Can you explain why we need in the definition of a rational number?

Question

KnowledgeBoat · Accepted Answer

In the definition of a rational number , we need q ≠ 0 because division by zero is undefined in mathematics. If we allow q = 0, then would have no meaningful value, since there is no number that gives p when multiplied by 0 (any number multiplied by 0 gives 0). For example : ⇒ would mean "what number multiplied by 0 gives 5?" But, since any number × 0 = 0, no such number exists. Also, is indeterminate as 0 × any number = 0. Hence, the condition q ≠ 0 is necessary so that the rational number has a well-defined value.

Mathematics

Can you explain why we need in the definition of a rational number?

Whole Numbers

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