Which of the following cannot be used to describe -144 divided by -12?
A. negative
B. rational number
C. integer
D. whole number
D. whole number
The correct answer is D. whole number.
To determine why D is the correct answer, let's understand the different terms:
1. Negative: "-144 divided by -12" will result in a positive quotient, so the term negative can be used to describe it.
2. Rational number: A rational number is any number that can be expressed as a fraction, where the numerator and denominator are both integers. Since -144 and -12 are both integers, the division of -144 by -12 is a rational number.
3. Integer: An integer is a whole number that can be both positive and negative. Since -144 divided by -12 is -12, which is an integer, the term integer can be used to describe it.
4. Whole number: A whole number is a non-negative number without any fractional part. Since -12 is negative, it does not meet the criteria to be a whole number. Hence, the term whole number cannot be used to describe -144 divided by -12.
Therefore, the correct answer is D. whole number.