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AQA Computer Science A-Level 4.5.1 Number Systems: Advanced Notes

This document provides an overview of different number systems covered in the AQA Computer Science A-Level specification, including natural numbers, integers, rational numbers, irrational numbers, real numbers, and ordinal numbers. It defines each number system, provides examples, and notes their typical uses for counting and measurement. Natural numbers are used for counting, integers include positive and negative whole numbers, rational numbers can be written as fractions, irrational numbers cannot, and real numbers encompass all real-world quantities.

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103 views5 pages

AQA Computer Science A-Level 4.5.1 Number Systems: Advanced Notes

This document provides an overview of different number systems covered in the AQA Computer Science A-Level specification, including natural numbers, integers, rational numbers, irrational numbers, real numbers, and ordinal numbers. It defines each number system, provides examples, and notes their typical uses for counting and measurement. Natural numbers are used for counting, integers include positive and negative whole numbers, rational numbers can be written as fractions, irrational numbers cannot, and real numbers encompass all real-world quantities.

Uploaded by

trickster jonas
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© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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AQA Computer Science A-Level

4.5.1 Number Systems


Advanced Notes

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Specification:

4.5.1.1 Natural numbers:


Be familiar with the concept of a natural number and the set ℕ of natural
numbers (including zero).

4.5.1.2 Integer numbers:


Be familiar with the concept of an integer and the set ℤ of integers.

4.5.1.3 Rational numbers:


Be familiar with the concept of a rational number and the set ℚ of
rational numbers, and that this set includes the integers.

4.5.1.4 Irrational numbers:


Be familiar with the concept of an irrational number.

4.5.1.5 Real numbers :


Be familiar with the concept of a real number and the set ℝ of real
numbers, which includes the natural numbers, the rational numbers and the
irrational numbers.

4.5.1.6 Ordinal numbers:


Be familiar with the concept of ordinal numbers and their use to
describe the numerical positions of objects.

4.5.1.7 Counting and measurement:


Be familiar with the use of:
• natural numbers for counting
• real numbers for measurement

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Natural numbers

ℕ = {0, 1, 2, 3…}
The natural numbers are a ​set ​of numbers containing ​all
positive whole numbers​ ​and zero​. They can be used to ​count
how many of a certain item you have. For example, ​three
keyboards, ​seven ​printers or ​two ​servers.

The symbol for the natural numbers is ​ℕ​.

Integer numbers

ℤ​ = {...-2, -1, 0, 1, 2...}


The integers are a set of ​whole numbers​, both ​positive and negative​, including zero.

The symbol used for integers is ​ℤ​.

Rational numbers

Also called ​quotients​, rational numbers can (but do not necessarily) have a ​fractional part​.
They can be ​positive or negative​, zero is a rational number.

If a number can be written ​exactly ​as a ​fraction​ of one number over another, then the
number is rational.

Examples of rational numbers include:

13 −55
4.5 74 27 6.4525 − 33.1 4

The symbol for rational numbers (quotients) is ​ℚ​.

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Irrational numbers

In contrast to a rational numbers, irrational numbers ​cannot be written exactly as a


fraction​.

Examples of irrational numbers include:

π √2 e √3

The set of irrational numbers has ​no symbol​!

Real numbers

The set of real numbers includes ​all possible real word quantities​. It includes all of the
members of the irrational numbers, the rational numbers and hence the integers and
natural numbers too.

The real numbers are given the symbol ​ℝ​.

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Ordinal numbers

Ordinal numbers are ​integers ​used to describe the ​numerical


positions ​of objects in relation to others. For example: 1​st​, 2​nd
or 3​rd​.

Arrays ​index items using ordinal numbers, typically starting


with an element in position 0.

Counting and measuring

If you need to ​count​ how many of a certain object you have, ​natural numbers​ should be
used. However, if you’re ​measuring​ a quantity, you may not by using ​whole numbers​. In
this situation, ​real numbers​ should be used.

Counting Measuring

ℕ ℝ

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