01 The sum of two rational numbers is always what?
Answer and explanation
Correct answer: B. A rational number
Explanation: The governing concept is the closure of rational numbers under addition. Let the two rational numbers be a/b and c/d, where a, b, c and d are integers and b and d are non-zero. Their sum is a/b + c/d = (ad + bc)/bd. The numerator ad + bc is an integer, and the denominator bd is a non-zero integer, so the result is again of the form of an integer divided by a non-zero integer. Hence it is rational, making option B correct. The sum is not necessarily irrational, natural or zero. For example, 1/2 + 1/3 = 5/6, which is rational but is neither a natural number nor zero. This confirms the general closure property.