What is a common example of a rational number?

A common example of a rational number is 0.5. Rational numbers are defined as numbers that can be expressed as the quotient or fraction a/b, where "a" is an integer and "b" is a non-zero integer.

In this case, 0.5 can be expressed as 1/2, which clearly fits the definition of a rational number since both 1 and 2 are integers. This representation demonstrates that it is part of a set of numbers that can be written in fractional form.

On the other hand, numbers like Pi (π) and the square root of 2 are known to be irrational numbers because they cannot be accurately expressed as simple fractions of two integers. Negative one is an integer and is therefore also rational, but in the context of common examples, 0.5 is often more straightforwardly recognized by many as a representation of a rational number due to its decimal form and its clear fractional equivalency.