Rational is a commonly used word that describes something based on reason or logic. In terms of its spelling, the "ra-" beginning sounds like "ray," the "tio" combination sounds like "sho," and the ending "-nal" sounds like "nuhl." Therefore, the IPA phonetic transcription for rational would be /ˈræʃ(ə)nəl/. This word is frequently used in discussions related to science, math, and philosophy, among other fields where logical thinking is essential.
Rational is an adjective that describes a person or an action based on reasoning, logic, and sound judgment. It refers to the ability to think and act in a sensible, reasonable, and coherent manner.
In terms of human psychology, being rational means making decisions and choices after careful consideration and evaluation of available evidence and information. A rational person tends to rely on logic rather than emotions or biases when analyzing situations and weighing the pros and cons. They are often characterized by their capacity to think critically, objectively, and analytically.
In mathematics and logic, rational refers to numbers or expressions that can be expressed as a ratio of two integers. For example, fractions such as ⅔ or 5/8 are rational numbers. They can be represented accurately and precisely without any infinite or repeating decimal places. In contrast to irrational numbers like √2 or π, rational numbers can be represented as terminating or repeating decimals.
Overall, whether used in a psychological or mathematical context, rational implies a thoughtful and logical approach that is guided by reason and evidence. It suggests a person or action that is sensible, coherent, and grounded in clear thinking, allowing for informed decision-making and problem-solving.
1. Reasonable. 2. Having the reasoning faculties; not delirious or comatose.
A practical medical dictionary. By Stedman, Thomas Lathrop. Published 1920.
Endowed with reason; agreeable to reason; judicious; acting in conformity to reason; sane.
Etymological and pronouncing dictionary of the English language. By Stormonth, James, Phelp, P. H. Published 1874.
* The statistics data for these misspellings percentages are collected from over 15,411,110 spell check sessions on www.spellchecker.net from Jan 2010 - Jun 2012.
The word "rational" originated from the Latin word "rationalis", which is derived from the noun "ratio", meaning "reckoning, calculation, reason, or understanding". The Latin word itself is derived from the verb "reri", which means "to think". The term "rational" entered the English language in the 14th century and has since been used to describe things related to reason, logic, or understanding based on sound judgment.