Is the number 0 a rational number?

A rational number is defined as any number that can be expressed in the form of a fraction ( \frac{a}{b} ), where ( a ) and ( b ) are integers and ( b ) is not zero. The number 0 can be expressed as ( \frac{0}{1} ), ( \frac{0}{2} ), or ( \frac{0}{n} ) for any non-zero integer ( n ). Since it can be represented in this form, 0 meets the criteria for rational numbers.

This perspective on rational numbers underscores their inclusion of integers, fractions, and whole numbers, as long as they can be expressed as the ratio of two integers. Thus, the answer confirming that 0 is a rational number aligns perfectly with this definition, highlighting that it is indeed a rational number without any additional conditions or contexts needed for its classification.