rational numbers are also present in

the set of real numbers.)

Plotting irrational number on

number line
Q5. Show how √ 5 can be represented on the number line.

Solution : We can write √ 5= √ 4+1= √ 22 +12

Using Pythagorean theorem,

Draw a right angled triangle OQP on a number line, such that:

OQ = 2 units and PQ= 1 unit and ∠OQP = 90°

Now, by using Pythagoras theorem, we have
OP2 = OQ2 +PQ2
OP2 = 22 + 12
OP=√ 4 +1
OP=√ 5
Now, take O as centre OP as radius, draw an arc, which intersects the line at point R.
Hence, the point R represents √ 5
Q6. Locate √ 3on the number line.
Solution : Firstly we need to locate √ 2 on the number line.(same as √ 5)

For already drawn √ 2, draw unit perpendicular length BD to OB. Now, keeping O as centre draw
an arc from point D which will intersect the number line at Q.

In the figure, OQ represents √ 3.

To understand this concept

through an interesting exercise,
Scan the QR code.

Q7 Are the square roots of all positive integers irrational? If not, give an example of the square
root of a number that is a rational number.
Solution:
No, the square roots of all positive integers are not irrational.
e.g., √ 16=4 . Here, ‘4’ is a rational number.

Decimal Expansion
10 7 1
Example 1 : Find the decimal expansions of , and .
3 8 7
Solution :
1. In the first number, the expansion is never ending. Thus we can
say, it is Non Terminating. Also the digit in the quotient is repeating
itself, So it can be said it is Non-Terminating but Repeating.
2. In the second number, it is can be clearly seen that it is
Terminating.
3. Int the third number, it is never ending and not repeating itself.
So It is Non-Terminating and Non-Repeating.

Writing rational numbers in pq form.

Example 2 : Show that 3.142678 is a rational number. In other words, express 3.142678 in the
p
form where p and q are integers and q  0.
q
3142678
Solution. We have 3.142678 = , and hence is a rational number.
1000000
Now, let us consider the case when the decimal expansion is non-terminating repeating.
p
Example 3 : Show that 0.3333... = 0.3 . can be expressed in the form , where p and q are integers
q
and q  0.
Solution : Let x = 0.3333...
Multiplying both the sides by 10,
10 x = 10 × 0.333... 10x – x = 3,
10 x = 3.333... 9x = 3,
10 x = 3 + 0.333... 3
x=
9
10 x = 3 + x (x = 0.3333...)
1
x=
3

p
E.g. 3 : Show that following numbers can be expressed in the form , where p and q are
q
integers and q  0. (1) 1.272727... = 1. 27 (2) 0.2353535... = 0. 2 35
Solution : Let x = 1.272727 100 x = 127.2727...
Since two digits are repeating, So, 100 x = 126 + 1.272727...
we multiply x by 100 to get 100 x = 126 + x (x = 1.272727)
100 x – x = 126, 126
i.e., x =
99
i.e., 99 x = 126
14
x=
11
Solution : Let x = 0.235 . Here not 2 but only 35 100 x – x = 23.3
repeats. Since two digits are repeating,
99 x = 23.3
we multiply x by 100 to get
233
i.e., 99 x = ,
100 x = 23.53535... 10

So, 100 x = 23.3 + 0.23535... 233

x=
990
100 x = 23.3 + x (x = 0.235 )

Locating rational numbers on a

number line.
Example 4 : Locate 2.665 on a number line.
Solution. Draw a number line with 2 and 3 on it.
Example 5 : Locate 5. 3 7 on a number line.
Solution. We need to find 5.3777…

.
Finding a few rational numbers
between two numbers.
1 2
Example 6: Find an irrational number between and .
7 7
1 2
Solution: We saw that = 0. 142857 . So, you can easily calculate = 0. 285714
7 7
1 2
To find an irrational number between and ,
7 7
Just write any number between 0. 142857 and 0. 285714 .
An example of such a number is 0.150150015000150000...
Another example is 0.202002000… and so on.

CHECKING IRRATIONAL NUMBERS

7
Check whether 7√ 5 , , √ 2 + 21,  - 2 are irrationals or not.
√5
Solution: √ 5 = 2.236... , √ 2 = 1.4142...,  = 3.1415...

Then 7√ 5 = 15.652...,
7
=
7
x
√5 = 7 √5 =¿3.1304...
√5 √5 √5 5
And √ 2 + 21 = 22.4142...,  – 2 = 1.1415...
All these are NON-TERMINATING NON-RECURRING decimals.
So, all these are irrational numbers.

