RS Aggarwal Solutions Class 8 Chapter-1 Rational Numbers
FAQs on RS Aggarwal Solutions Class 8 Chapter-1 Rational Numbers (Ex 1A) Exercise 1.1
1. How do you identify a rational number as per the definition in RS Aggarwal Class 8 Maths Chapter 1?
According to the solutions for Chapter 1, a number is identified as a rational number if it can be expressed in the form p/q, where 'p' and 'q' are integers and the denominator 'q' is not equal to zero. For instance, 4/7, -8/3, and even the integer 5 (which can be written as 5/1) are all rational numbers. The first step in solving any problem is to confirm that the number fits this definition.
2. What is the correct method to find the multiplicative inverse of a rational number like -13/19, as seen in RS Aggarwal Class 8 Ex 1A?
To find the multiplicative inverse (also known as the reciprocal) of a rational number, you must interchange its numerator and denominator. The sign of the number does not change. For the example -13/19, its multiplicative inverse is 19/-13, which is conventionally written as -19/13. A key property to remember is that the product of any rational number and its multiplicative inverse is always 1.
3. What are the steps to find five rational numbers between -3/2 and 5/3, a common problem type in RS Aggarwal Class 8 Chapter 1?
To find a specific quantity of rational numbers between two given rational numbers, the standard method is as follows:
- Step 1: Find a common denominator for the given numbers. For -3/2 and 5/3, the least common multiple (LCM) of the denominators (2 and 3) is 6.
- Step 2: Convert both rational numbers into equivalent fractions with this common denominator. So, -3/2 becomes -9/6 and 5/3 becomes 10/6.
- Step 3: Identify integers between the new numerators (-9 and 10). You can choose any integers like -8, -5, 0, 2, and 9.
- Step 4: Place these integers over the common denominator to get the required rational numbers: -8/6, -5/6, 0/6, 2/6, and 9/6.
4. What is the correct procedure to express a rational number like 33/-55 in its standard form as required in the solutions?
To write a rational number in its standard form, two conditions must be met: the denominator must be positive, and the numerator and denominator must be co-prime (their highest common factor is 1). For 33/-55, the steps are:
- First, make the denominator positive by multiplying the numerator and denominator by -1: (33 × -1) / (-55 × -1) = -33/55.
- Next, simplify the fraction by dividing the numerator and denominator by their highest common factor (HCF), which is 11.
- This gives (-33 ÷ 11) / (55 ÷ 11) = -3/5.
5. Why is the additive inverse of a rational number different from its multiplicative inverse?
The additive inverse and multiplicative inverse are different because they are defined by different mathematical goals. The additive inverse of a number 'x' is '-x', designed to result in the additive identity, zero (since x + (-x) = 0). For example, the additive inverse of 4/9 is -4/9. In contrast, the multiplicative inverse of 'x' is '1/x', designed to result in the multiplicative identity, one (since x × (1/x) = 1). For 4/9, this would be 9/4. One negates the number to reach zero, while the other inverts it to reach one.
6. How does using properties like distributivity simplify complex calculations in Chapter 1?
Properties like the distributive property are crucial for simplifying expressions by rearranging and grouping terms. For example, to solve (7/5 × -3/12) + (7/5 × 5/12), instead of multiplying separately, you can use distributivity:
- Factor out the common term, 7/5: 7/5 × (-3/12 + 5/12).
- First, solve the operation inside the brackets: -3/12 + 5/12 = 2/12.
- The expression becomes a much simpler multiplication: 7/5 × 2/12 = 14/60, which simplifies to 7/30.
7. In the context of RS Aggarwal Class 8 solutions, why is an expression like 5/0 not considered a rational number?
An expression like 5/0 is not a rational number because the fundamental definition of a rational number (p/q) strictly requires the denominator 'q' to be a non-zero integer. Division by zero is mathematically undefined. There is no number that, when multiplied by 0, results in 5. Since this operation is impossible, any fraction with a zero in the denominator falls outside the set of rational numbers and cannot be used in the calculations covered in this chapter.





















