NUMBER SYSTEM
The numbers can be classified into sets known as the number system. The different types
of numbers in maths are:
Natural Numbers: Natural numbers are known as counting numbers that contain the
positive integers from 1 to infinity. The set of natural numbers is denoted as “N” and it
includes N = {1, 2, 3, 4, 5, ……….}
Whole Numbers: Whole numbers are known as non-negative integers and it does not
include any fractional or decimal part. It is denoted as “W” and the set of whole numbers
includes W = {0,1, 2, 3, 4, 5, ……….}
Integers: Integers are the set of all whole numbers but it includes a negative set of
natural numbers also. “Z” represents integers and the set of integers are Z = { -3, -2, -1, 0,
1, 2, 3}
All numbers which do not have the decimal place in them are known as integers. 𝑍 = {–
∞…….–3, –2, –1, 0, 1, 2, 3………+∞}. Positive Integers: 1,2,3,4….. are the set of all
positive integers. Negative Integers: −1,−2,−3….. are the set of all the negative integers.
Non-Positive and Non-Negative Integer: 0 is neither the positive integer nor the negative
integer.
Real Numbers: All the positive and negative integers, fractional and decimal numbers
without imaginary numbers are called real numbers. It is represented by the symbol “R”.
of /𝑞, where 𝑝 and 𝑞 are co-prime integers and 𝑞≠0. It is denoted by ‘Q’
Rational Numbers: Rational numbers are the numbers that are expressed in the form
Irrational numbers
p
A number’s is called irrational , if it cannot be written in the form where p and q are
q
integers and q≠ 0
Property of irrational numbers: The decimal expansion of an irrational number is non-
terminating non-recurring. Moreover, a number whose decimal expansion is non-
terminating non-recurring is irrational.
Some examples of irrational numbers are √ 2 , √3 , √5 , √ 6 , √ 7 , √15 , √ π ,
0.10110111011110…., √ 2 , √3 , √3 4 , … etc
3 3
There are so many irrational numbers that cannot be written in the form 𝑝𝑞, and some of
the examples are √8,√11,√50 and Euler’s number 𝑒=2.718281….., Golden
ratio 𝜑=1.618034…...
Prime Numbers: Prime numbers are the numbers that have two factors only. (i.e.,) 1 and
the number itself. In other words, the number which is divisible by 1 and the number
itself is called prime numbers. For example, 2, 3, 5, 7, 11, etc. Note ; ( 0,1) are not prime
numbers.
Composite Numbers: A composite number is a number that has more than two factors.
For example, 4 is a composite number, as the number 4 is divisible by 1, 2, and 4. Other
examples of composite numbers are 6, 8, 9, 10, and so on.
Frequently Asked Questions – FAQs
Q1 Natural numbers start with?
Ans: Always natural numbers start with 1 i.e., 1, 2, 3 and so on
Q2 Is 0 a natural number?
Ans: 0 cannot be a natural number because natural numbers start with 1, 2, 3 and so on
Q3 Whole numbers start with?
Ans: Always whole numbers start with 0 i.e., 0, 1, 2, 3 and so on
Q4 Is 0 a whole number?
Ans: 0 is a whole number because whole numbers start with 0, 1, 2, 3 and so on.
Q5 3 is a whole number or a natural number?
Ans: 3 is both a whole number as well as a natural number.
[Link] in the blanks:
(a) 1 lakh = _______ ten thousand.
(b) 1 million = _______ hundred thousand.
(c) 1 crore = _______ ten lakh.
(d) 1 crore = _______ million.
(e) 1 million = _______ lakh.
1. Find each of the following products:
(a) 3 × (–1) (b) (–1) × 225 (c) (–21) × (–30) (d) (–316) × (–1)
2. Verify the following:
(a) 18 × [7 + (–3)] = [18 × 7] + [18 × (–3)]
(b) (–21) × [(– 4) + (– 6)] = [(–21) × (– 4)] + [(–21) × (– 6)]
3. Replace the blank with an integer to make it a true statement.
(a) (–3) × _____ = 27
(b) 5 × _____ = –35
4. Evaluate each of the following:
(a) (–30) ÷ 10 (c) [(–36) ÷ 12] ÷ 3
5. Verify that a ÷ (b + c) ≠ (a ÷ b) + (a ÷ c) for each of the following values of a, b and c.
(a) a = 12, b = – 4, c = 2 (b) a = (–10), b = 1, c = 1
6. Fill in the blanks:
(a) 369 ÷ _____ = 369 (b) (–75) ÷ _____ = –1 (c) (–206) ÷ _____ = 1
The role of 1
for any rational number a, a × 1 = 1 × a = a. We say that 1 is the multiplicative identity
for rational numbers.
Is 1 the multiplicative identity for integers? For whole numbers?
Negative of a number , for a rational number a /b , we have, a/b - a/b = (-a/b) + a/b =0 .
We say that a/ b is the additive inverse of a/b and a/b is the additive inverse of a/ b .
Reciprocal We say that a rational number c/ d is called the reciprocal or multiplicative
inverse of another non-zero rational number a /b if (a /c ) × (b /d)=1
Rational Numbers between Two Rational Numbers
Example 1 : Find five rational numbers between 1 and 2.
r +s
Solution 1 : to find a rational number between r and s, that is lies between r and s.
2
3 7 4 3 5 11
So, is a number between 1 and 2. Proceeding in this manner, we find , , , ,,
2 6 3 2 3 6
or
6 12 7 8 9 10 11
We write , 1 = and 2 = . Then, , , , ,, and are all rational numbers
6 6 6 6 6 6 6
7 4 3 5 11
between 1 and 2. So, the five numbers are . , , , ,,
6 3 2 3 6
Summary
[Link] numbers are closed under the operations of addition, subtraction and
multiplication.
2. The operations addition and multiplication are
(i) commutative for rational numbers. (ii) associative for rational numbers.
3. The rational number 0 is the additive identity for rational numbers.
4. The rational number 1 is the multiplicative identity for rational numbers.
5. The additive inverse of the rational number a b is a b and vice-versa.
a a c
6. The reciprocal or multiplicative inverse of the rational number if × =1.
b b d
7. Distributivity of rational numbers: For all rational numbers a, b and c, a(b + c) = ab +
ac and a(b – c) = ab – ac
8. Rational numbers can be represented on a number line.
9. Between any two given rational numbers there are countless rational numbers. The
idea of mean helps us to find rational numbers between two rational numbers.
−7 21
Exercise: [Link] the additive inverse of the following: (i) (ii)
19 112
7 −7 7 −7
Solution: (i) is the additive inverse of because +¿ =0
19 19 19 19
21 −21
(ii) The additive inverse of is
112 112
Write.
(i) The rational number that does not have a reciprocal.
(ii) The rational numbers that are equal to their reciprocals.
(iii) The rational number that is equal to its negative.
2. Fill in the blanks.
(i) Zero has no reciprocal.
(ii) The numbers 1 and are their -1 own reciprocals
−1
(iii) The reciprocal of – 5 is
5
1
(iv) Reciprocal of is x, where x 0
x
(v) The product of two rational numbers is always a rational
(vi) The reciprocal of a positive rational number is positive.
3 : Are the following statements true or false? Give reasons for your answers.
(i) Every whole number is a natural number.
(ii) Every integer is a rational number.
(iii) Every rational number is an integer.
Solution : (i) False, because zero is a whole number but not a natural number.
1
(ii) True, because every integer m can be expressed in the form , where m≠0 and so it
m
is a rational number
3
(iii) False, because is not an integer.
5