There are 24 NRICH Mathematical resources connected to Rational and irrational numbers, you may find related items under Place value and the number system.
Broad Topics > Place value and the number system > Rational and irrational numbers
Can you work out the irrational numbers that belong in the circles to make the multiplication arithmagon correct?
Starting with one of the mini-challenges, how many of the other mini-challenges will you invent for yourself?
Which of these triangular jigsaws are impossible to finish?
If the yellow equilateral triangle is taken as the unit for area, what size is the hole ?
Can you make a regular hexagon from yellow triangles the same size as a regular hexagon made from green triangles ?
Ranging from kindergarten mathematics to the fringe of research this informal article paints the big picture of number in a non technical way suitable for primary teachers and older students.
A spiropath is a sequence of connected line segments end to end taking different directions. The same spiropath is iterated. When does it cycle and when does it go on indefinitely?
An introduction to proof by contradiction, a powerful method of mathematical proof.
This article for pupils and teachers looks at a number that even the great mathematician, Pythagoras, found terrifying.
Read all about Pythagoras' mathematical discoveries in this article written for students.
Show that there are infinitely many rational points on the unit circle and no rational points on the circle x^2+y^2=3.
Try this interactivity to familiarise yourself with the proof that the square root of 2 is irrational. Sort the steps of the proof into the correct order.
This article sets some puzzles and describes how Euclid's algorithm and continued fractions are related.
In this article we show that every whole number can be written as a continued fraction of the form k/(1+k/(1+k/...)).
How many differently shaped rectangles can you build using these equilateral and isosceles triangles? Can you make a square?
What fractions can you find between the square roots of 65 and 67?
Given that a, b and c are natural numbers show that if sqrt a+sqrt b is rational then it is a natural number. Extend this to 3 variables.
Solve quadratic equations and use continued fractions to find rational approximations to irrational numbers.
Prove that sqrt2, sqrt3 and sqrt5 cannot be terms of ANY arithmetic progression.