OPERATIONS ON IRRATIONAL
NUMBERS
 Add (2 √ 2+ √ 2) and (5 √ 3−3 √ 3).
Solution: (2 √ 2+ √2) + (5 √ 3−3 √ 3) = 3 √ 2 + 2 √3
 Multiply 6 x √ 5by 2 x √ 5.
Solution: 6 x √ 5 x 2 x √ 5 = 12 x 5 = 60.
 Divide 8 √ 15 by 2 √ 3 .

8 √ 15 8 √3 x √5
Solution: = = 45 .
2 √3 2 √3

IDENTITIES TO SQUARE ROOTS

1. √ ab=√ a x √ b 2.
√ a √a
=
b √b

3. (√ a+ √b ) (√ a−√ b) = (a−b)
4. (a+ √b ) (a−√ b) = (a 2−b)
5. (√ a+ √b ) (√ c + √ d ) = √ ac + √ ad + √ bc+ √bd
6. ( √a+ √ b )2=a+2 √ ab+b

SIMPLIFY EXAMPLES
1. (5+ √ 7) (2+ √ 5)
Solution : (5+ √ 7) (2+ √ 5) = 10 + 5 √ 5+2 √ 7+ √ 35
(5+ √ 7) (2+ √ 5) (5+ √ 7) (2+ √ 5) : (5+ √ 5) (5 −√ 5) = (25 – 5) = 20
3. (3+7) 2

Solution: ( √ 3+ √ 7 ) 2=3+2 √ 3 x 7+7=3+2 √ 21+7

4. ( √ 11+ √ 7 ) ( √ 11− √ 7 )
Solution: ( √ 11+ √ 7 ) ( √ 11− √ 7 ) = ( 11−7 ¿ = 4

RATIONALIZE THE DENOMINATOR

Two ways:-
1. for single term  multiply with same number as denominator
2. for two terms  multiply with same number but opposite middle sign.
1
Example 1: Rationalise the denominator of .
√2
1
Example 2: Rationalise the denominator of
2+ √ 3
 1
Solution: We need to multiply with 2− √ 3 to both numerator and
2+ √ 3
denominator

5
Example: Rationalise the denominator of
√3−√ 5
5
Solution: We need to multiply with √ 3+ √ 5to both numerator and Denominator, So, we
√3−√ 5
get

1
Example: Rationalise the denominator of
7+3 √ 2
1
Solution: We need to multiply with 7−3 √2 to both numerator and
7+3 √ 2
Denominator, So, we get

Laws of Exponents for Real

Numbers
RULES FOR POWERS/EXPONENTS:
1. a m ∙ a n=am +n
()
m m
3. (a m)n =am ∙ n a a
5. = m
m b b
m a
n m−n m m m
2. a ÷ a = n =a 4. (ab) =a ∙ b m
a 6. a n =( √n a )m=√n a m

1 2 6 4 1
1. 2 3 ∙ 2 3 2. 5 7 ÷5 7 3. (3 5 )4

1 2 6 4 1
+ − ×4
7 7
¿2 3 3
¿5 ¿ 35

3 6−4 4
7
¿2 3
¿5 ¿3 5

2
¿2 ¿2
1
¿ 57
 1 1 3 2 1 2
4. 64 2 ÷ 64 3 − ¿2
¿ 64 6 6
¿ 125 3
1 1
¿2 2
¿ ( √ 125 )
3
2 6
64 ¿ 64 3 1
¿ 1 5. 125 6 +125 6 2
64 3 1 ¿( 5)
¿ (2 )
6 6
3+ 1
6
1 1
−
2 3 1
¿ 125 ¿ 25
¿ 64 6×
6
¿2 4
¿ 125 6
Essentials
Q.1: Find five rational numbers between 1 and 2.
Q.2: Find five rational numbers between 3/5 and 4/5.
Q.3: Locate √6 on the number line.
Q.4: Are the square roots of all positive integers irrational? If not, give an example of the square
root of a number that is a rational number.
Q.5: Find the decimal expansions of 20/3, 21/8 and 5/7.
Q.6: Show that 0.3333… = 0. 3 can be expressed in the form p/q, where p and q are integers and q
≠ 0.
Q.7: What can the maximum number of digits be in the repeating block of digits in the decimal
expansion of 1/17? Perform the division to check your answer.
Q.8: Find three different irrational numbers between the rational numbers 5/7 and 9/11.
Q.9: Visualize 6.365 on the number line, using successive magnification.
Q.10: Add 2√2+ 5√3 and √2 – 3√3.
Q.11: Simplify: (√3+√7) (√3-√7).
Q.12: Rationalize the denominator of 1/[7+3√3].
Q.13: Represent √(9.3) on the number line.
Q.14: Simplify: (i) 72/3.71/5 (ii) 101/2/101/4
Q.15: What is the product of a rational and an irrational number?
a) Always an integer
b) Always a rational number
c) Always an irrational number
d) Sometimes rational and sometimes irrational
Q.16: What is the value of (256)0.16 X (256)0.09?