MTE3101

Knowing Numbers

Topic 2 Elementary Number Theory

2.1 Synopsis

This topic covers different number systems and focusses on the definition of number
systems, classifications within the set of real numbers and number representation. The
number systems referred to in this topic concentrates on Real Numbers that includes the
set of Natural Numbers, Whole Numbers, Integers, Rational Numbers and Irrational
Numbers.

2.2 Learning Outcomes

1. Generate one set of numbers to another set of numbers.

2. Characterise natural, rational, irrational and real numbers.

2.3 Conceptual Framework

Real
Numbers

Rational Irrational
Natural Whole Numbers
Integers Numbers
Numbers Numbers

2.4 Number Systems

Number theory is one of the oldest branches of pure mathematics and focusses on the
study of natural numbers. Arithmetic is taught in schools where children begin with
learning numbers and number operations. The first set of numbers encountered by children
is the set of counting numbers or natural numbers.

In mathematics, a number system is a set of numbers. As mentioned earlier, children

begin by studying the natural numbers: 1,2,3, ... with the four basic operations of addition,
subtraction, multiplication and division. Later, whole numbers 0,1,2, .... are introduced,
followed by integers including the negative numbers. The next step will include rational
numbers and irrational numbers. In short, examples of number systems covered in this
topic include natural numbers, whole numbers, integers, rational numbers, irrational
numbers and real numbers

18
 MTE3101
Knowing Numbers

By studying the Number Systems it will help you to understand better the Elementary
Number Theory in the next topic about Prime Numbers. Questions on divisibility, the use of
the Euclidean algorithm to compute greatest common divisors, integer factorizations into
prime numbers, and number recreations such as Fibonacci numbers are included in the
next topic which will be delivered to you face-to-face.

2.4.1 Definition

To be good mathematics teachers, we need to possess a sound knowledge on different

number systems at our fingertips. Knowing how to define the various sets of numbers
within the real number system is therefore an absolute MUST!

 Real Numbers

Let’s begin by defining real numbers. Try and answer the following question.

What is a real number?

A real number refers to any number that you would expect to find on the number line. It is a
number whose name will be the "address" of a point on the number line. Its absolute value
will name the distance of that point from 0. Real numbers contain all the rational numbers
(which are the infinite repeating decimals, positive, negative and zero) together with a new
set of numbers called the irrational numbers. In other words, the set of real numbers is the
set of all numbers that have an infinite decimal representation.

In schools, counting numbers are taught first, followed by whole numbers, fractions and
integers. The relationship among these sets is illustrated below.

Fractions

Counting Numbers
Whole Numbers
(Natural numbers)

Integers

Each arrow represents “is a subset of”, for example, the set of counting numbers is a
subset of the set of whole numbers, and so on. Subsequently, both the fractions and
integers extend the system of whole numbers.

19
 MTE3101
Knowing Numbers

The diagram in the previous page can be extended to include the set of rational numbers
as follows:

Fractions
Counting Whole Rational
Numbers Numbers Numbers

Integers

Let’s revise by considering the following definitions for the different sets of numbers
summarised in the table below. The definitions are written using set notation. The { }
symbols, called braces indicate the closing and opening of a set or collection of numbers.
The three dots after the three indicate that the pattern continues.

Definition of sets of numbers

Names Sets Notes and examples

Natural
{1, 2, 3, . . .} Represents all the counting numbers beginning with 1
numbers
Whole
{0, 1, 2 , 3, . . .} Starts with zero plus all natural numbers
numbers
Integers {0, ±1, ±2, ±3,. . .} Includes negative, 0 and positive whole numbers
Read as a fraction p over q, where p and q are both integers,
q≠0 .
p Rational numbers can be written in decimal form, but they
Rational { | p and q
q always either end or repeat (recur). Examples include:
numbers
are integers,
q≠0}

{x | x is a Examples include:
Irrational
nonrepeating and
numbers
nonterminating
decimal} pi (∏) ≈ 3.14159. . , ; e ≈ 2.71828… ; √2 , etc.

{x | x can be
Real Read as all numbers x, such that x can be written as a
written as a
numbers decimal
decimal}

20
 MTE3101
Knowing Numbers

2.4.2 Classifications within the set of real numbers

In mathematics, different types of numbers are grouped together and given names. It is
important to understand this organization of sets of numbers.

Real numbers can be classified under different sets of numbers. Look at the list of
numbers in the table given in the previous page.

What do you notice?

