Rational numbers are numbers that can be expressed in the form p/q, where p and q are integers and q ≠0. They include positive numbers, negative numbers, and zero. Rational numbers can be represented on the number line and include fractions and whole numbers. They follow properties like closure, commutative, associative, and distributive under addition and multiplication. Every rational number has an additive inverse, and all non-zero rational numbers have a multiplicative inverse. Operations such as addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division (except by zero) can be performed on rational numbers, making them essential in algebra and arithmetic.
