The Number System
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The Number System
zero
Natural Numbers
N = {1, 2, 3, }
{0}
Whole Numbers
Negative Integers
W = { 0, 1, 2, 3, } { -1, -2, -3, }
Integers
Z = { , -3, -2, -1, 0, 1, 2, 3,
Fractions
} eg, 12 , 85 , 173 ,...
Rational
Numbers
a
Irrational Numbers
Q = { : a Z, b Z, b 0}
b
Real Numbers Imaginary numbers
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Complex numbers2
The Number System
The number system has
developed as a result of
human activities and needs.
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The Number System
Natural Numbers
N = {1, 2, 3, }
Big Numbers
The sum of two natural numbers is a natural number.
For example, 5 + 12 = 17
The product of two natural numbers is a natural number.
For example, 4 7 = 28
The set N is closed under the addition and multiplication.
If a N, b N,
then
and
(a + b) N,
(a b) N.
But N is not closed under subtraction and division.
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The Number System
Natural Numbers
zero
N = {1, 2, 3, }
{0}
Negative Integers
Whole Numbers
W = { 0, 1, 2, 3, }
{ -1, -2, -3, }
Integers
Z = { , -3, -2, -1, 0, 1, 2, 3, }
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The Number System
Integers
Z = { , -3, -2, -1, 0, 1, 2, 3, }
Z is closed under addition, subtraction and multiplication.
If a Z, b Z,
then
and
(a+b) Z,
(a-b) Z,
(ab) Z.
Verify these using
specific examples.
But Z is not closed under division.
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The Number System
zero
Natural Numbers
{0}
N = {1, 2, 3, }
Whole Numbers
W = { 0, 1, 2, 3, }
Negative Integers
{ -1, -2, -3, }
Integers
Z = { , -3, -2, -1, 0, 1, 2, 3, }
Fractions
eg, 1 , 5 , 17 ,...
2
8 3
Rational Numbers
a
Q = { : a Z, b Z, b 0 }
b
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The Number System
Rational Numbers
a
Q = { : a Z, b Z, b 0}
b
The set of rational numbers is closed under
addition, subtraction, multiplication & division
except division by 0.
Verify these using
If x Q, y Q, then
and
specific examples.
(x+y) Q,
(x-y) Q,
(xy) Q,
(xy) Q, except when y = 0.
What happens when an integer is divided by 0?
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The Number System
Are all numbers rational numbers?
a
Can all numbers be expressed in the form
b
where a and b are integers?
The answer is No.
A lot of numbers cannot be expressed as
a quotient of two integers.
These are irrational numbers.
Examples of irrational numbers include surds, , e,
Surds are roots that
cannot be expressed
2 , 3 , 5 ,...
as exact numbers or
fractions. The Number System
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Natural Numbers
N = {1, 2, 3, }
zero
{0}
Whole Numbers
Negative Integers
W = { 0, 1, 2, 3, } { -1, -2, -3, }
Fractions
Z = { , -3, -2, -1, 0, 1, 2, 3, } eg, 1 , 5 , 17 ,...
Integers
8 3
Rational Numbers
Irrational
a
Q = { : a Z, b Z, b 0} Numbers
Real Numbers R
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The Number System
10
The set of real numbers consists of
rational numbers and irrational numbers.
On the number line,
each point represents a real number.
1
2
60
2
-4
-3 -2
3
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-1
1 2 2
25
6
4
5
The Number System
11
Rational numbers
When a rational number is expressed in decimal form,
the decimal number
either (i) terminates after a fixed number of places,
or (ii) recurs.
Example:
Examples:
0.333... 0.3
3
1
0.125
8
5
0.185185... 0.1 85
27
Irrational numbers
Infinite decimals that do not have any pattern
in their digits.
How about ? 2 ?
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The Number System
12
Do the real numbers satisfy all our needs?
Consider the equation x2 + 4 = 0.
Solving it gives:
x2 = - 4
or
x=
But there isnt any real number that
when multiplied by itself give a negative product.
So this is a new kind of number,
called imaginary number.
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The Number System
13
zero
Natural Numbers
N = {1, 2, 3, }
{0}
Whole Numbers
Negative Integers
W = { 0, 1, 2, 3, } { -1, -2, -3, }
Integers
Z = { , -3, -2, -1, 0, 1, 2, 3,
Fractions
} eg, 12 , 85 , 173 ,...
Rational
Numbers
a
Irrational Numbers
Q = { : a Z, b Z, b 0}
b
Real Numbers R Imaginary numbers
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Complex numbers14 C
The Number System
That was a simple overview of the number system.
There are many other kinds of numbers,
or subsets of these sets, that are of interest
in mathematics.
Find out about:
odd & even numbers
prime numbers
transcendental numbers
transfinite numbers
triangular numbers
perfect numbers
And many more
01/11/15
Have a good time
The
Number System
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