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Number Systems Class 9 Maths — Revision Notes

This chapter covers rational and irrational numbers, their properties, and operations. Students learn about number line and decimal representation of numbe

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TL;DR: This chapter covers rational and irrational numbers, their properties, and operations. Students learn about number line and decimal representation of…

Written & reviewed by the Syllab.in Academic Team (CBSE/NCERT subject experts) · Updated Jul 23, 2026

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This chapter covers rational and irrational numbers, their properties, and operations. Students learn about number line and decimal representation of numbe

Rational Numbers

  • Rational number is number that can be expressed as p/q where p and q are integers and q ≠ 0
  • All integers are rational (n = n/1)
  • Decimal form is terminating or non-terminating repeating
  • Rational numbers are dense on number line

Irrational Numbers

  • Irrational number cannot be expressed as p/q
  • Decimal form is non-terminating non-repeating
  • Examples: sqrt(2), sqrt(3), π, e
  • Sum/difference of rational and irrational is irrational

Real Numbers

  • Real numbers include all rational and irrational numbers
  • Real numbers form continuous number line
  • Every real number corresponds to unique point on number line
  • Operations on real numbers follow closure, commutative, associative properties

Surds

  • Surd is irrational root of rational number
  • sqrt(2), sqrt(3), ∛2 are surds
  • Like surds: surds with same radicand (sqrt(2) and 3sqrt(2))
  • Simplification: sqrt(ab) = sqrt(a) x sqrt(b) (for positive a, b)

Key Terms

  • Rational Number: Number expressible as p/q where p and q are integers
  • Irrational Number: Number that cannot be expressed as p/q
  • Surd: Irrational root of a rational number

Frequently Asked Questions

Prove that sqrt(2) is irrational.

Assume sqrt(2) = p/q (lowest terms). Then 2q^2 = p^2, so p^2 is even, p is even. Let p = 2k, then q^2 = 2k^2, so q is even. Both are even, contradicting assumption.

How do you rationalize denominator?

Multiply numerator and denominator by conjugate. For 1/(sqrt(2)+1), multiply by (sqrt(2)-1)/(sqrt(2)-1) to get (sqrt(2)-1)/(2-1) = sqrt(2)-1.

More Class 9 Maths Revision Notes

  • Polynomials
  • Linear Equations in Two Variables
  • Lines and Angles
  • Triangles

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