What characterizes a rational number?

A rational number is defined as any number that can be expressed as a quotient of two integers, where the denominator is not zero. This means that if you have two integers, ( a ) (the numerator) and ( b ) (the denominator, which cannot be zero), the fraction ( \frac{a}{b} ) represents a rational number. This includes all integers, as any integer ( n ) can be expressed as ( \frac{n}{1} ), as well as proper and improper fractions like ( \frac{1}{2} ) or ( \frac{3}{2} ).

The characteristic of being a quotient of two integers captures the essence of what makes a rational number different from irrational numbers, such as ( \pi ) or ( \sqrt{2} ), which cannot be expressed in this way. Therefore, the option accurately encompasses the definition of rational numbers within the broader categories of numbers, which include integers, fractions (both positive and negative), and zero (as long as it is never in the denominator).