Class 8 – Rational Numbers Notes and Key Points

The List of Important Formulas for Class 8 Rational Numbers is provided on this page. We have everything covered right from basic to advanced concepts in Rational Numbers. Make the most out of the Maths Formulas for Class 8 prepared by subject experts and take your preparation to the next level. Access the Formula Sheet of Rational Numbers Class 8 covering numerous concepts and use them to solve your Problems effortlessly.

Rational Number: A number is called rational if we can write the number in the form of pq, where p and q are integers and q ≠ 0
i.e., 1 = 11, 2 = 21, 0 = 01 and 58 , −314 , 7−15 are all rational numbers.

Between two rational numbers x and y, there exists a rational number x+y2

We can find countless rational numbers between two rational numbers.

−xy is called the additive inverse of xy and vice-versa.

yx is called the multiplicative inverse or reciprocal of xy.

Rational number 0 is the additive identity for all rational numbers because a number does not change when 0 is added to it.

Rational number 1 is the multiplicative identity for all rational numbers because on multiplying a rational number with 1, its value does not change.

Rational numbers can be represented on a number line.

Properties on Rational Numbers
(i) Closure Property
Rational numbers are closed under :

Addition
Rational Numbers Class 8 Notes Maths Chapter 1 1
which is a rational number.

Subtraction
Rational Numbers Class 8 Notes Maths Chapter 1 2
are rational numbers.

Multiplication:
Rational Numbers Class 8 Notes Maths Chapter 1 3
Rational Numbers Class 8 Notes Maths Chapter 1 4
are rational numbers.

Rational numbers are closed under addition subtraction and multiplication.

Division : eq. −35÷23=−910, which is also a rational number. For any rational number a, a ÷ 0 is not defined. So, rational number are not closed under division.
However, if we exclude zero then the rational numbers are closed under division.

(ii) Commutativity:
Addition: Two rational numbers can be added in any order, i.e., commutativity holds for rational numbers under addition, i.e., for any two rational number a and b, a + b = b + a.
Rational Numbers Class 8 Notes Maths Chapter 1 5

Subtraction:
Rational Numbers Class 8 Notes Maths Chapter 1 6
Hence, subtraction is not associative for rational numbers.

(iii) Multiplication: Multiplication is commutative for rational numbers. In general, a × b = b × a, for any two rational numbers a and b.
Rational Numbers Class 8 Notes Maths Chapter 1 7

Division:
Rational Numbers Class 8 Notes Maths Chapter 1 8
Hence, division is not Cumulative for rational numbers.

(iii) Associativity:
Addition:
Rational Numbers Class 8 Notes Maths Chapter 1 9
So, addition is associative for rational numbers, i.e., for any three rational numbers a, b and c, a + (b + c) = (a + b) + c.

Subtraction:
Rational Numbers Class 8 Notes Maths Chapter 1 10
Hence, subtraction is not associative for rational numbers.

Multiplication:
Rational Numbers Class 8 Notes Maths Chapter 1 11
So, multiplication is associative for rational number, i.e., for any three rational numbers a, b and c, a × (b × c) = (a × b) × c.

Division:
Rational Numbers Class 8 Notes Maths Chapter 1 12
Hence, the division is not associative for rational numbers.

Distributivity of multiplication over addition for rational number : For all rational numbers a, b and c, a(b + c) = ab + ac
Rational Numbers Class 8 Notes Maths Chapter 1 13

Distributivity of multiplication over subtraction for rational number: For any three rational numbers a, b and c, a (b – c) = ab – ac
eg. Let 12, −25 an −310 are any three rational numbers, then
Rational Numbers Class 8 Notes Maths Chapter 1 14

The numbers 1, 2, 3, 4, ………. are called natural numbers.

If we add 0 to the collection of natural numbers, what we get is called the collection of whole numbers.

Thus, 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, are whole numbers.

Natural numbers are also known as positive integers. If we put a negative sign before each positive integer, we get negative integers. Thus, -1, -2,
-3, -4, ………. are negative integers. A number of the form pq, where p and q are integers and q ≠ 0 is called a rational number. All the above types of numbers are needed to solve various types of simple algebraic equations.

Properties of Rational Numbers
The list of properties of rational numbers can be given as follows:

  • Closure
  • Commutativity
  • Associativity
  • The role of zero (0)
  • The role of 1
  • Negative of a number
  • Reciprocal
  • Distributivity of multiplication over addition for rational numbers.

Distributivity of Multiplication Over Addition for Rational Numbers
For all rational numbers a, b and c,
a(b + c) = ab + ac
a(b – c) = ab – ac.

Representation of Rational Numbers on the Number Line
Rational Numbers Class 8 Notes Maths Chapter 1 15

  • We draw a line.
  • We mark a point O on it and name it 0. Mark a point to the right of 0. Name it 1. The distance between these two points is called unit distance.
  • Mark a point to the right of 1 at unit distance and name it 2.
  • Proceeding in this manner, we can mark points 3, 4, 5,
  • Similarly we can mark – 1, – 2, – 3, – 4, – 5, ……… to the left of 0. This line is called the number line.
  • This line extends indefinitely on both sides.

The positive rational numbers are represented by points on the number line to the right of O whereas the negative rational numbers are represented by points on the number line to the left of O.

Any rational number can be represented on this line. The denominator of the rational number indicates the number of equal parts into which the first unit has been divided whereas the numerator indicates as to how many of these parts are to be taken into consideration.

Rational Numbers Between Two Rational Numbers
We can find infinitely many rational numbers between any two given rational numbers. We can take the help of the idea of the mean for this purpose.