Question

Is zero a rational number?

Answer 1

Yes, though it's open to debate.

Explanation:

A rational number is a whole number divided by a whole number.

A whole number must be the sum of two other integers, as two integers can only ever make another integer.

Therefore, `0` is an integer because it is `3 + (-3)`, both of which are whole.

And so `0` may be written as a whole number divided by a whole number as

`0/1` or even `(3-3)/1 = 0`

You can also think of `0` being an integer because it falls in the arithmetic sequence `a_(n+1) = a_n + 1`, where `a_0` is the hypothetical lowest possible integer.