Chapter 1 · Class 9 CBSE · MCQ Test

Number Systems MCQ Test — Class 9 CBSE

Practice 10 multiple-choice questions with instant answer reveal and explanations.

Number Systems — MCQ Questions

1Which of the following statements is TRUE?

A.Every irrational number is a real number.
B.Every real number is an irrational number.
C.Every rational number is an integer.
D.Every integer is a whole number.
Show Answer+

Answer: Every irrational number is a real number.

Hint: Recall the definitions of real numbers, rational numbers, irrational numbers, integers, and whole numbers and how they relate to each other.

Solution:

Real numbers are composed of both rational and irrational numbers. Therefore, every irrational number is a real number.

Option B is false because rational numbers are also real numbers.

Option C is false because fractions like 1/2 are rational but not integers.

Option D is false because negative integers (e.g., -3) are integers but not whole numbers.

2Ravi states that the decimal expansion of 7/8 is 0.875, and the decimal expansion of 1/3 is 0.333... (non-terminating repeating). Based on this, he concludes that 7/8 is a rational number and 1/3 is an irrational number. Is Ravi's conclusion correct?

A.Both conclusions are correct.
B.7/8 is rational, but 1/3 is also rational.
C.7/8 is irrational, but 1/3 is rational.
D.Both numbers are irrational.
Show Answer+

Answer: 7/8 is rational, but 1/3 is also rational.

Hint: Remember the definition of a rational number in terms of its decimal expansion.

Solution:

A rational number can be expressed as p/q, where p and q are integers and q ≠ 0. Its decimal expansion is either terminating or non-terminating repeating.

The decimal expansion of 7/8 is 0.875, which is terminating. Thus, 7/8 is a rational number. Ravi's conclusion for 7/8 is correct.

The decimal expansion of 1/3 is 0.333..., which is non-terminating repeating. According to the definition, this also represents a rational number. Ravi's conclusion that 1/3 is irrational is incorrect.

Therefore, 7/8 is rational, and 1/3 is also rational.

3To represent √5 on the number line, a student first draws a right-angled triangle OAB with OA = 2 units and AB = 1 unit, where A is on the x-axis and O is the origin. What is the next logical step?

A.Draw an arc with center A and radius OA to intersect the number line.
B.Draw an arc with center O and radius OB to intersect the number line.
C.Draw an arc with center B and radius AB to intersect the number line.
D.Draw an arc with center O and radius AB to intersect the number line.
Show Answer+

Answer: Draw an arc with center O and radius OB to intersect the number line.

Hint: Use the Pythagorean theorem to find the length of OB, and then transfer that length to the number line using the origin as the center.

Solution:

In the right-angled triangle OAB, by Pythagoras theorem, OB² = OA² + AB².

Given OA = 2 units and AB = 1 unit, OB² = 2² + 1² = 4 + 1 = 5. So, OB = √5 units.

To represent √5 on the number line, we need to transfer the length OB from the origin (O) to the number line.

Therefore, the next logical step is to draw an arc with center O (the origin) and radius OB (which is √5) to intersect the number line.

4If 'x' is a rational number and 'y' is an irrational number, which of the following statements is ALWAYS TRUE?

A.x + y is an irrational number.
B.x × y is a rational number.
C.y × y is an irrational number.
D.x / y is a rational number.
Show Answer+

Answer: x + y is an irrational number.

Hint: Recall the properties of combining rational and irrational numbers through different operations.

Solution:

A. The sum of a rational number and an irrational number is always irrational. For example, 2 + √3 is irrational. This statement is ALWAYS TRUE.

B. The product x × y is not always rational. If x is a non-zero rational number, x × y is irrational. If x = 0, then 0 × y = 0, which is rational. So, this statement is FALSE.

C. The product y × y (or y²) is not always irrational. For example, √2 × √2 = 2, which is rational. So, this statement is FALSE.

D. The quotient x / y is not always rational. If x is a non-zero rational number, x / y is irrational. If x = 0, then 0 / y = 0, which is rational. So, this statement is FALSE.

5How many rational numbers can exist between any two distinct rational numbers?

A.Exactly one
B.Exactly two
C.Finitely many
D.Infinitely many
Show Answer+

Answer: Infinitely many

Hint: Think about the density property of rational numbers on the number line. Can you always find another rational number between any two given ones, no matter how close they are?

