Mathematics Year 1 | Section 1: Number Sets - Detailed Notes
MATHEMATICS YEAR 1
SECTION 1: NUMBER SETS
Comprehensive Detailed Student Notes
Elaborated Edition — Following the Official Note-Taking Guide
Features: Clear definitions • Visual diagrams • Closure tables with examples • Step-by-step explanations •
Real-life applications • Complete answers to all Learning Tasks • Extra insights for deeper understanding
Mathematics is about understanding, not just memorising. Take time to think about WHY each
concept works.
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Mathematics Year 1 | Section 1: Number Sets - Detailed Notes
HOW TO USE THESE NOTES
These notes follow the official Note-Taking Guide exactly. Every section has been completed in clear language
with extra explanations, diagrams, and examples to help you truly understand the concepts. Read actively, draw
the diagrams yourself, and test the closure examples with your own numbers.
WEEK 1: THE REAL NUMBER SYSTEM
LEARNING INDICATOR
What does it mean to develop the real number system using the closure property?
We start with the simplest numbers (Natural) and check if operations (+, −, ×, ÷) keep results inside the set. If not, we
extend the set (add negatives → Integers; add fractions → Rationals; add non-repeating decimals → Reals). Closure
tells us when a number system is 'complete' for arithmetic.
What does it mean to distinguish between rational and irrational numbers?
Rational numbers can be written exactly as a ratio p/q (or have terminating/repeating decimals). Irrational numbers
cannot — their decimals never terminate and never repeat in a pattern. We identify them by trying to express as a
fraction or by examining the decimal expansion.
SECTION 1: WHAT ARE REAL NUMBERS?
Definition (in your own words): Real numbers are all numbers that can be placed on a number line —
every possible point with no gaps. They are the union of rational numbers (expressible as fractions) and irrational
numbers (non-repeating, non-terminating decimals). Real numbers are complete: between any two there are
infinitely many others.
Symbol: ■ (or R)
The 6 Main Subsets of the Real Number System
We build the real numbers step by step. Each new subset adds numbers the previous one lacked. The diagram
below shows the beautiful nested structure:
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Mathematics Year 1 | Section 1: Number Sets - Detailed Notes
Figure 1: Hierarchy of Real Number Subsets (N ⊂ W ⊂ Z ⊂ Q ⊂ R)
1. Natural Numbers (N) — Positive counting numbers starting from 1. Symbol: ■ = {1, 2, 3, ...}. Examples: 5
apples, 7 days, 25 students. They are the foundation but lack 0 and negatives.
2. Whole Numbers (W) — Natural numbers plus zero. Symbol: W = {0, 1, 2, ...}. Useful for 'nothing' or zero
quantities. Still cannot handle debts or temperatures below zero.
3. Integers (Z) — Whole numbers plus negatives. Symbol: ■ (from German 'Zahlen'). Examples: -5°C, overdraft
of $12, +8. First set closed under subtraction.
4. Rational Numbers (Q) — Numbers expressible as p/q (q ≠ 0). Symbol: ■ (from 'quotient'). Includes all
previous subsets plus fractions and terminating/repeating decimals. Very powerful for calculations.
5. Irrational Numbers (Q') — Cannot be written as p/q. Decimals are non-terminating and non-repeating.
Examples: √2 (diagonal of unit square), π (circle constant), e. They fill the gaps left by rationals.
6. Real Numbers (R) — Union of all rationals and irrationals. Every point on the number line. Closed under all
four arithmetic operations (except division by zero).
SECTION 2: THE SUBSETS OF REAL NUMBERS (Detailed)
For each subset: Definition • Symbol • Examples • Relation to others
Natural Numbers (N)
Definition: Positive integers used for counting discrete objects, starting at 1.
Examples: 1 (one book), 12 (months), 365 (days in a year).
Relation: N ⊂ W. Smallest and most basic subset.
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Mathematics Year 1 | Section 1: Number Sets - Detailed Notes
Whole Numbers (W)
Definition: Natural numbers including zero (for 'nothing').
