What is the definition of a rational number?

A rational number is defined as a number that can be expressed as the quotient or fraction of two integers, where the numerator is an integer and the denominator is a non-zero integer. This means that any number that can be represented in the form ( \frac{a}{b} ) – with ( a ) being an integer (which can be positive, negative, or zero) and ( b ) being a non-zero integer – qualifies as a rational number.

For example, the numbers ( \frac{1}{2} ), -4 (which can be expressed as ( \frac{-4}{1} )), and 0 (which can be expressed as ( \frac{0}{1} )) are all rational numbers because they meet this criteria.

In contrast, other choices do not accurately reflect the definition of a rational number. A number with an infinite decimal representation might refer to an irrational number if the decimal does not terminate or repeat. A number that cannot be expressed as a simple fraction aligns with the definition of an irrational number, not a rational one. Lastly, rational numbers can be negative, zero, or positive, so stating that they are always positive is not correct. Thus, expressing a rational