0.

1 Exploring Real Numbers

New Vocabulary natural numbers whole numbers integers rational number irrational number real numbers counterexample inequality opposites absolute value

The study of mathematics involves numbers. Numbers can be classified as either real or imaginary. In this course we will concern ourselves with real numbers only. Real numbers are any number which can be plotted on a number line. The set of real numbers can be further classified as either rational or irrational. A a rational number is any number that you can write in the form b , where a and b are integers and b 0. Obviously, any number that cannot be written as a fraction is an irrational number. The set of rational numbers has many subsets. You are probably most familiar with the natural (or counting) numbers. The natural numbers are the set of numbers {1, 2, 3, 4, 5, . . . }. Notice that we denote a set with curly braces ({set}). The three dots at the end is called an ellipsis and means that the set continues in the same manner. The set of natural numbers is an infinite set (meaning it never ends). Notice that the set of natural numbers does not contain the number 0. The set of whole numbers is the set {0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, . . .}. Notice that the set of whole numbers is the set of natural numbers with a zero added to the set. The set of integers is the set {. . . -2, -1, 0, 1, 2, . . . }. This is the set of whole numbers and their opposites. Notice the ellipsis at the front and end of the set. This set of numbers continues infinitely in both directions.

The set of real numbers and its subsets can be depicted using a Venn Diagram. A Venn Diagram uses cirlces to indicate sets. Circles that overlap indicate that two sets share some numbers. If a circle is entirely inside another one, then all of the numbers in the inner circle are members of the set of numbers indicate by the outer circle. The Venn Diagram below depicts the real numbers and their subsets.

0.1ExploringRealNumbers.nb

When you compare any two real numbers, only one of the following can be true: the first one is greater than the second, the second is greater than the first, or the two numbers are equal. We can express these realtionships using inequalities. An inequality is a mathematical sentence that compares the value of two expressions using an inequality symbol, such as < or >. So we can express the relationship of two numbers as follows: a<b a is less than b a=b a is equal to b a>b a is greater than b

There are three other symbols that compare two real numbers. ab a is less than or equal to b ab a is not equal to b ab a is greater than or equal to b

The number line below shows how values of numbers increase as you move from left to right on a number line. -1
1 2

0
1 8

Since -

1 8

is to the right of -

1 2

it has a greater value. We write - 8 > - 2 . We can also write - 2 - 8 . When-

ever in doubt as to whether one real number is greater than another, simply picture both on a number line. The one further to the right is greater than the other. Notice on the number line above that the numbers -1 and 1 are the same distance from zero but lie in opposite directions. We call pairs of numbers like these opposites. Another pair of opposites are -3 and 3 since they are also the same distance from zero (three units) and lie in opposite directions. Also notice that the opposite of 0 is zero. The absolute value of a number is its distance from zero on a number line. Since both -3 and 3 are three units from zero they both have an absolute value of 3. You write "the absolute value of -3" as |-3|.