What fractional portion of the original
bowl of salad does each friend receive?

irrational, then, just means all the numbers that aren't rational. every integer is a rational number, since each integer n can be written in the form n/1. however, numbers like 1/2, 45454737/2424242, and -3/7 are also rational, since they are fractions whose numerator and denominator are integers.

step-by-step explanation:

let x and 400 - x be the two numbers.  

==> 0.80x + 0.85(400 - x) = 400 - 68 from the statement of the problem.  

< ==> 0.80x + 0.85(400 - x) = 400 - 68  

==> 340 - 0.05x = 332  

< ==> -0.05x = -8 ==> x = 160, the first number ==> 400 - x = 240, the second number.