Examples: 0 (no goals), 10 (books), 100 (people).
Relation: W ⊂ Z. Adds zero but still no negatives.
Integers (Z)
Definition: All whole numbers and their negatives.
Examples: -273 (absolute zero approx.), -7 (floors below ground), 42.
Relation: Z ⊂ Q. Every integer n = n/1 (rational). Closed under subtraction.
Rational Numbers (Q)
Definition: Any number p/q where p, q are integers, q ≠ 0.
Examples: 3/4, -5/2, 0.75, 0.333... = 1/3, 2 = 2/1.
Relation: Z ⊂ Q ⊂ R. Includes all previous + fractions/decimals.
Irrational Numbers (Q')
Definition: Real numbers that cannot be expressed as p/q. Non-terminating, non-repeating decimals.
Examples: √2 ≈ 1.414213562..., π ≈ 3.1415926535..., √3, e ≈ 2.71828...
Relation: Disjoint from Q but their union with Q is all of R.
Real Numbers (R)
Definition: All numbers on the number line (rationals + irrationals).
Relation: Q ∪ Q' = R and Q ∩ Q' = ∅ (empty intersection).
SECTION 3: UNDERSTANDING THE CLOSURE PROPERTY
Definition (in your own words): A set S is closed under an operation if performing that operation on any two
elements of S always produces another element still in S. Closure guarantees we can stay inside the number
system during calculations — essential for algebra and solving equations.
Why Closure Matters
Natural numbers are not closed under subtraction (3 − 5 = −2, not natural) → we invented negative numbers
(Integers). Integers are not closed under division (5 ÷ 2 = 2.5, not integer) → we invented fractions (Rationals).
Even rationals miss some lengths (diagonal of square = √2) → we need irrationals to complete the reals. Real
numbers are closed under +, −, ×, ÷ (except ÷0).
Closure Table: Whole Numbers (W)
Operation Closed? Example that Proves It Explanation
Addition (+) Yes (Closed) 7 + 5 = 12 (12 is whole) Sum of non-negative integers is
non-negative integer.
Subtraction (−) No 3 − 8 = −5 (−5 not whole) Result can be negative. Need integers.
Multiplication (×) Yes (Closed) 4 × 6 = 24 (24 is whole) Product of whole numbers is whole.
Division (÷) No 7 ÷ 2 = 3.5 (not whole) Often gives fraction or non-whole result.
Closure Table: Integers (Z)
Operation Closed? Example that Proves It Explanation
Addition (+) Yes (−4) + 7 = 3 (integer) Sum of integers is always integer.
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Mathematics Year 1 | Section 1: Number Sets - Detailed Notes
Operation Closed? Example that Proves It Explanation
Subtraction (−) Yes 5 − (−3) = 8 (integer) Difference of integers is integer. This is
why integers exist!
Multiplication (×) Yes (−6) × (−7) = 42 (integer) Product of integers is integer.
Division (÷) No 9 ÷ 4 = 2.25 (not integer) Result often a fraction (rational but not
integer).
Closure Table: Rational Numbers (Q)
Operation Closed? Example that Proves It Explanation
Addition (+) Yes 2/3 + 1/6 = 5/6 (rational) Sum of fractions is always a fraction.
Subtraction (−) Yes 3/4 − 1/2 = 1/4 (rational) Difference of fractions is a fraction.
Multiplication (×) Yes 2/5 × 3/7 = 6/35 (rational) Product of fractions is a fraction.
Division (÷) Yes* 3/4 ÷ 2/5 = 15/8 (rational) *Non-zero divisor. Quotient of fractions is
fraction.
Closure Table: Real Numbers (R)
Operation Closed? Example that Proves It Explanation
Addition (+) Yes √2 + π is real Sum of any two reals is real.
Subtraction (−) Yes π − √2 is real Difference of reals is real.
