[Math] Can dividing two rational numbers yield an integer

arithmeticrational numbers

I wanted to know if two non-int numbers (non-zeroes) when divided with each other can give an integer or not.I believe that's a NO. However I know they can only yield an integer $1$ provided both are the same (i.e) $\frac{2.5}{2.5}$. Am I correct. Just wanted to be 100% sure. How about when they are multiplied ?

Best Answer

Let $n$ be an integer and $p:=\frac{n}{n+1},q:=\frac{1}{n+1}$ then $p/q=n$. Note that both $p$ and $q$ are non-integers (as $\gcd (n,n+1)=1$).

Also if $r:=\frac{n^2}{n+1},s:=\frac{n+1}{n}$ then $rs=n$. Clearly both $r$ and $s$ are non-integers, because $\gcd (n^2,n+1)=\gcd (n,n+1)=1.$

So for every integer $n$ you can find non-integral rationals whose quotient is $n$ and non-integral rationals whose product is $n$.