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Rational vs Valid - What's the difference?

rational | valid |

As adjectives the difference between rational and valid

is that rational is capable of reasoning while valid is valid.

As a noun rational

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

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    • , title= Magician’s brain , passage=The [Isaac] Newton that emerges from the [unpublished] manuscripts is far from the popular image of a rational practitioner of cold and pure reason.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

    *

    valid

    English

    Adjective

    (en adjective)
  • Well grounded or justifiable, pertinent.
  • *{{quote-magazine, year=2012, month=March-April
    • , author=(Jan Sapp) , title=Race Finished , volume=100, issue=2, page=164 , magazine=(American Scientist) citation , passage=Few concepts are as emotionally charged as that of race. The word conjures up a mixture of associations—culture, ethnicity, genetics, subjugation, exclusion and persecution. But is the tragic history of efforts to define groups of people by race really a matter of the misuse of science, the abuse of a valid biological concept?}}
    I will believe him as soon as he offers a valid answer.
  • Acceptable, proper or correct.
    • A valid format for the date is MM/DD/YY.
    Do not drive without a valid license.
  • Related to the current topic, or presented within context, relevant.
  • (logic) Of a formula or system: such that it evaluates to true regardless of the input values.
  • (logic) Of an argument: whose conclusion is always true whenever its premises are true.
    • An argument is valid if and only if the set consisting of both (1) all of its premises and (2) the contradictory of its conclusion is inconsistent.

    Antonyms

    * invalid

    Hyponyms

    * sound

    Related terms

    * validate * validation * validator