Multiplication (×) Yes √2 × π is real Product of reals is real.
Division (÷) Yes* π ÷ √2 is real *Non-zero divisor. Reals are closed under
all four operations.
Key Insight: Real numbers are the smallest set closed under all four operations that also contains all numbers needed
for continuous measurement and geometry (including π and √2).
SECTION 4: REAL-LIFE APPLICATIONS OF REAL NUMBERS
Real numbers (and their subsets) appear everywhere. Here are expanded examples for each area:
1. Measuring and Distance
• Airspeed (850 km/h) — rational (precise models may involve irrationals)
• Rainfall (127.5 mm) — rational
• Wind speed (45.3 km/h) — rational; forecasting models use square roots and π
2. Finance and Business
• Loan payments ($345.67) — rational decimals
• Insurance premiums and claims — rational arithmetic + percentages
• Utility bills (248.6 kWh) — rational
3. Medicine and Health
• Heart rate (72 bpm) — natural/whole
• Temperature (37.4 °C) — rational (precise instruments give many decimals)
• Blood pressure readings — rational thresholds for diagnosis
4. Transport and Vehicles
• Fuel (42.7 litres) — rational
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Mathematics Year 1 | Section 1: Number Sets - Detailed Notes
• Speedometer (87.4 km/h) — real number display
• Trip computer distances — rational or irrational depending on path
5. Identification and Coding
• House numbers (47) — natural
• Student index numbers — natural/integer
• Phone numbers — treated as large integers or strings
6. Computing and Technology
• Programming: integers for counts, floats (rational approximations) for graphics/physics
• Binary uses 0 and 1 (integers)
• Algorithms often approximate irrationals (π, √2) with high-precision rationals
7. Agriculture
• Crop yield (4.85 tonnes/ha) — rational
• Fertilizer (125.75 kg) — rational
• Circular irrigation areas use π (irrational in exact calculations)
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Mathematics Year 1 | Section 1: Number Sets - Detailed Notes
WEEK 2: DISTINGUISHING RATIONAL AND IRRATIONAL
NUMBERS
LEARNING INDICATOR
Distinguishing means determining whether a number is rational (can be written as p/q or has terminating/repeating
decimal) or irrational (cannot be written as p/q; decimal is non-terminating and non-repeating). The most practical tool
is examining the decimal expansion after performing long division.
SECTION 1: WHAT ARE RATIONAL NUMBERS?
Definition: Numbers that can be expressed as a ratio p/q where p and q are integers and q ≠ 0. The word
'rational' comes from 'ratio'. Every rational number has a decimal that either terminates or eventually repeats in a
fixed pattern.
Forms Rational Numbers Can Take (with Examples)
1. Fractions: 3/4, 7/2, −5/6, 22/7 (good approximation to π but rational)
2. Percentages: 25% = 1/4, 12.5% = 1/8, 33.333...% = 1/3
3. Terminating Decimals: 0.5 = 1/2, 0.25 = 1/4, 0.125 = 1/8, 0.0625 = 1/16 (denominators with only 2 and 5 as
prime factors)
4. Recurring (Repeating) Decimals: 0.333... = 1/3, 0.142857142857... = 1/7 (famous 6-digit cycle), 0.090909...
= 1/11
5. Non-terminating but repeating: All non-terminating rationals eventually repeat.
SECTION 2: WHAT ARE IRRATIONAL NUMBERS?
Definition: Numbers that cannot be expressed as p/q for any integers p, q (q ≠ 0). Their decimal expansions
continue forever without ever repeating any block of digits.
Examples with Why They Are Irrational
1. Square roots of non-perfect squares: √2, √3, √5, √6, √7, √8 = 2√2. If √2 were rational (p/q in lowest terms),
then p² = 2q² would imply both p and q are even — contradiction. Same logic applies to other non-perfect
squares.
2. Pi (π): ≈ 3.141592653589793... Ratio of circumference to diameter of any circle. Proven irrational in 1761. We
use rational approximations like 22/7 or 355/113 in calculations.
