Revision Notes for Class 8 Mathematics

Chapter 1 – Rational Numbers

Rational Numbers:

p
1. Rational Numbers are numbers in the form of such that q  0 . It is denoted by Q.
q

2. If the numerator and denominator are coprime and q  0 then the Rational Number is of
the standard form.

3. Types of Rational Numbers:

i. Positive Rational Numbers: The sign of both the numerator and denominator are the
2 −7
same, i.e., either both are positive, or both are negative. Ex: , ,...
3 −8

ii. Negative Rational Numbers: The sign of both the numerator and denominator are the
same, i.e., if the numerator is negative, the denominator will be positive. Similarly, if the
2 −7
numerator is positive, the denominator is negative. Ex: , ,...
−3 8

0 0
iii. Zero Rational Numbers: The numerator is always zero. Ex: , ,...
3 8

4. Properties of Rational Numbers:

4.1 Closure Property

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i. Whole number:

Operation Numbers Remarks

Addition 0+5=5, a whole number Whole numbers are closed under

addition.
4+7=11, a whole number

Subtraction 5−7=−2, which is not a whole Whole numbers are not closed under
number. subtraction.

Multiplication 0×3=0, a whole number Whole numbers are closed under

3×7=21... multiplication.

Division 5 Whole numbers are not closed under

5÷8= , which is not a whole
8 division.
number.

ii. Integers

Operation Numbers Remarks

Addition – 6 + 5 = – 1, an integer. In general, a + b is Integers are closed under

an integer for any two integers a and b addition.

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 Subtraction 7−5=2, an integer. Integers are closed under
subtraction.
−6−8=−14, an integer.

– 6 – (– 8) = 2, an integer

In general, for any two integers a and b, a – b

and b – a is again an integer.

Multiplication 5 × 8 = 40, an integer. Integers are closed under

multiplication.
– 5 × (– 8) = 40, an integer. In general, for
any two integers a and b, a × b is also an
integer.

Division 5 Integers are not closed

5÷8= , which is not an integer.
8 under division.

iii. Rational numbers

To prove the closure property for rational numbers under addition, subtraction,
multiplication, and division, let's consider two rational numbers. A rational number can be
a
expressed in the form , where a and b are integers, and b  0 .
b

1. Addition

To prove that rational numbers are closed under addition:

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 a c
- Let and be two rational numbers.
b d

- Adding them:

a c ad + bc
+ =
b d bd

- Since the numerator ad + bc and the denominator bd are both integers (as integers are
closed under addition and multiplication), the result is a rational number.

- Conclusion: Rational numbers are closed under addition.

2. Subtraction

To prove that rational numbers are closed under subtraction:

a c
- Let and be two rational numbers.
b d

- Subtracting them:

a c ad − bc
− =
b d bd

- Since the numerator ad − bc and the denominator bd are both integers, the result is a
rational number.

- Conclusion: Rational numbers are closed under subtraction.

3. Multiplication

To prove that rational numbers are closed under multiplication:

a c
- Let and be two rational numbers.
b d

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- Multiplying them:

a c ac
 =
b d bd

- Since the numerator ac and the denominator bd are both integers, the result is a rational
number.

- Conclusion: Rational numbers are closed under multiplication.

4. Division

To prove that rational numbers are closed under division (except when dividing by zero):

a c
- Let and be two rational numbers where c  0 and d  0 .
b d

- Dividing them:

a c a d ad
 =  =
b d b c bc

- Since the numerator ad and the denominator bc are both integers and bc  0 , the result is a
rational number.

- Conclusion: Rational numbers are closed under division, except when dividing by zero.

Therefore, rational numbers are closed under addition, subtraction, multiplication, and
division (with the exception of division by zero).

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4.2 Commutative Property:

i. Whole numbers

Operation Numbers Remarks

Addition 0 + 7 = 7 +0=7 Addition is commutative

2 + 3 = ... + ... = ....

For any two whole numbers a and b,

a+b=b+a

Subraction - Subraction is not commutative.

Multiplication - Multiplication is commutative.

Division - Division is not commutative.

ii. Integers

Operation Numbers Remarks

Addition Addition is commutative.

Subtraction 5 − (−3)  −3 − 5 Subtraction is not commutative.

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 Multiplication Multiplication is commutative.

Division Division is not commutative.

Iii. Rational numbers

Let's now check the commutative property for rational numbers under addition, subtraction,
multiplication, and division.

1. Addition (Commutative Property):

The commutative property of addition states that for any two numbers a and b, the order of
addition does not affect the result, i.e., a + b = b + a .

a c
- Let and be two rational numbers.
b d

- We know:

a c ad + bc c a cb + ad
+ = and + =
b d bd d b db

- Since ad + bc = bc + ad and bd = db , we conclude that:

a c c a
+ = +
b d d b

- Conclusion: Rational numbers are commutative under addition.

2. Subtraction (Commutative Property):

The commutative property of subtraction states that for any two numbers a and b, a − b does
not necessarily equal b − a .

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 a c
- Let and be two rational numbers.
b d

- We know:

a c ad − bc c a cb − ad
− = and − =
b d bd d b db

- Since ad − bc  cb − ad , we conclude:

a c c a
−  −
b d d b

- Conclusion: Rational numbers are not commutative under subtraction.

3. Multiplication (Commutative Property):

The commutative property of multiplication states that for any two numbers a and b,
a b = b a .

a c
- Let and be two rational numbers.
b d

- We know:

a c ac c a ca
 = and  =
b d bd d b db

- Since ac = ca and bd = db , we conclude:

a c c a
 = 
b d d b

- Conclusion: Rational numbers are commutative under multiplication.

