Meno: Yes, Socrates. Please continue.
Socrates: Now boy, what do you get when you divide these odd and even numbers by other odd and even numbers.
Boy: Sometimes you get whole numbers, especially when you divide an even number by an even number, but odd numbers sometimes give whole numbers, both odd and even, and sometimes they give numbers which are not whole numbers, but have parts.
Socrates: Very good, and have your teachers ever called these numbers ratios?
Boy: Sometimes, Socrates, but usually only with simple numbers which make one-half, one-third, two-thirds and the like.
Socrates: Yes, that is usually what people mean by ratios. The learned people call numbers made from the ratios, rational. Does the name rational number suit you to call a number which can be expressed as the ratio of two whole numbers, whether they be odd or even whole numbers?
Boy: You want me to call the numbers made from ratios of whole numbers something called rational? A ratio makes a rational number?
Socrates: Yes boy, can you do that?
Boy: Certainly, Socrates.
Socrates: Do you agree with the way I told him this, Meno?
Does it violate our agreement?