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Whole Numbers: Chapter 2 Whole Numbers Handout - Whole Numbers and Number Line
Whole Numbers: Chapter 2 Whole Numbers Handout - Whole Numbers and Number Line
Whole Numbers
Let’s begin with natural numbers.
When we begin to count we naturally use counting numbers {1, 2, 3, 4...}.
Hence, Natural numbers are the set of numbers ranging from 1 to infinity.
We represent natural numbers by ‘N’.
Or we can say N = {1, 2, 3, 4...} (i.e. 1 to infinity)
Every natural number has a predecessor and a successor such
as predecessor of 2 is 1 and successor of 2 is 3.
Important Note:
1. The smallest natural number is ‘1’.
2. There is no largest natural number.
3. Every natural number is a whole number.
4. Every natural number has its successor.
Important Note:
1. We can obtain successor of a whole number by adding 1 to the given whole
number.
Example: Here, number is 6.
Successor = 6 + 1 = 7
Every whole number has its successor.
2. We can obtain predecessor of whole number by subtracting 1 from given
whole number.
Example: Here, number is 10.
Predecessor = 10 - 1 = 9
3. Zero has no predecessor.
4. The smallest whole number is ‘0’.
5. There is no largest number in set of whole numbers.
6. Every whole number excluding ‘zero’ is a natural number
All whole numbers are not natural numbers All Natural numbers are whole numbers
Number Line
A line on which numbers are marked at equal intervals to show simple
numerical operations is called a number line.
In order to represent whole numbers on a number line, we draw a straight
line and mark a point O on it.
From ‘0’ point, mark points 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, etc. on the line at equal
intervals to the right of ‘0’.
The arrow-head on the right-side on the number line shows that the numbers
can continue up to infinity. With the help of number line we can compare two
whole numbers.
On the number line we see that the number 6 is on the right of 3.
Hence 6 is greater than 3 (i.e. 6 > 3). Number 1 lies on the left of 3.
Therefore 1 is smaller than 3 (i.e. 1 < 3).
Addition on the number line
Here, 3 is added to the given number i.e. 2, so we will make 3 jumps to the
right of 2.
Therefore, the sum of 2 and 3 is 5
Here, 2 is subtracted from the given number i.e. 6, so we will make 2 jumps
to the left of 6.
Therefore, we get 6 – 2 = 4
Start from 0, move 2 units at a time to the right, make such 3 moves. And we
will reach 6.
So, we say, 2 × 3 = 6.