Types of Numbers
Types of Numbers
Types of Numbers
Natural numbers or Whole numbers
Non-negative integers or counting numbers. Some examples include or exclude 0. In
this class we will include the number 0. Examples of these numbers are
1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,100,10000,27.
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Why would 1.1, -2,√3, and not be considered a natural number
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Integers
Positive and negative counting numbers, as well as zero. Examples of these
numbers are 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,100,1000,27. Other examples of these numbers
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include√3,-7,-100,-10000. Why would 1.1, 2.4,√3, and 7 not be considered a natural
number.
Rational Numbers
Any number that can be expressed as a fraction or more precisely expressed by
1
dividing two integers. Examples of these numbers are 1.5, 0.5, 5, 3and 6. Why
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would0,√2, π not be considered rational numbers. Π is approximated as but this
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value is not the true value of pi but simply an approximation a subtle but important
distinction.
Real Numbers
Real Numbers are easier to define by what they are not. Almost all types of
numbers can be considered real numbers except for imaginary numbers and
infinite. You can also think of real numbers as any number that exist on the
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number line. Examples of Real Numbers are 1.5, 7 , √3, -7, -100, 0.5, and 5. The
following numbers would not be considered Real Numbers√−𝟏, and ∞
Irrational numbers
Are numbers that cannot be written as a fraction, more specifically a fraction made
up of two integers. Examples of irrational numbers are π, √2, many square roots
and cube roots. The following numbers are not irrational √4 , .333333333, and 5.
Fractions
Normally a representation of a non-integer as a ratio of two integers; integers can
also be represented by fractions by placing the integer in the numerator and using
the number 1 as the denominator. These include improper fractions as well as
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mixed numbers. Some examples of fractions are 7,1 3, 7 ,1. The following numbers are
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not considered fractions 2, -1,0 , .234, and √2.
Scientific notation
Also referred to as standard form is a method for writing very small and very large
numbers using powers/exponents of 10. Examples of scientific notation are 1.5 x 104
2 x 10 -4. The following numbers are not considered scientific notation 12.2 x 104,
1
and 0.2 x 103, 34, 2
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