The numbers used on the scale for a standard thermometer?
A.whole numbers
B.rational numbers
C.real numbers
D.integers
I think it is B
While temperature is a continuous value (real numbers)
The actual markings will usually be
B: rational (oral thermometers are usually in tenths of a degree)
or, maybe
A: whole numbers. The weather thermometers are usually marked in whole degrees.
To determine the numbers used on the scale for a standard thermometer, we need to understand the different types of numbers and their characteristics:
A. Whole numbers: These are positive numbers without any fractional or decimal parts, such as 0, 1, 2, 3, etc. However, since a standard thermometer can measure temperatures below zero, whole numbers alone are not sufficient for the scale.
B. Rational numbers: These are numbers that can be represented as a fraction p/q, where p and q are integers and q is not zero. Rational numbers include integers (positive, negative, and zero) as well as fractional numbers. Since the scale of a standard thermometer includes both positive and negative temperatures, rational numbers can indeed be used on the scale.
C. Real numbers: These are numbers that include both rational and irrational numbers. Irrational numbers cannot be represented as a fraction, such as the square root of 2 or π. Real numbers encompass all possible values on the number line, including positive and negative temperatures, making them suitable for the scale of a standard thermometer.
D. Integers: These are positive and negative whole numbers, as well as zero. While integers are used for some thermometer scales, they do not cover the full range of temperature values.
Based on this explanation, the correct answer is C. Real numbers are used on the scale for a standard thermometer since they encompass all possible temperatures, both positive and negative, including rational and irrational numbers.