Back to all solutions

Mathematics solution NCERT

Class 9 - Chapter 3: The World of Numbers

NCERTChapter 3Solution- End-of-Chapter Exercises

Q1: Convert the following rational numbers into decimal form by the process of long division.

(i) 3/50

Divide 3 by 50:

3 ÷ 50 = 0.06

Since the division terminates, it is a terminating decimal.

Answer: 3/50 = 0.06


(ii) 2/9

Divide 2 by 9:

2 ÷ 9 = 0.22222...

The digit 2 repeats forever.

Therefore, it is a non-terminating recurring decimal.

Answer: 2/9 = 0.22222...


Q2: Prove that √5 is an irrational number.

Proof:

Assume that √5 is rational.

Then it can be written in the form:

√5 = p/q

where p and q are integers having no common factor and q ≠ 0.

Squaring both sides:

5 = p²/q²

p² = 5q²

Therefore, p² is divisible by 5.

Hence p is also divisible by 5.

Let:

p = 5k

Substituting:

(5k)² = 5q²

25k² = 5q²

5k² = q²

This shows that q² is divisible by 5.

Hence q is also divisible by 5.

Thus both p and q are divisible by 5.

This contradicts the assumption that p and q have no common factor.

Therefore our assumption is false.

Hence, √5 is an irrational number.


Q3: Convert the following decimal numbers into the form p/q.

(i) 12.6

12.6 = 126/10

= 63/5

Answer: 63/5


(ii) 0.0120

0.0120 = 120/10000

= 3/250

Answer: 3/250


(iii) 3.052

3.052 = 3052/1000

= 763/250

Answer: 763/250


(iv) 1.235̅

Let

x = 1.235235235...

1000x = 1235.235235...

x = 1.235235...

Subtracting:

999x = 1234

x = 1234/999

Answer: 1234/999


(v) 0.23̅

x = 0.232323...

100x = 23.232323...

Subtract:

99x = 23

x = 23/99

Answer: 23/99


(vi) 2.05̅

x = 2.05555...

10x = 20.5555...

100x = 205.5555...

Subtract:

90x = 185

x = 185/90

= 37/18

Answer: 37/18


(vii) 2.125̅

x = 2.125125125...

1000x = 2125.125125...

Subtracting:

999x = 2123

x = 2123/999

Answer: 2123/999


(viii) 3.125̅

x = 3.125125125...

1000x = 3125.125125...

Subtract:

999x = 3122

x = 3122/999

Answer: 3122/999


(ix) 2.1625̅

x = 2.162516251625...

10000x = 21625.16251625...

Subtract:

9999x = 21623

x = 21623/9999

Answer: 21623/9999


Q4: Locate the following rational numbers on the number line.

(i) 0.532

0.532 lies between 0.53 and 0.54 on the number line.

0.53 -------- ● -------- 0.54
             0.532

(ii) 1.15̅

1.15̅ = 1.151515...

It lies between 1.15 and 1.16.

1.15 -------- ● -------- 1.16
            1.1515...

Q5: Find 6 rational numbers between 3 and 4.

Solution:

Write the numbers with denominator 7:

3 = 21/7

4 = 28/7

The six rational numbers between them are:

Fraction Decimal Form
22/7 3.142857...
23/7 3.285714...
24/7 3.428571...
25/7 3.571428...
26/7 3.714285...
27/7 3.857142...

Answer:

22/7, 23/7, 24/7, 25/7, 26/7, 27/7

Q6: Find 5 rational numbers between 2/5 and 3/5.

Solution:

2/5 = 20/50

3/5 = 30/50

Any fractions between 20/50 and 30/50 will be rational numbers between 2/5 and 3/5.

The required five rational numbers are:

Rational Numbers
21/50
22/50
23/50
24/50
25/50

Answer:

21/50, 22/50, 23/50, 24/50, 25/50


Q7: Find 5 rational numbers between 1/6 and 2/5.

Solution:

LCM of 6 and 5 = 30

1/6 = 5/30

2/5 = 12/30

The five rational numbers between them are:

6/30, 7/30, 8/30, 9/30, 10/30

Simplifying where possible:

Fraction
1/5
7/30
4/15
3/10
1/3

Answer:

1/5, 7/30, 4/15, 3/10, 1/3


Q8: If x/3 + x/5 = 16/15, find the rational number x.

Solution:

x/3 + x/5 = 16/15

Taking x common:

x(1/3 + 1/5) = 16/15

x(5/15 + 3/15) = 16/15

x(8/15) = 16/15

x = (16/15) × (15/8)

x = 2

Answer: x = 2


Q9: Let a and b be two non-zero rational numbers such that a + 1/b = 0. Without assigning any numerical values, determine whether ab is positive or negative. Justify your answer.

