section_path: Main classification/Rational numbers
section_name: Rational numbers
paragraph_text: Rational numbers
  
  A rational number is a number that can be expressed as a fraction with an integer numerator and a positive integer denominator. Negative denominators are allowed, but are commonly avoided, as every rational number is equal to a fraction with positive denominator. Fractions are written as two integers, the numerator and the denominator, with a dividing bar between them. The fraction m / n represents m parts of a whole divided into n equal parts. Two different fractions may correspond to the same rational number; for example 1 / 2 and 2 / 4 are equal, that is:
  
  In general,
  
  If the absolute value of m is greater than n (supposed to be positive), then the absolute value of the fraction is greater than 1. Fractions can be greater than, less than, or equal to 1 and can also be positive, negative, or 0. The set of all rational numbers includes the integers since every integer can be written as a fraction with denominator 1. For example −7 can be written −7 / 1. The symbol for the rational numbers is Q (for quotient), also written Q {\displaystyle \mathbb {Q} }.