3. Other famous irrationals: e ≈ 2.718281828... (base of natural log, appears in growth/compound interest),
Golden ratio φ = (1 + √5)/2 ≈ 1.61803... (appears in nature, art, Fibonacci).
SECTION 3: CONVERTING FRACTIONS TO DECIMALS
Perform long division and watch for repeating remainders.
1/3 → 0.333... (recurring, rational)
5/3 → 1.666... (recurring, rational)
9/11 → 0.818181... = 0.■1■8 (period 2, rational)
22/7 → 3.142857142857... = 3.■142857 (period 6, rational — excellent approximation to π but not equal)
SECTION 4: IDENTIFYING RECURRING AND NON-RECURRING DECIMALS
Recurring (Repeating) Decimals: A digit or block repeats indefinitely. Notation: dot over repeating part or bar.
Examples: 0.■3 = 1/3, 0.■142857 = 1/7, 0.■09 = 1/11. All rational.
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Mathematics Year 1 | Section 1: Number Sets - Detailed Notes
Non-recurring Non-terminating Decimals: Continue forever with no repeating pattern. Irrational. Examples: π
= 3.1415926535... (no repeat), √2 = 1.41421356237... (no repeat), e = 2.718281828... (no repeat).
Terminating Decimals: End after finite digits (can add infinite zeros). Examples: 0.5 = 0.5000... = 1/2, 0.25 =
1/4, 0.375 = 3/8. All rational.
Rule: A fraction in lowest terms has terminating decimal iff denominator's prime factors are only 2 and/or 5.
SECTION 5: REPRESENTING IRRATIONAL NUMBERS ON A NUMBER LINE
Figure 2: Number Line — Black ticks are integers/rationals; red/green mark irrationals (√2, √3, π)
Method 1: Wheel (Spiral) of Theodorus
Figure 3: Wheel of Theodorus — Geometric construction of √n lengths (irrational when n not perfect square)
Steps: 1. Start with right triangle legs 1 and 1 → hypotenuse √2.
2. Attach new leg of length 1 perpendicular to previous hypotenuse.
3. New hypotenuse = √(previous² + 1) = √(n + 1).
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Mathematics Year 1 | Section 1: Number Sets - Detailed Notes
4. Repeat. When n is not a perfect square, the length is irrational.
Discovery: This geometrically proves irrationals exist and can be constructed with compass and straightedge.
Method 2 & 3: Right Triangles + Number Line Approximation
For √2: Isosceles right triangle with legs = 1. Hypotenuse = √2. Place on number line from 0.
For √3: Right triangle with legs 1 and √2 → hypotenuse √3.
Approximate positions: √2 ≈ 1.414 (between 1 and 2), √3 ≈ 1.732, π ≈ 3.142 (between 3 and 4).
SECTION 6: REAL-WORLD APPLICATIONS OF RATIONAL AND IRRATIONAL
Rational Numbers: Loan payments, exam scores (87.5/100), dividing pizza (1/2, 1/3), interest rates (5.25%),
discounts (20% = ×0.8), sports averages.
Irrational Numbers: Circle areas (πr²), diagonals (√2), trigonometry (sin 45° = √2/2), engineering (circular
structures, wheels), technology (graphics rotations, signal processing), nature (golden ratio in plants).
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Mathematics Year 1 | Section 1: Number Sets - Detailed Notes
WEEK 3: PROPERTIES OF SUBSETS (Set Theory)
LEARNING INDICATOR
Understanding subsets means knowing how sets relate through inclusion and being able to perform operations (union,
intersection, complement, difference). These tools help organise information, solve counting problems (surveys,
preferences), and model real-life categories.
SECTION 1: WHAT ARE SUBSETS?
Subset (A ⊆ B): Every element of A is also in B.
Proper Subset (A ⊂ B): A ⊆ B but A ≠ B (at least one element in B is missing from A).