Note that as you go down the list, a new set will contain the set of numbers directly above
it. For example, the whole numbers contain the natural numbers. In fact, the set of
whole numbers consists of all the natural numbers together with one new number, zero.
As you go down the list, the numbers get more "complicated." The progression of numbers
is much the way we learn about numbers as we grow up. As small children, we start with
the natural numbers when counting our fingers and toys. We then make an intellectual
leap and learn about the idea of "all gone" or “no more left” and the concept of zero, which
takes us to whole numbers. Fractions were introduced because of the need to deal with
parts of a whole. At some time in our development, we learn about debts and negative
numbers, and we start using integers.

The same sort of progression happens in mathematics classes. You start doing
mathematics with whole numbers, then fractions as well as decimals followed by
operations with negatives and positives. Notice that the integers are all members of the
rational numbers. Any integer can be written as a rational number by writng a one under
it. The only exception to this progression is the irrational numbers. They are by their
own. The set of irrational numbers is the set of numbers that have infinite nonrepeating
decimal representations. Thus, the rationals and the irrationals are disjoint sets. These
two sets together make up the real numbers, that is, when we put the irrational numbers
together with the rational numbers, we finally have the complete set of real numbers. Any
number that represents an amount of something, such as a weight, a volume, or the
distance between two points, will always be a real number.

From the above explanations on various sets within the real number system, you can now
see how sets of numbers are related to one another and classified progressively. Now, can
you describe the relationship between these sets?

21
 MTE3101
Knowing Numbers

Remember your Venn diagrams. The relationship between sets of numbers can be clearly
shown with the help of Venn diagrams. The following diagram illustrates the relationships
of the sets that make up the real numbers.

Next, something for you to think about.

Testing your Understanding!

1. Determine if the following statements are true or false. Give reasons for your answers.
i. Every integer is a rational number.
ii. Every rational number is an irrational number.
iii. Every natural number is an integer.
iv. Every integer is a natural number.

2. Consider the following set of numbers:

{ - √81, - 0.315, 1, 3 , ⅞, 23, 6∏, 27, √3, 89.4, 100 000 }
Classify and list the numbers given according to the following sets.
i natural numbers
ii whole numbers
iii integers
iv rational numbers
v irrational numbers
vi real numbers

(Reminder: Don’t forget to put your answers in your folio!)

22
 MTE3101
Knowing Numbers

2.4.3 Number Representation

Besides using the set notation to represent various types of real numbers, we can also use
other symbols such as alphabets to represent the set of real numbers. This is shown in the
table below.
Name of sets of numbers Symbols denoting the sets of numbers
Natural numbers N
Whole numbers W
Integers Z
Rational Numbers Q
Irrational Numbers Q'
Real Numbers R

Apart from this, real numbers can also be represented on number lines. Writing numbers
down on a number line makes it easy to tell which numbers are bigger or smaller. The
ordered nature of the real numbers allow us to arrange them along a line (imagine that the
line is made up of an infinite number of points all packed so closely together that they form
a solid line). The points are ordered so that points to the right are greater than points to the
left, as shown in the diagram below.

The Number Line

Negative Numbers (-) Positive Numbers (+)

(The line continues left and right forever.)

Numbers on the right are bigger than numbers on the left:

• 8 is greater than 5
• 1 is greater than -1

• But notice that -8 is smaller than -5

The number line above shows that

• Every real number corresponds to a distance on the number line, starting at the
centre (zero).
• Negative numbers represent distances to the left of zero, and positive numbers are
distances to the right.
• The arrows on the end indicate that it keeps going forever in both directions.
For example, the number line below shows the set of Natural numbers:

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11
23
 MTE3101
Knowing Numbers

Try representing the other sets of numbers discussed above using number lines. Have
fun!

In conclusion, Real Numbers comprise the following:

• Rationals + Irrationals
• All points on the number line
• All possible distances on the number line.

The discussion above serves to help you to recognise and characterise various sets of
numbers within the real number system. We hope that you now have a better
understanding of number systems and are ready for the next topic. Happy studying!

Things to do:

1. Refer to your Resource Materials and read the notes on ‘Numbers and
Numeration’.
2. Search for one website on ‘Classification of number systems’. Print out
and keep in your portfolio.

References

24
 MTE3101
Knowing Numbers

Relevant Websites:

1. Number theory:
http://www.math.niu.edu/~rusin/known-math/index/11-XX.html

2. Number Systems:
http://www.jamesbrennan.org/algebra/numbers/real_number_system.htm

3. The Real Number System:

http://www.jamesbrennan.org/algebra/numbers/real_number_system.htm

4. Whole Numbers and Integers

http://www.mathsisfun.com/whole-numbers.html

25