Introduction to Natural Numbers
Natural numbers are the most basic and fundamental numbers in mathematics. They are the
numbers that we use in our everyday life for counting objects and arranging them in order. For
example, when we count 1 apple, 2 books, 3 pencils, and so on, we are using natural numbers.
These numbers begin from 1 and continue endlessly: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 … and so on. Since they
go on without limit, natural numbers form an infinite set.
Natural numbers are also called positive integers because they do not include zero, fractions,
decimals, or negative numbers. They are simple whole numbers that are greater than zero. The
smallest natural number is 1, but there is no largest natural number because we can always add 1
to any natural number and get another bigger one. For example, after 100 comes 101, after 1000
comes 1001, and this process never ends.
In mathematics, natural numbers are usually denoted by the symbol ℕ (read as "N"). So, we can
write:
ℕ = {1, 2, 3, 4, 5, …}
Natural numbers are very important because they form the foundation of arithmetic and higher
mathematics. Using them, we can perform the four basic operations: addition, subtraction
(though sometimes subtraction may not give a natural number), multiplication, and division
(except division by zero). They are also used in various fields such as counting population,
measuring quantities, labeling things, and in almost all areas of day-to-day life.
Thus, natural numbers are the "building blocks" of mathematics, without which the study of
numbers and calculations would not be possible
Introduction to Whole Numbers
Whole numbers are an important set of numbers in mathematics that extend the idea of natural
numbers. While natural numbers begin from 1, whole numbers include 0 along with all the
natural numbers. In simple words, the set of whole numbers is:
W = {0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, …}
This means whole numbers are the collection of all non-negative integers, i.e., numbers without
fractions or decimals that are either zero or positive. They do not include negative numbers,
fractions, or decimal values.
The concept of whole numbers was developed to include the idea of “nothing.” In the early
stages of mathematics, people used natural numbers (1, 2, 3…) to count objects. But later, when
the need arose to represent the absence of objects, the number zero (0) was introduced. By
including zero with natural numbers, mathematicians formed the system of whole numbers.
👉 Key features of whole numbers:
The smallest whole number is 0.
There is no largest whole number, because the numbers continue infinitely.
Whole numbers can be used in all basic operations like addition, subtraction (though
results may not always remain whole numbers if we subtract a bigger number from a
smaller one), multiplication, and division (except by zero).
They are represented on the number line, starting from 0 and moving to the right without
end.
Whole numbers play a very important role in mathematics as well as in real life. They are used in
counting objects, representing quantities, solving problems in arithmetic, and building the
foundation for other number systems such as integers, rational numbers, and real numbers.
In conclusion, whole numbers are simply natural numbers along with zero, forming the most
basic set of non-negative numbers that are essential for both daily life and advanced mathematics
Introduction to Integers
Integers are a set of numbers that include all positive numbers, all negative numbers, and
zero. In other words, integers extend the set of whole numbers by adding negative numbers to it.
Example: …, -5, -4, -3, -2, -1, 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, …
The set of integers is represented by ℤ.
👉 Key points:
Smallest integer does not exist, and largest integer also does not exist (they extend
infinitely in both directions).
Integers can be used for profit-loss, temperature rise and fall, bank balances, elevations
above and below sea level, etc.
They support all arithmetic operations but division may not always result in an integer.
2. Introduction to Fractions
Fractions are numbers that represent a part of a whole. A fraction is written in the form a/b,
where a is called the numerator and b (≠ 0) is called the denominator.
Example: 1/2, 3/4, 7/8, 5/3
Fractions are used when whole numbers are not sufficient to express a quantity, like half
a pizza or three-fourths of a glass of water.
👉 Types of Fractions:
Proper Fractions (numerator < denominator) → 3/4
Improper Fractions (numerator ≥ denominator) → 7/4
Mixed Fractions (combination of whole number and fraction) → 1 ¾
3. Introduction to Real Numbers
Real numbers are the collection of all numbers that can be placed on a number line. This set
includes natural numbers, whole numbers, integers, fractions, rational numbers, and irrational
numbers.
Example: -3, 0, 2, 5/2, √2, π, 4.75
The set of real numbers is represented by ℝ.
👉 Key points:
Real numbers can be positive, negative, fractions, decimals, or roots.
They are used in almost every branch of mathematics, science, and daily life.
Real numbers form the broadest set of numbers we generally use in school mathematics.
4. Introduction to Rational Numbers
Rational numbers are numbers that can be expressed in the form p/q, where p and q are
integers and q ≠ 0.
Example: 1/2, -3/4, 7, 0.25 (which is 1/4), -8 (which is -8/1)
Since rational numbers include integers, fractions, and terminating or repeating decimals,
they cover a very large set of numbers.
👉 Key points:
Every integer is a rational number because it can be written in the form p/1.
Rational numbers are dense on the number line (between any two rational numbers, there
exists another rational number).
5. Introduction to Irrational Numbers
Irrational numbers are numbers that cannot be expressed in the form p/q, where p and q are
integers and q ≠ 0. Their decimal expansions are non-terminating and non-repeating.
Example: √2, √3, π, e (Euler’s number)
👉 Key points:
Irrational numbers cannot be written as exact fractions.
They fill the “gaps” between rational numbers on the number line.
Together with rational numbers, they make up the set of real numbers.
✅ So in short:
Natural Numbers → 1, 2, 3…
Whole Numbers → 0, 1, 2, 3…
Integers → … -3, -2, -1, 0, 1, 2, 3…
Rational Numbers → p/q form, decimals that terminate or repeat
Irrational Numbers → decimals that never terminate or repeat (like √2, π)
Real Numbers → All of the above together.