Examples of Subsets: {1,3,5} ⊆ {1,2,3,4,5}; {red, blue} ⊆ {colours of rainbow}.
Examples of Proper Subsets: {1,2} ⊂ {1,2,3}; Natural ⊂ Whole; Integers ⊂ Rational.
The empty set ∅ is a proper subset of every set except itself.
Number Sets Relation: N ⊂ W ⊂ Z ⊂ Q ⊂ R (all proper inclusions).
SECTION 2: OPERATIONS WITH SETS
1. Union (∪) — Elements in A or B or both. Example: {1,2,3} ∪ {3,4,5} = {1,2,3,4,5}. Diagram: Shade both circles
completely.
2. Intersection (∩) — Elements in both A and B. Example: {1,2,3} ∩ {3,4,5} = {3}. Diagram: Shade only the
overlapping lens.
3. Complement (A') — Elements in universal set U but not in A. Example: U={1..10}, A={2,4,6,8,10} →
A'={1,3,5,7,9}. Diagram: Big rectangle U, circle A, shade everything outside A.
4. Difference (A − B) — Elements in A but not in B. Example: {1,2,3,4} − {2,4} = {1,3}. Diagram: Shade A, then
remove overlap with B.
SECTION 3: VENN DIAGRAMS AND THREE SETS
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Mathematics Year 1 | Section 1: Number Sets - Detailed Notes
Figure 4: Three-Set Venn Diagram Example (Survey of 60 students' favourite subjects)
Worked Example (from diagram):
Total students = 60. Like at least one subject = 12+8+10+5+6+4+7 = 52. Like none = 8.
Like Mathematics = 12 + 5 + 6 + 7 = 30.
Like exactly two subjects = 5 + 6 + 4 = 15.
Like all three = 7.
SECTION 4: DE MORGAN’S LAW
Law 1: (A ∪ B)' = A' ∩ B' (complement of union = intersection of complements)
Law 2: (A ∩ B)' = A' ∪ B' (complement of intersection = union of complements)
These laws are powerful for simplifying expressions and appear in logic (NOT (A OR B) = NOT A AND NOT B).
Numerical Proof (Law 1): U = {1..8}, A = {1,2,3,4,5}, B = {4,5,6,7}
A ∪ B = {1..7} → (A ∪ B)' = {8}
A' = {6,7,8}, B' = {1,2,3,8} → A' ∩ B' = {8}. Equal!
SECTION 5 & 6: SOLVING WORD PROBLEMS + LEARNING TASKS (Expanded)
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Mathematics Year 1 | Section 1: Number Sets - Detailed Notes
Figure 5: Two-Set Venn Diagram showing Union and Intersection with example
More on Set Operations with Detailed Examples
Union (A ∪ B): 'Or' — everything in A, everything in B, and the overlap counted once. Real-life: Students who
like Math or Science (including those who like both). Formula for counting: |A ∪ B| = |A| + |B| − |A ∩ B|
(inclusion-exclusion principle).
Intersection (A ∩ B): 'And' — only what is common to both. Real-life: Students who like both Math and
Science. Very useful for finding overlap in surveys.
Complement (A'): Everything outside A (in the universal set). Real-life: Students who do not like Math at all.
Often used with 'none of the above'.
Difference (A − B): What is in A but not in B. Real-life: Students who like Math but do not like Science. Note: A
− B is not the same as B − A (order matters).
How to Solve Three-Set Word Problems (Step-by-Step Method)
1. Draw three overlapping circles and label them (e.g. M, E, S).
2. Start from the centre (all three) and work outwards.
3. Fill 'only two' regions next, then 'only one' regions.
4. Calculate 'none' last: Total − (sum of all regions inside the circles).
5. Answer questions using the regions: 'at least one' = sum of all inside regions; 'exactly two' = sum of the three
'only two' regions, etc.