Solution:

The property of rational numbers is that they are 'dense' on the number line.

This means that between any two distinct rational numbers, no matter how close they are, there exists another rational number.

This process can be repeated infinitely, leading to infinitely many rational numbers between any two distinct rational numbers.

6A student states: 'The number 0.1010010001... (where the number of zeros increases by one each time) is a rational number because it follows a pattern.' Identify the error in the student's reasoning.

A.The number is indeed rational; there is no error.
B.A rational number must have a repeating block of digits, not just a pattern of increasing zeros.
C.A rational number must have a terminating decimal expansion.
D.The number is an integer, not a rational number.
Show Answer+

Answer: A rational number must have a repeating block of digits, not just a pattern of increasing zeros.

Hint: Distinguish between a 'pattern' and a 'repeating block' in decimal expansions when defining rational numbers.

Solution:

A rational number has a decimal expansion that is either terminating or non-terminating repeating.

The given number, 0.1010010001..., is non-terminating. While it has a 'pattern' (increasing number of zeros), it does not have a repeating block of digits that occurs periodically. For example, '01' does not repeat consistently.

Therefore, it is a non-terminating, non-repeating decimal, which means it is an irrational number.

The error in the student's reasoning is confusing a general 'pattern' with a specific 'repeating block' required for rational numbers.

7Which of the following correctly describes the set of real numbers?

A.All integers and fractions.
B.All numbers whose square is positive.
C.All numbers that can be written as p/q.
D.The union of rational and irrational numbers.
Show Answer+

Answer: The union of rational and irrational numbers.

Hint: Recall the main categories that make up the real number system.

Solution:

The set of real numbers (ℝ) is defined as the union of the set of rational numbers (ℚ) and the set of irrational numbers (𝕀).

Option A describes rational numbers, but excludes irrational numbers.

Option B is incomplete, as it excludes zero and is not the primary definition.

Option C is the definition of rational numbers, excluding irrational numbers.

8A number whose decimal expansion is non-terminating and non-repeating is classified as a/an _______ number.

A.Irrational
B.Integer
C.Rational
D.Whole
Show Answer+

Answer: Irrational

Hint: This is the defining characteristic of a specific type of real number.

Solution:

Rational numbers have decimal expansions that are either terminating or non-terminating repeating.

Integers and whole numbers are subsets of rational numbers.

Numbers whose decimal expansions are non-terminating and non-repeating are, by definition, irrational numbers.

9Every point on the number line represents a unique _______ number.

A.Rational
B.Integer
C.Natural
D.Real
Show Answer+

Answer: Real

Hint: Consider what types of numbers can be placed on a continuous number line without gaps.

Solution:

The number line is a continuous line where every point corresponds to a unique real number.

Rational numbers, integers, and natural numbers are subsets of real numbers, and while they can be represented, they do not fill the number line completely (there are 'gaps' representing irrational numbers if only considering rational numbers).

Therefore, every point on the number line represents a unique real number.

10Which of the following numbers lies between 1.5 and 1.6?

A.√2
B.√2.3
C.3/2
D.7/4
Show Answer+

Answer: √2.3

Hint: Convert all numbers to their decimal approximations and check which one falls within the given range.

Solution:

Convert the given options to decimal approximations:

A. √2 ≈ 1.414... (This is less than 1.5)

B. √2.3. To check this, consider 1.5² = 2.25 and 1.6² = 2.56. Since 2.25 < 2.3 < 2.56, it follows that √2.25 < √2.3 < √2.56, which means 1.5 < √2.3 < 1.6. (Specifically, √2.3 ≈ 1.516...)

C. 3/2 = 1.5 (This is not strictly between 1.5 and 1.6)

D. 7/4 = 1.75 (This is greater than 1.6)

Therefore, √2.3 is the number that lies between 1.5 and 1.6.

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Tips for Number Systems MCQs

  • 1Read each question carefully and identify what is being asked before looking at the options.
  • 2Try to solve the problem mentally or on paper first, then match your answer with the options.
  • 3Use elimination — rule out clearly wrong options to improve your chances even when unsure.
  • 4Check units, signs, and edge cases — these are common traps in Number Systems MCQs.
  • 5Review your mistakes after completing the test to build lasting understanding.

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