California Assessment of Student Performance and Progress (CAASPP) Math Practice Exam 2025 - Free CAASPP Math Practice Questions and Study Guide

Rational numbers are defined as numbers that can be expressed as the quotient of two integers, where the denominator is not zero. Specifically, any rational number can always be represented in decimal form. This decimal representation can either terminate (like 0.75, which equals 3/4) or repeat indefinitely (like 0.333..., which equals 1/3).

The key aspect of rational numbers that allows for their expression in decimal form is their definition involving fractions. Any fraction can be converted into a decimal through division, thus making rational numbers a broad category that includes integers and natural numbers as well. Integers and natural numbers, while they are also expressible in decimal form (e.g., 3, 5, 10, etc.), are subsets of rational numbers.

Irrational numbers, on the other hand, cannot be expressed as a simple fraction and their decimal representations are non-terminating and non-repeating (e.g., the square root of 2 or π). Therefore, rational numbers stand out as the category that is always expressible in decimal form.