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Is the number rational or irrational? $$\sqrt{5}+1$$

Short Answer

Expert verified
The number \(\sqrt{5} + 1\) is an irrational number.

Step by step solution

01

Identify the individual terms

The expression \(\sqrt{5}+1\) consists of two terms, namely \(\sqrt{5}\), which is an irrational number, and \(1\), which is a rational number.
02

Determine the irrationality

The square root of a non-square number such as 5 is always irrational. Therefore, \(\sqrt{5}\) is an irrational number.
03

Add the irrational and rational numbers

Add \(\sqrt{5}\) and \(1\). No matter the operation, the sum of a rational and an irrational number is always an irrational number.

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Key Concepts

These are the key concepts you need to understand to accurately answer the question.

Square Roots
Square roots are fascinating because they allow us to find a number which, when multiplied by itself, gives us the original number. For instance, the square root of 9 is 3, because \(3 \times 3 = 9\). However, not all numbers have simple square roots.
  • A perfect square like 9 has an integer square root.
  • When we have a non-perfect square, like 5, its square root \( \sqrt{5} \) is not a simple integer.
In such cases, the square root is often an irrational number. This is because it cannot be precisely expressed as a fraction or a neat decimal.
Irrational Number
An irrational number is one that cannot be expressed as a fraction \( \frac{a}{b} \), where both \(a\) and \(b\) are integers and \(b eq 0\). Instead, irrational numbers have non-repeating, non-terminating decimal expansions. Common examples include pi (Ï€) and the square root of non-perfect squares like \( \sqrt{5} \).
  • Irrational numbers cannot be precisely written as a fraction.
  • They are often found as roots of non-perfect squares or as transcendental numbers like Ï€.
These numbers are crucial for many calculations in geometry, engineering, and the sciences. They help us understand real-world quantities that aren't neatly compartmentalized.
Rational Number
A rational number is essentially the opposite of an irrational number. It can be written as a simple fraction \( \frac{a}{b} \), where both \(a\) and \(b\) are integers and \(b eq 0\). This includes whole numbers, integers, fractions, and repeating or terminating decimals. For example, the number 1 is rational because it can be expressed as \( \frac{1}{1} \).
  • Includes whole numbers and simple fractions.
  • Examples include fractions like \( \frac{3}{4} \), integers like -2, and decimal numbers that stop or repeat like 0.333...
  • These numbers are widely used in everyday calculations.
Rational numbers form a straightforward and concrete part of mathematics, easily expressed and understood.
Addition of Rational and Irrational Numbers
When you add a rational number to an irrational number, the result will always be irrational. In the exercise, the addition of \(\sqrt{5}\) (an irrational number) to 1 (a rational number) results in \(\sqrt{5} + 1\). Since \(\sqrt{5}\) cannot be neatly expressed as a fraction or a terminating or repeating decimal, the sum combines both characteristics:
  • The irrationality of \(\sqrt{5}\) overshadows the rationality of 1.
  • The sum is non-repeating and non-terminating as well, ensuring the result is irrational.
This principle is a helpful guideline in mathematics: mixing different types of numbers carefully reflects their properties in the result.

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