01 A student says that \(0.101001000100001\ldots\) is a rational number because it contains only the digits 0 and 1. Which option correctly explains the student's error?
Answer and explanation
Correct answer: A. The number of zeros after 1 keeps increasing, so the decimal expansion is non-terminating and non-repeating; hence it is irrational.
Explanation: The groups of zeros after 1 have lengths 1, 2, 3, 4, …, so no fixed block repeats. The decimal is non-terminating and non-repeating, hence irrational. In exams, check whether a fixed repeating block exists.