Every day we group or sort things; putting things in their proper place.
Jenn, Founder Calcworkshop®, 15+ Years Experience (Licensed & Certified Teacher)
I’m sure your kitchen has a designated place for silverware, cups, bowls, plates, etc., and in your bedroom I’m confident there is a closet and/or dresser were you sort your clothes and accessories.
Well guess what, we do the same thing in mathematics when it comes to numbers: Number Sets!
A set is a specifically defined collection of distinct elements, as Think Zone nicely states.
For example, the Alphabet is a set of letters, and your class contains a specific set of students.
Number Sets are sets of numbers that have the same characteristics, and this lesson is going to show you how to sort or categorize numbers into their appropriate sets.
Mathematical Number Sets
- Natural Numbers are nothing more than your counting numbers: 1, 2, 3, …
- Whole Numbers are your counting numbers but it also includes zero: 0, 1, 2, 3, …
- Integers are the Natural Numbers and their opposites, or negatives: …-3, -2, -1, 0, 1, 2, 3…
- Rational Numbers are Integers that can be expressed as terminating or repeating decimal (i.e, simple fraction).
- Irrational Numbers are numbers that cannot be written as a simple fraction because their decimals never terminate or repeat.
- Real Numbers are all the numbers on the Number Line and include all the Rational and Irrational Numbers
- Complex Numbers are the set of Real Numbers and Imaginary Numbers.
Number Lines
Once we are able to classify numbers into their appropriate Number Sets, it is important to be able to place them on the Number Line.
Understanding the Real Number Line
Why?
Being able to visually see where a number is in relation to other numbers that are similar or different is an important tool in estimating and also when finding opposites or comparing numbers.
Moreover, as Math is Fun so accurately points out,
Number Lines can help us in adding or subtracting numbers and also in finding Absolute Value.
Together we will walk through countless examples of how to classify numbers into Number Sets, place numbers on a Number Line, find Opposites and Absolute Value of numbers and how to Compare Numbers.
Real Numbers Explained – Video
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