Number System
Meghalaya Board · Class 9 · Mathematics
NCERT Solutions for Number System — Meghalaya Board Class 9 Mathematics.
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Get startedExercise 1.1
1Is zero a rational number? Can you write it in the form , where and are integers and ?Show solution
Concept: A number is rational if it can be expressed as , where and are integers and .
Working:
Yes, zero is a rational number. We can write:
In each case, (an integer) and (an integer).
Conclusion: Zero is indeed a rational number and can be written in the form in infinitely many ways.
2Find six rational numbers between 3 and 4.Show solution
Concept: To find rational numbers between two numbers and , multiply numerator and denominator to create a gap. Here we need 6 rational numbers, so we write:
Working:
The rational numbers between and are:
Answer: Six rational numbers between 3 and 4 are:
(Note: There are infinitely many such rational numbers; this is one possible set.)
3Find five rational numbers between and .Show solution
Concept: To find 5 rational numbers between them, convert both fractions to equivalent fractions with a larger denominator (multiply by 6):
Working:
The rational numbers between and are:
Answer: Five rational numbers between and are:
4State whether the following statements are true or false. Give reasons for your answers.
(i) Every natural number is a whole number.
(ii) Every integer is a whole number.
(iii) Every rational number is a whole number.Show solution
Answer: TRUE
Reason: The set of natural numbers is and the set of whole numbers is . Every natural number is present in the set of whole numbers. Hence, every natural number is a whole number.
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(ii) Every integer is a whole number.
Answer: FALSE
Reason: The set of integers is . Negative integers such as are integers but they are NOT whole numbers. Hence, every integer is not a whole number.
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(iii) Every rational number is a whole number.
Answer: FALSE
Reason: Rational numbers include fractions such as , etc. These are not whole numbers. For example, is a rational number but not a whole number. Hence, every rational number is not a whole number.
Exercise 1.2
1State whether the following statements are true or false. Justify your answers.
(i) Every irrational number is a real number.
(ii) Every point on the number line is of the form , where is a natural number.
(iii) Every real number is an irrational number.Show solution
Answer: TRUE
Reason: The set of real numbers consists of all rational numbers and all irrational numbers together. Therefore, every irrational number is a part of the collection of real numbers, making this statement true.
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(ii) Every point on the number line is of the form , where is a natural number.
Answer: FALSE
Reason: Points on the number line include negative numbers (e.g., ), zero, and positive numbers. Negative numbers cannot be expressed as where is a natural number (since square roots of natural numbers are non-negative). Also, numbers like are on the number line but for natural number gives — not every point is covered. Hence the statement is false.
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(iii) Every real number is an irrational number.
Answer: FALSE
Reason: Real numbers include both rational and irrational numbers. For example, are real numbers but they are rational, not irrational. Hence, not every real number is irrational.
2Are 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.Show solution
Example:
Here, is a rational number (it can be written as ).
Conclusion: The square roots of perfect squares like are rational numbers. Only the square roots of non-perfect-square positive integers are irrational.
3Show how can be represented on the number line.Show solution
Steps:
Step 1: Draw a number line and mark the origin (representing 0) and point representing 2, so units.
Step 2: At point , draw perpendicular to the number line such that unit.
Step 3: Join . By the Pythagorean theorem:
Step 4: With as centre and as radius, draw an arc that cuts the number line at point .
Conclusion: The point on the number line represents , since .
4Classroom activity (Constructing the 'square root spiral'): Take a large sheet of paper and construct the 'square root spiral' in the following fashion. Start with a point O and draw a line segment of unit length. Draw a line segment perpendicular to of unit length. Now draw a line segment perpendicular to . Then draw a line segment perpendicular to . Continuing in this manner, you can get the line segment by drawing a line segment of unit length perpendicular to .Show solution
Step 1: Start at point . Draw unit along the number line.
Step 2: Draw , with unit.
Step 3: Draw , with unit.
Step 4: Draw , with unit.
General Pattern: At each step :
Conclusion: By continuing this process, we obtain a spiral (called the square root spiral or Theodorus spiral) where the distance from to equals , representing on the plane.
Exercise 1.3
1Write the following in decimal form and say what kind of decimal expansion each has:
(i) (ii) (iii) (iv) (v) (vi) Show solution
Type: Terminating decimal
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(ii)
Performing long division: :
Type: Non-terminating recurring (repeating block: 09)
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(iii)
Performing long division: :
Type: Terminating decimal
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(iv)
Performing long division: :
Type: Non-terminating recurring (repeating block: 230769)
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(v)
Performing long division: :
Type: Non-terminating recurring (repeating block: 18)
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(vi)
Performing long division: :
Type: Terminating decimal
2You know that . Can you predict what the decimal expansions of , , , , are, without actually doing the long division? If so, how?Show solution
Concept: Since , , etc., we can multiply the repeating block. Also, the remainders while dividing by cycle through — each remainder corresponds to a cyclic permutation of the block .
Predictions:
Observation: Each decimal is a cyclic permutation of the digits . This happens because the remainders when dividing by 7 cycle through all non-zero residues.
3Express the following in the form , where and are integers and .
