irrational number

irrational number
—n
	any real number that cannot be expressed as the ratio of two integers, such as π

irrational number   (ĭ-rāsh'ə-nəl)  Pronunciation Key  A number that cannot be expressed as a ratio between two integers and is not an imaginary number. If written in decimal notation, an irrational number would have an infinite number of digits to the right of the decimal point, without repetition. Pi and the square root of 2 (√2) are irrational numbers.

irrational number definition

A number that cannot be expressed as the ratio of two whole numbers.

Note: The square roots of most whole numbers are irrational numbers.

irrational number definition

mathematics
A real number which is not a rational number, i.e. it is not the ratio of two integers.
The decimal expansion of an irrational is infinite but does not end in an infinite repeating sequence of digits.
Examples of irrational numbers are pi, e and the square root of two.
(1995-04-12)