Chapter 2 Activity 2.

2 (Page 40)
(i) x =2 Natural number (or integer)
Discussion point (Page 39) (ii) x = 9 Rational number
R Real numbers – any number which is not 7
complex (iii) x = ±3 Integers
x = −1 Integer

Answers
(iv)
Q Rational numbers – numbers which can be (v) x = 0,  − 7 Integers
expressed exactly as a fraction
Discussion point (Page 42)
Z Integers – positive or negative whole numbers,
You know i 2 = −1
including zero
i 3 = i 2 × i = −1 × i = − i
N Natural numbers – non-negative whole
numbers (although there is some debate amongst i4 = i 2 × i 2 = −1 × −1 = 1
mathematicians as to whether zero should be
included!) i5 = i4 × i = 1 × i = i
i6 = i5 × i = i × i = −1
Discussion point (Page 40)
Any real number is either rational or irrational. This i7 = i6 × i = −1 × i = − i
means that all real numbers will either lie inside
the set of rational numbers, or inside the set of real The powers of i form a cycle:
numbers but outside the set of rational numbers.
i
Therefore no separate set is needed for irrational
numbers.

The symbol Q is used for irrational numbers – –1 1

numbers which cannot be expressed exactly as a

fraction, such as π .
–i
Activity 2.1 (Page 40)
All numbers of the form i4 n are equal to 1.

Real
5
Rational
227
109
Integers
0.33 13

3.1415

185