Extra Worked Three-Set Problem
In a group of 100 people:
• 45 read Newspaper A, 30 read B, 25 read C
• 10 read A and B, 8 read A and C, 5 read B and C
• 3 read all three
Solution (filling Venn regions from inside out):
All three = 3
A and B only = 10 − 3 = 7
A and C only = 8 − 3 = 5
B and C only = 5 − 3 = 2
Only A = 45 − (7 + 5 + 3) = 30
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Mathematics Year 1 | Section 1: Number Sets - Detailed Notes
Only B = 30 − (7 + 2 + 3) = 18
Only C = 25 − (5 + 2 + 3) = 15
None = 100 − (30 + 18 + 15 + 7 + 5 + 2 + 3) = 20
Questions: How many read at least one? 80. How many read exactly two? 7 + 5 + 2 = 14. How many read A or
B? 30 + 18 + 15? Wait — use formula or regions: Only A + Only B + A&B; only + A&C; only + B&C; only + all
three.
De Morgan’s Laws — Deeper Explanation with Shading Logic
Law 1: (A ∪ B)' = A' ∩ B'
Left side: The complement of the union is the area outside both circles.
Right side: A' is everything outside A; B' is everything outside B. Their intersection is exactly the area outside
both.
Therefore the two sides describe the identical region — the law is proven visually.
Law 2 works the same way: the area outside the overlap (A ∩ B)' is the same as everything not in A or not in B
(A' ∪ B').
These laws are extremely useful in logic circuits, database queries, and simplifying complicated set expressions.
More Learning Task Style Practice (with Answers)
Practice 1: Draw a Venn diagram for Natural, Whole, Integers, Rational, Real (use nested circles as in Figure 1).
Practice 2: In a class of 50, 30 play football, 25 play basketball, 15 play both. How many play only football? Only
basketball? At least one sport? Neither?
Answer: Only football = 30−15=15; Only basketball=25−15=10; At least one=30+25−15=40; Neither=50−40=10.
Practice 3: Explain why (A ∪ B ∪ C)' = A' ∩ B' ∩ C' (extension of De Morgan).
Answer: Not (A or B or C) = not A and not B and not C. The area outside all three circles.
Learning Task Answers (Full Version)
1. Venn/flow chart: See Figure 1 — nested ellipses showing N inside W inside Z inside Q inside R, with
irrationals in the remaining part of R.
2. Whole numbers: Closed under + and × (examples in table). Not closed under − (3−5=−2 not whole) or ÷ (8÷3
not whole).
3. Integers: Closed under +, −, ×. Not closed under ÷ (example: 7÷2=3.5 not integer).
4. Real numbers: Closed under all four operations (with the single exception of division by zero, which is
undefined in all number systems).
5. Three real-life situations:
a) Counting apples at the market → Natural Numbers (positive counting, no zero or negatives needed).
b) Checking bank balance that can go negative (overdraft) → Integers (and Rational for the cents).
c) Calculating the exact area of a round table using πr² → Irrational numbers (π is irrational; the exact area
cannot be written as a simple fraction).
SUMMARY — KEY POINTS CHECKLIST
✓ Definitions of all 6 subsets with examples & relations
✓ Hierarchy diagram (Figure 1)
✓ Closure tables with proof examples for W, Z, Q, R
✓ Real-life applications in 7+ areas
✓ Rational vs Irrational definitions, forms, and decimal identification
✓ Fraction-to-decimal conversions with reasoning
✓ Wheel of Theodorus + Number line diagrams (Figures 2 & 3)
✓ Subsets, proper subsets, and all set operations
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Mathematics Year 1 | Section 1: Number Sets - Detailed Notes
✓ Three-set Venn diagram with full calculations (Figure 4)
✓ De Morgan’s Laws with proof
✓ Complete answers to all Learning Tasks
✓ Personal real-life examples of each number type
Well done! You now have comprehensive, exam-ready notes for Section 1: Number Sets.
Review regularly, practise drawing the diagrams from memory, and always ask 'why?' —
understanding the reasons makes mathematics much easier and more enjoyable.
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