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# rational(+Number, -Result)

Converts Number into a rational number and unifies it with Result.

Number
  A number.
Result
  Output: rational number.

## Description

This predicate is used by the ECLiPSe compiler to expand evaluable arithmetic expressions. So the call to rational(Number, Result) is equivalent to

        Result is rational(Number)

which should be preferred.

When Number is an integer, Result is a rational with denominator 1.

When Number is already a rational, Result is identical to Number.

When Number is a float, Result is a rational whose value is exactly equal to the value of the floating-point number. Since floats are usually approximations of the intended value, the results may look unintuitive and have unnecessarily large numerators and denominators. Use rationalize/2 to produce the most compact rational that still converts back into the original float. rational/2 is usually faster than rationalize/2.

Bounded reals cannot be converted to rationals.

In coroutining mode, if Number is uninstantiated, the call to rational/2 is delayed until this variable is instantiated.

### Modes and Determinism

- rational(+, -) is det

### Exceptions

(4) instantiation fault
  Number is not instantiated (non-coroutining mode only).
(24) number expected
  Number is not of a numeric type.
(141) unimplemented functionality
  Number is a bounded real

## Examples

    Success:
        Result is rational(25).	% gives Result = 25_1
        Result is rational(1.5).	% gives Result = 3_2
        Result is rational(3_4).	% gives Result = 3_4
        Result is rational(9_12).	% gives Result = 3_4
        Result is rational(-6).	% gives Result = -6_1
        Result is rational(0.1).    % gives Result = 3602879701896397_36028797018963968

    Error:
        Result is rational(0.9__1.1, X).     % unimplemented

## See Also

rationalize / 2, is / 2