Solution:

Given:

a + 1/b = 0

a = -1/b

Multiplying both sides by b:

ab = -1

Since:

ab = -1

and -1 is negative,

ab is always negative.

Answer: ab is negative.


Q10: A rational number has a terminating decimal expansion whose last non-zero digit occurs in the 4th decimal place. Show that such a number can be written in the form p/10⁴, where p is an integer not divisible by 10. Is it necessary that the denominator of this rational number, when written in the lowest form, is divisible by 2⁴ or 5⁴? Give reasons.

Solution:

If the last non-zero digit occurs in the fourth decimal place, then the number can be written as:

a.bcdw

where w is a non-zero digit.

Such a decimal can always be written as:

p/10000

= p/10⁴

where p is an integer.

Since the fourth decimal place contains a non-zero digit, p cannot be divisible by 10.


Second Part:

It is not necessary that the denominator in lowest form contains 2⁴ or 5⁴.

Example:

0.2500 = 2500/10000

= 1/4

The denominator in lowest form is only:

4 = 2²

and does not contain 2⁴ or 5⁴.

Answer:

  • The number can be written as p/10⁴.
  • No, the denominator in lowest form need not contain 2⁴ or 5⁴.

Q11: Without performing division, determine whether the decimal expansion of 18/125 is terminating or non-terminating. If it terminates, state the number of decimal places.

Solution:

18/125

The denominator is:

125 = 5³

Since the denominator contains only the prime factor 5, the decimal expansion is terminating.

To determine the number of decimal places:

18/125 = (18 × 8)/(125 × 8)

= 144/1000

= 0.144

The decimal has 3 places.

Answer:

  • Terminating decimal
  • Number of decimal places = 3

Q12: A rational number in its lowest form has denominator 2³ × 5. How many decimal places will its decimal expansion have? Explain your answer.

Solution:

Given denominator:

2³ × 5

= 8 × 5

= 40

To convert the denominator into a power of 10:

40 × 25 = 1000

= 10³

Therefore the decimal expansion will terminate after 3 decimal places.

Example:

1/40 = 0.025

which has 3 decimal places.

Answer: The decimal expansion will have 3 decimal places.

Q13: Let a = 7/12 and b = 5/6. Express both a and b in the form k₁/m and k₂/m where k₁, k₂ and m are integers and k₂ − k₁ > 6. Using the same denominator m, write exactly five distinct rational numbers lying between a and b keeping an integer numerator. Explain why the condition k₂ − k₁ > n + 1 is necessary to find n such rational numbers between the two rational numbers a and b using this method.

Solution:

Given:

a = 7/12

b = 5/6

First express both fractions with the same denominator.

5/6 = 10/12

Thus,

a = 7/12

b = 10/12

Here,

k₂ - k₁ = 10 - 7 = 3

Since 3 is not greater than 6, multiply both fractions by 3:

a = 21/36

b = 30/36

Now,

k₂ - k₁ = 30 - 21 = 9

which is greater than 6.


Five rational numbers between a and b:

Fraction
22/36
23/36
24/36
25/36
26/36

Why k₂ − k₁ > n + 1?

To obtain n rational numbers between two fractions having the same denominator, there must be at least n integers available between their numerators.

If the difference between numerators is not sufficiently large, there will not be enough integers available to create n distinct fractions.

Therefore, the condition

k₂ − k₁ > n + 1

ensures that at least n distinct rational numbers can be formed between them.

Answer:

22/36, 23/36, 24/36, 25/36, 26/36


Q14: Three rational numbers x, y, z satisfy x + y + z = 0 and xy + yz + zx = 0. Show that all the rational numbers x, y and z must be simultaneously zero.

Proof:

Given:

x + y + z = 0

xy + yz + zx = 0

Squaring the first equation:

(x + y + z)² = 0

x² + y² + z² + 2(xy + yz + zx) = 0

Since

xy + yz + zx = 0

we get:

x² + y² + z² = 0

Now x², y² and z² are squares of rational numbers.

Each square is non-negative.

The sum of three non-negative numbers can be zero only when each one is zero.

Therefore,

x² = 0

y² = 0

z² = 0

Hence,

x = 0, y = 0, z = 0

Answer: The only possible values are

x = y = z = 0


Q15: Show that the rational number (a + b)/2 lies between the rational numbers a and b.

Proof:

Assume that

a < b

We must show that

a < (a+b)/2 < b


First inequality:

a < b

Adding a to both sides:

2a < a+b

Dividing by 2:

a < (a+b)/2


Second inequality:

a < b

Adding b to both sides:

a+b < 2b

Dividing by 2:

(a+b)/2 < b


Combining both results:

a < (a+b)/2 < b

Therefore,

(a+b)/2

lies between a and b.


Example Value
a 2
b 8
(a+b)/2 5

Clearly,

2 < 5 < 8

Hence proved.