rational

adj 1: consistent with or based on or using reason; "rational

behavior"; "a process of rational inference";

"rational thought" [ant: {irrational}]

2: associated with or requiring the use of the mind;

"intellectual problems"; "the triumph of the rational over

the animal side of man" [syn: {intellectual}]

3: (math) capable of being expressed as a quotient of integers;

"rational numbers" [ant: {irrational}]

4: having its source in or being guided by the intellect

(distinguished from experience or emotion); "a rational

analysis"

rational

[Mathematics] a fractional number n/d, where n and d are

integers, n is the numerator and d is the denominator. The

set of all rational numbers is usually called Q.

Computers do not usually deal with rational numbers but

instead convert them to {real} numbers which are represented

(approximately in some cases) as {floating-point} numbers.

Compare {irrational}.