# Identity Property of Rational Numbers

Rational numbers are the numbers which can be expressed in the form x/y, provided y is not equal to zero and x,y are integers. Apart from the addition, subtraction, multiplication and division, rational numbers show a specific property which is called identity of Rational Numbers and such numbers are called identity property of rational numbers.

There are two types of identity Properties of Rational Numbers which are as follows:

2. Multiplicative identity

Additive Identity of rational numbers: Additive identity of a rational number is basically a real number which when added to a rational number does not change its value, zero is called the additive identity for all rational numbers, for example let’s say “Q”  is a rational number equal to  a/b

Also if we add  '0' to this rational number  Q+0 = Q or a/b+0 = a/b, as we see from the result we get the same rational number that is why zero is called the additive identity of rational numbers.

Multiplicative Identity: Multiplicative identity of a rational number is such a real number which when multiplied by a rational number, its value remains unchanged, '1' is called the multiplicative identity for all rational numbers, ex.  Q×1 = Q, or a/b ×1 = a/b, as we can see from the example when rational number 'q' is multiplied by 1, its value remains unchanged that is why 1 is called the Multiplicative Inverse of Rational Numbers.