10

2. Numbers
When you have completed this chapter you should be able to:

1. Describe any number in terms of: natural, prime, composite, whole, integer, non-
integer, rational, irrational, real, non-real.
2. Prove that a repeating decimal is a rational number.
3. Represent numbers graphically, i.e. on a number line.
4. Prove that the product of two odd integers is always odd.
(Concept of integer, odd, how to construct them, idea of proof being general,
not examples.)

2.1 Natural Numbers ( )

These are the numbers we use for counting 1, 2, 3, 4, … This list of numbers has no end
and is therefore called infinite. (means “going on forever”).
A prime number is any number greater than 1 that is divisible by only 1 and itself, e.g. 2,
3, 5, 7, 11 … Every natural number that is not prime (and >1) is called composite, e.g. 4, 6,
8, 9, 10, 12, …

Graphical representation
Before we draw graphs on the number line, remember that the number line is used to show
the relative positions and sizes of real numbers. As we read the number line from left to
right, the numbers are getting bigger, whereas the numbers are getting smaller as we read
from right to left.
Size of numbers decreases
<

-20 -5 0 3 30
>
Size of numbers increases

These are all sets.

1 1
This means for example, 5 < 30, -1 < 3 , − < − and -20 < -5 ( Even though 20 is
3 4
numerically larger than 5).
e.g. set of
• • • • • • natural numbers
-1 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9
less than 7

• • • • e.g. set of p rime

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 numbers ≤ 10

Note: (whole numbers), is the same as except that it also includes 0.

Test Your Understanding:
1. Complete: ∩
2. Illustrate on the number line: odd numbers > 3 and < 12.
 1 1 1 1 5
3. Illustrate on the number line: − , 1, − , 0, , , − 
 11 2 3 4 6
 11

2.2 Integers ( )
If we add negative whole numbers, (not fractions or decimals), and zero to the list of
natural numbers we get the list of integers: …-4, -3, -2, -1, 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, …
Integers that are divisible by two are called even numbers and those that are not are called
odd numbers.
If k ∈ Ζ then what type of number does 2k + 1 represent? Explain.

Graphical representation
• • • • • • • • • e.g. integers
-6 -5 -4 -3 -2 -1 0 1 2 3 4 less than 3

• • • e.g. odd integers

-4 -3 -2 -1 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 ≥ -2 and < 4

Non-integers are numbers that are not integers i.e. that lie between integers on the number
line.
Test Your Understanding:
1. Illustrate on the number line, even integers between -4 and 9.
2. Illustrate on the number line, odd integers between 0 and 20 which are also
composite.
3. If k ∈ Ζ then 2k represents an ............. number and 7 k represents a number
which is a ....................... of 7.
4. Consider the sequence 8, 16, 24, 32, 40, ...
a) Describe the above sequence.
b) Describe the general term of the above sequence using an algebraic
expression.
5. Prove that the sum of 3 consecutive even numbers is:
a) even b) divisible by 3.

2.3 Rational Numbers ( )

A rational number is any number that can be written as a fraction with an integer for its
numerator and a non-zero integer for its denominator. In mathematical symbols:

A rational number is a number that can be written in the form:

p
, p, q ∈ Z , q ≠ 0
q

3 1 99 •
Examples of rational numbers: , − , 0.5, 8, , − 0.25, 0.3 3
4 3 113
Rational numbers have decimal forms that are either terminating or repeating decimals.
3 3
Terminating decimals are numbers like = 0.75 or = 0.375
4 8
Repeating decimals are numbers like:
2 • 3 • •
= 0.666... = 0. 6 or = 0.4285714285714... = 0. 4 2857 1
3 7
(the 6 digits 428571 repeat in this number).
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How to Show That A Repeating Decimal is A Rational Number.

Example 1:
Show that 0.151515… is a rational number. This means we have to prove that 0.151515…
p
can be written in the form: , p, q ∈ Z , q ≠ 0 .
q

Solution
Let x = 0.151515... (1) Fill in the grid, one digit per block, to help you
Then 100 x = 15.151515... (2) keep the digits in the correct columns.
(2) - (1): 100 x − x = 15.151515... − 0.151515...
99 x = 15 x = 0 . 1 5 1 5 1 …
15
∴x =
99 =
p
which is in the form , p, q ∈ Z , q ≠ 0 .
q
∴ 0.151515... is a rational number.

Example 2:
• •
Prove that 3.1 2 7 4 is a rational number.
• •
(This means we have to prove that 3.1 2 7 4 can be written in the form:
p
, p, q ∈ Z , q ≠ 0 .)
q

Solution: (Fill in the missing working)

Proof: Let x = 3.127 427 4274... (1)
Fill in the grid, one digit per block, as above
Then 1 000 x = (2) to help you keep the digits in the correct
columns.
(2) - (1): 999 x = 3 124.3

∴x =
999
3 124.3 10
= ×
999 10
=
p
which is in the form , p, q ∈ Z , q ≠ 0
q
Therefore is a rational number.

2.4 Irrational Numbers

All numbers that are not rational are called irrational. Therefore irrational numbers are all
non-repeating and non-terminating numbers. All square roots of non-perfect squares are
irrational.
For example: 2 = 1.414 213 562...
24 = 4.898 979 5...
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Also π is irrational. The value which the calculator gives is only to the number of decimal
places which the calculator can display.

22
π≠ This is only a useful approximation often used in school textbooks.
7

Test your understanding:

1. Separate the following numbers into 2 lists, rational and irrational:
3 • π 3 132 3
6.2, , 1. 8, 23.462 1..., − , 3.14, 72 , 5 , , − 27
7 4 5 11
2. State whether the following numbers are rational or irrational. If rational,
then show it.
• • • • •
a) 0.6 7 b) 6.2 3 4 c) 0. 2 3 7
d) 12.237 156 428...

2.5 Real Numbers, ( )

All the numbers that have been described so far are real numbers. Real numbers can be
said to be all rational numbers as well as all irrational numbers.
i.e. Real Numbers = Rational Numbers ∪ Irrational Numbers

Graphical representation:
<
< • > Eg. Real nos. ≤ 3
-5 -4 -3 -2 -1 0 1 2 3 4 5 6

< ° -3 -2
•
-1 0 1 4 5 6
> Eg.
-5 -4 2 3 Real nos. > -4 and
≤ −1

Numbers that are not real are called non-real. These non-real numbers cannot be drawn on
the real number line.

Summary of numbers.
 14

2.6 Numbers Represented in a Venn diagram

R
Q Z
N0
N

What is the universal set?

Test your understanding:
1. State whether TRUE or FALSE. If FALSE, give a true statement.
a) All real numbers are rational.
b) All real numbers are either rational or irrational.
c) 0 is an integer.
d) –3 is a natural number.
e) 121 is an irrational number.
f) − 121 is a rational number.
2. Draw the following sets of numbers on the number line.
a) All real numbers less than 5.
b) All natural numbers less than 5.
c) All integers greater than -5 and less than or equal to 5.
d) All prime number less than 15.
3. Classify each of the following numbers. Tick the appropriate column(s).

Real Rational Irrational Non- Terminating Repeating

terminating
and non-
repeating
-2.567
2.345…
-6 π
4
72

4. Prove that the sum of any three consecutive multiples of 3 is always exactly
divisible by 9.
5. In a test, Jabu was asked: Prove that the sum of two consecutive integers is odd. Jabu wrote:
Proof: Let the first integer be 4 and the second integer be 5.
4 + 5 = 9 which is an odd number.
Therefore the sum two consecutive integers is odd.
Explain why Jabu’s proof is incorrect. Write down the correct proof.