revised 2019/08/25 at 07:44:45

Sacred Heart Junior College

Math and IT Department

PRE-COLLEGE MATHEMATICS (MATH0014)

Semester I, 2019 – 2020
Worksheet 3: Classification of Real Numbers

The Real Number System

The real number system consists of six major sets each of which are defined below.

Name Symbol Set

Natural N N = {1, 2, 3, . . .}
Whole W W = {0, 1, 2, 3, . . .}
Integer Z Z = {. . . , −3, −2, −1, 0, 1, 2, 3, . . .}
Rational Q N = {a/b | a, b ∈ Z, b 6= 0}
Irrational Q0 Q0 = {q | q ∈ / Q}
Real R Q ∪ Q0 = R

It is important to note that N ⊂ W ⊂ Z ⊂ Q ⊂ R and that Q0 ⊂ R. Also Q ∩ Q0 = ∅. Do you see why? The
above set representation given for rational numbers is read as follows:

A rational number is a number that can be expressed as a ratio of two integers where the denominator
cannot be zero.

The decimal representation of rational numbers is either a terminating or recurring(repeating) decimal. With
terminating we mean that there is a finite number of decimal places and recurring means that a set of decimal
places is repeated. A few examples of terminating and recurring decimals include:
2 1 5 2
= 0.4, = 0.333 . . . = 0.3, − = −0.625, = 0.285714285714285714285714285714 . . . = 0.285714
5 3 8 7
Note the use of a bar to indicate the repeating number or set of numbers.
1. Based on the definition of rational numbers, explain why Z ⊂ Q. Use examples to support your
conclusion.

2. Is −1/3 ∈ Z? Why or why not?

3. Define the set of even and odd numbers.

4. Define the set of prime and square numbers.

5. A rational number is any number that can be expressed as a ratio of two integers in which the divisor
is not zero. Why is it the case that the divisor must not be zero? What about the number 0/8?

6. Is 22/7 ∈ Q? Determine its decimal representation to support your conclusion.

Page 1 of 2
 7. Define irrational numbers in terms of rational numbers. Use the concepts of terminating and recurring
decimals.

8. Classify the numbers in the table below by using a (X) to represent its inclusion.

N W Z Q Q0 R
−3.1415
√
25 − 9 − 2
−2/5
0
√
7
−6/3

9. Classify the numbers in the set below:

√
(a) −3, 43 , 0.12, 2, π, 2.15


−6, 21 , 2, 5, 3π + 2, −1.3

(b)

10. What are consecutive numbers? In a similar way, what are consecutive integers?

11. The product of two consecutive even integers is 1088. What are the integers?

12. Use a check mark (X) to indicate subset of:

N W Z Q Q0 R
Even
Odd
Prime
Square

Page 2 of 2