(i) (ii) (iii) Show solution
Let
Multiply both sides by 10:
Subtract (1) from (2):
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(ii)
Let
Multiply both sides by 10:
Multiply both sides by 100:
Subtract (2) from (3):
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(iii)
Let
Multiply both sides by 1000:
Subtract (1) from (2):
4Express in the form . Are you surprised by your answer? With your teacher and classmates discuss why the answer makes sense.Show solution
Multiply both sides by 10:
Subtract (1) from (2):
Discussion: This result may seem surprising, but it makes sense because is a non-terminating recurring decimal and the difference between 1 and is . There is no gap between and ; they represent the same number. This shows that every non-terminating recurring decimal is a rational number.
5What can the maximum number of digits be in the repeating block of digits in the decimal expansion of ? Perform the division to check your answer.Show solution
Verification by long division:
Performing :
Step-by-step remainders: (remainder 1 repeats)
The repeating block is , which has 16 digits.
Conclusion: The maximum number of digits in the repeating block of is , which is confirmed by the division.
6Look at several examples of rational numbers in the form (), where and are integers with no common factors other than 1 and having terminating decimal representations (expansions). Can you guess what property must satisfy?Show solution
Observation and Conclusion:
In all the above examples, the denominator (in lowest terms) has only and as its prime factors.
Property: A rational number (in lowest terms) has a terminating decimal expansion if and only if is of the form , where and are non-negative integers.
7Write three numbers whose decimal expansions are non-terminating non-recurring.Show solution
Three such numbers are:
1. (non-terminating, non-recurring)
2. (non-terminating, non-recurring)
3. (non-terminating, non-recurring)
Alternatively, one can write numbers like:
where the pattern never repeats.
8Find three different irrational numbers between the rational numbers and .Show solution
Step 1: Convert to decimals.
Step 2: We need irrational numbers between and
Three irrational numbers between them:
1. (non-terminating, non-recurring)
2. (non-terminating, non-recurring)
3. (non-terminating, non-recurring)
Conclusion: These three numbers lie between and and are irrational (non-terminating non-recurring decimals).
9Classify the following numbers as rational or irrational:
(i) (ii) (iii) (iv) (v) Show solution
23 is not a perfect square. Its square root cannot be expressed as .
Classification: Irrational number
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(ii)
15 is an integer and can be written as .
Classification: Rational number
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(iii)
This is a terminating decimal.
Classification: Rational number
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(iv)
This is a non-terminating but recurring (repeating) decimal.
Classification: Rational number
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(v)
The pattern shows one more zero is inserted between consecutive 1s each time. This decimal is non-terminating and non-recurring (the block never repeats).
Classification: Irrational number
Exercise 1.4
1Classify the following numbers as rational or irrational:
(i) (ii) (iii) (iv) (v) Show solution
Here, is rational and is irrational.
By the property: rational irrational irrational.
Classification: Irrational number
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(ii)
3 can be written as .
Classification: Rational number
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(iii)
is of the form where , .
Classification: Rational number
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(iv)
is irrational. The reciprocal of an irrational number is irrational.
Classification: Irrational number
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(v)
is irrational. A non-zero rational number () multiplied by an irrational number is irrational.
Classification: Irrational number
2Simplify each of the following expressions:
(i)
(ii)
(iii)
(iv) Show solution
Using distributive property:
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(ii)
Using identity , with , :
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(iii)
Using identity , with , :
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(iv)
Using identity , with , :
3Recall, is defined as the ratio of the circumference (say ) of a circle to its diameter (say ). That is, . This seems to contradict the fact that is irrational. How will you resolve this contradiction?Show solution
The definition (circumference divided by diameter) looks like a ratio of two quantities, which might suggest is rational.
Resolution:
For to be rational, both and must be integers (or at least rational numbers with ). However, when we measure the circumference and diameter of any circle, at least one of them will be irrational.
For example:
- If (rational), then (irrational).
- If (rational), then (irrational).
So is a ratio of two real numbers (not necessarily integers), and a ratio of two real numbers need not be rational.
Conclusion: There is no contradiction. The definition means is the ratio of two lengths (real numbers), not necessarily integers. Since and cannot both be rational simultaneously for any circle, remains irrational.
4Represent on the number line.Show solution
Step 1: Draw a line segment units on the number line (from point at 0 to point at 9.3).
Step 2: Extend by 1 unit to point , so unit. Thus units.
Step 3: Find the midpoint of . So units.
Step 4: With as centre and (= 5.15 units) as radius, draw a semicircle above the line .
Step 5: At point , draw a perpendicular to . Let it meet the semicircle at point .
Step 6: By the geometric mean relation:
Step 7: With as centre and as radius, draw an arc to cut the number line at point .
Conclusion: The point on the number line represents .
5Rationalise the denominators of the following:
(i) (ii) (iii) (iv) Show solution
Multiply numerator and denominator by :
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(ii)
Multiply numerator and denominator by the conjugate :
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(iii)
Multiply numerator and denominator by the conjugate :
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(iv)
Multiply numerator and denominator by the conjugate :
Exercise 1.5
1Find:
(i) (ii) (iii) Show solution
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(ii)
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(iii)
2Find:
(i) (ii) (iii) (iv) Show solution
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(ii)
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(iii)
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(iv)
3Simplify:
(i) (ii) (iii) (iv) Show solution
Using law :
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(ii)
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(iii)
Using law :
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(iv)
Using law :
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