Introduction to Numbers
A number is a mathematical object used to count, label, and measure. (Number is an abstract concept.)
A numeral is the symbol that represents a number.
In common usage, the word number can mean the abstract object, the symbol, or the word for the number.
Classification/Uses
Numbers have four main uses: to name or designate; to identify where objects and events are in sequence;
to enumerate or count sets, and to measure.
• Nominal – a number that provides a label or classification to name a thing
• Ordinal – a number that tells location in a sequence
• Cardinal – a number that tells how many objects in a set
• Measure – a number that expresses the quantity of a unit of measure
Sets
Numbers can be classified into sets, called number systems
natural – the set of numbers {1, 2, 3, . . .} used for counting objects (also known as counting numbers)
whole – the set of natural numbers and 0 {0, 1, 2, 3, . . .}
integers – the set of whole numbers and their additive inverses (positive, negative, and zero)
• positive - an integer greater than zero
• negative - an integer less than zero
• even – any integer that can be divided exactly by 2 (the last digit will be 0, 2, 4, 6 or 8)
• odd – any integer that cannot be divided exactly by 2 (the last digit will be 1, 3, 5, 7, or 9)
• prime - an integer greater than 1 that has exactly two factors, itself and 1 (or any number greater
than zero that has exactly two different factors)
• composite – an integer that has more than two factors (or any number with factors other than 1
and itself)
rational – the set of numbers that can be expressed as a ratio in the form of a/b where a and b are
integers and b ≠ 0
irrational – the set of numbers that cannot be expressed as a repeating or terminating decimal
real – the set of both rational and irrational numbers
