Irrational number
An irrational number is a real number that you cannot write as the quotient of two integers.
That is all, they do not defy logic.
Explanation
If a number is the quotient of two integers, we call this a rational number. Rational and irrational numbers form together the set of real numbers.
Example 1
The square root of 2 is
and is an irrational number.
Example 2
The golden ratio is an irrational number
and has the irrational number √5 in the numerator.
HistoryThe ancient Greek mathematician Hippasus (ca. 530 BC - ca. 450 BC) discovered irrational numbers through geometry. |