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Rational vs Ration - What's the difference?

rational | ration |

As nouns the difference between rational and ration

is that rational is (mathematics) a rational number: a number that can be expressed as the quotient of two integers while ration is .

As an adjective rational

is capable of reasoning.

rational

English

Alternative forms

* rationall (obsolete)

Etymology 1

From (etyl) rationel, rational, from (etyl)

Adjective

(en adjective)
  • Capable of reasoning.
  • *
  • Logically sound; not contradictory or otherwise absurd.
  • (label) Healthy or balanced intellectually; exhibiting reasonableness.
  • *{{quote-magazine, date=2014-06-21, volume=411, issue=8892, magazine=(The Economist)
    • , title= Magician’s brain , passage=The [Isaac] Newton that emerges from the [unpublished] manuscripts is far from the popular image of a rational practitioner of cold and pure reason. The architect of modern science was himself not very modern. He was obsessed with alchemy.}}
  • Of a number, capable of being expressed as the ratio of two integers.
    • ¾ is a rational number, but ?2 is an irrational number.
  • Of an algebraic expression, capable of being expressed as the ratio of two polynomials.
  • (label) Expressing the type, structure, relations, and reactions of a compound; graphic; said of formulae.
    • Antonyms
    * (reasonable) absurd, irrational, nonsensical * (capable of reasoning) arational, irrational, non-rational * (number theory) irrational
    Related terms
    * arational * irrational * non-rational * rationale * rationality * rationalness * subrational * suprarational

    Etymology 2

    From (etyl) rational, from , for which see the first etymology.

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • (mathematics) A rational number: a number that can be expressed as the quotient of two integers.
    • The quotient of two rationals''' is again a '''rational .
  • A rational being.
    • (Young)

    References

    * *

    Anagrams

    *

    ration

    English

    (wikipedia ration)

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • A portion designated to a person or group.

    • Verb

    (en verb)
  • To supply with a ration; to limit (someone) to a specific allowance of something.
    • We rationed ourselves to three sips of water a day until we were rescued.
  • To portion out (especially during a shortage of supply); to limit access to.
    • By the third day on the raft, we had to ration our water.
  • To restrict (an activity etc.)
    • Our present health care system is rationed only to those who can afford it because of unnecessary high cost, lack of insurance coverage by 47 million people, and exorbitant prescription prices.

    Anagrams

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