Q1. Exercise 1.1 — Question 1
Is every whole number a rational number? Justify your answer with an example.
A rational number is any number that can be written as p/q where p and q are integers and q ≠ 0.
Take any whole number, say 7. It can be written as 7/1, where p = 7 and q = 1 (q ≠ 0).
The same works for every whole number, including 0 = 0/1.
So every whole number satisfies the definition of a rational number.
Formula: Rational number = p/q, where p, q are integers and q ≠ 0
Final Answer: Yes — every whole number n can be written as n/1, so it is rational.
Common Mistake: Writing q = 0 in the form p/q. The denominator can never be zero.
Exam Tip: Always justify by actually writing the number in p/q form — one line earns the mark.