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4. Division (Commutative Property):

The commutative property of division states that for any two numbers a and b, a  b does not
necessarily equal b  a .

a c
- Let and be two rational numbers where c  0 and d  0 .
b d

- We know:

a c ad c a cb
 = and  =
b d bc d b ad

- Since ad  cb and bc  ad , we conclude:

a c c a
  
b d d b

- Conclusion: Rational numbers are not commutative under division.

Summary of Commutative Property for Rational Numbers:

- Addition: Commutative.

- Subtraction: Not commutative.

- Multiplication: Commutative.

- Division: Not commutative.

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4.3. Associative Property:

i. Whole numbers

Operations Numbers Remarks

Addition Addition is associative

Subtraction Subtraction is not associative

Multiplication 7 × (2 × 5) = (7 × 2) × 5 Multiplication is associative

4 × (6 × 0) = (4 × 6) × 0

For any three whole numbers a, b and c,

a × (b × c) = (a × b) × c

Division Division is not associative

ii. Integers

Operation Numbers Remarks

Addition For any three integers a, b and c, Addition is associative

a + (b + c) = (a + b) + c

Subtraction 5 − (7 − 3)  (5 − 7) − 3 Subtraction is not associative

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 Multiplication For any three integers a, b and c, Multiplication is associative

a × (b × c) = (a × b) × c

Division [(−10)  2]  (−5)  (−10)  [2  (−5)] Division is not associative

iii. Rational Numbers

Let's briefly check the associative property for rational numbers under addition, subtraction,
multiplication, and division.

1. Addition (Associative Property):

The associative property of addition states that the grouping of numbers does not affect the
sum, i.e., (a + b) + c = a + (b + c) .

a c e
- Let , , and be three rational numbers.
b d f

- We know:

 a c  e ad + bc e (ad + bc) f + bde

 + + = + = and
b d  f bd f bdf

a  c e  a cf + de (cf + de)b + adf

+ +  = + =
b d f  b df bdf

- Both are equal, so:

(a + b) + c = a + (b + c)

- Conclusion: Rational numbers are associative under addition.

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2. Subtraction (Associative Property):

The associative property does not hold for subtraction. This means:

(a − b) − c  a − (b − c)

- Conclusion: Rational numbers are not associative under subtraction.

3. Multiplication (Associative Property):

The associative property of multiplication states that the grouping of numbers does not affect
the product, i.e., (a  b)  c = a  (b  c) .

a c e
- Let , , and be three rational numbers.
b d f

- We know:

 a c  e ac e ace
   =  = and
 b d  f bd f bdf

a  c e  a ce ace
   =  =
b  d f  b df bdf

- Both are equal, so: (a  b)  c = a  (b  c)

- Conclusion: Rational numbers are associative under multiplication.

4. Division (Associative Property):

The associative property does not hold for division. This means:

(a  b)  c  a  (b  c)

- Conclusion: Rational numbers are not associative under division.

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Summary of Associative Property for Rational Numbers:

- Addition: Associative.

- Subtraction: Not associative.

- Multiplication: Associative.

- Division: Not associative.

iv. Distributive Property:

The distributive property links addition and multiplication, stating that multiplication
distributed over addition (or subtraction) yields the same result. Mathematically, for any
numbers a, b, and c:

a  (b + c) = (a  b) + (a  c)

This property holds true for integers, whole numbers, and rational numbers.

1. Distributive Property for Integers

Let a = 3 , b = −2 , and c = 4 .

3  (−2 + 4) = 3  2 = 6
On the other hand:

(3  −2) + (3  4) = −6 + 12 = 6
Thus, 3  (−2 + 4) = (3  −2) + (3  4) .

- Conclusion: The distributive property holds for integers.

2. Distributive Property for Whole Numbers

Let a = 2 , b = 5 , and c = 3 (all whole numbers).

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2  (5 + 3) = 2  8 = 16

On the other hand:

(2  5) + (2  3) = 10 + 6 = 16
Thus, 2  (5 + 3) = (2  5) + (2  3) .

- Conclusion: The distributive property holds for whole numbers.

3. Distributive Property for Rational Numbers

1 3 5
Let a = , b = , and c = .
2 4 6

1  3 5  1  9 10  1 19 19
 +  =  +  =  =
2  4 6  2  12 12  2 12 24
On the other hand:

1 3 1 5 3 5 9 10 19
  +   = + = + =
 2 4   2 6  8 12 24 24 24
1 3 5 1 3 1 5
Thus,   +  =    +    .
2 4 6 2 4 2 6

- Conclusion: The distributive property holds for rational numbers.

Final Summary:

- The distributive property applies to integers, whole numbers, and rational numbers.

- It shows that multiplying a number by a sum (or difference) is the same as multiplying the
number by each addend (or subtrahend) and then adding (or subtracting) the results.

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v. General Properties:

• A rational number can be a fraction or not, but vice versa is true.

• Rational numbers can be denoted on a number line.

• There are 'n' number of rational numbers between any two rational numbers.

5. Role of Zero: Also known as the Additive Identity

Whenever '0' is added to any rational number, the answer is the Rational number itself.

Ex: If 'a' is any rational number, then a + 0 = 0 + a = a

6. Role of One: Also known as the Multiplicative Identity.

Whenever '1' is multiplied by any rational number, the answer is the Rational number itself.

Ex: If 'a' is any rational number, then a 1 = 1 a = a

7. Additive Inverse:

The Additive Inverse of any rational number is the same rational number with the opposite
a a a a a
sign. The additive inverse of is − . Similarly, the additive inverse of − is , where
b b b b b
is the rational number.

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8. Multiplicative Inverse: Also known as the Reciprocal.

The Multiplicative Inverse of any rational number is the inverse of the same rational number.
a b b a
The multiplicative inverse of is . Similarly, the multiplicative inverse of is , where
b a a b
a b
and is any rational number.
b a

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