The Sets of Real Numbers

Source: Louis Leithold (College Algebra and Trigonometry)

James Stewart (Stewarts Algebra and Trigonometry)
Natural Numbers Figure 1. Shows the relationships discussed
(positive numbers) Zero
1,2,15,30 0
Negative
Whole Number Integer
0,1,2,18,72 -31,-17,-8,-4

Noninteger rational
Integers number
-30,-18,0,5,18,72 -11/5,-1/2,3/5,19/6

Irrational numbers Rational Numbers

3 8 1 7 19
11 ,π, 2, 17 -8, -4, − , − , 0, , 1,2, , 15,30
5 2 8 6

Real Numbers
3 8 1 7 19
-8, -4, 11 , − , − , 0, , 1,2,π, , 17 , 18,30
5 2 8 6
Natural Numbers which also referred as positive integers. The set
can be written as
{1,2,3...}

The Number zero is the number having the property that when
added to any number the result is any number.

The whole number are sets of numbers whose elements are the
natural numbers and zero. It can be written

{0,1,2,3}
The negative integers are set of numbers which corresponds to
the positive integer such that if it is added to the positive integer
the result would be zero. It can be written as

{-1,-2,-3...}
The set of numbers whose elements are the positive integers,negative integers and zero is
called the set of integers. It can be written as
{...-3,-2,-1, 0,1,2,3...}

The set of numbers whose elements are the quotient of two integers p & q where q is not
0 is called rational numbers. The numbers can be represented as
p
such that q ≠0
q
p
and the set can be written as {x|x can be represented by q , ,p∈J,q∈J,q≠0}

J={Integers}
The set whose decimal representation are nonterminating and nonrepeating cannot be expresed
as the quotient of two integers and hence are not rational numbers. This set of numbers is called
the set of irrational numbers. It can be defined symbolically as

{X|the decimal representation of X is nonterminating nonrepeating}

 Operations On Real Numbers

Real Numbers can be combined by using operations such as addition,

subtraction, multiplication, and division. When performing different operations, we
use the following convention to determine the order in which the operations are
performed

1. Perform operations inside parentheses first, beginning with the innermost pair, In
dividing two expressions. In dividing two expressions, the numerator and
denominator of the quotient are treated as if they are within parentheses

2. Perform all multiplications and divisions working from left to right

3. Perform all additions and subtraction working from left to right

 Interval Notation
Certain set of real numbers called Intervals, occur frequently in calculus and
correspond geometrically to line segment. For example if a < b, then the open
interval from a to b consist of all numbers between a and b and is denoted by the
symbol(a,b), using the set builder notation we can write
(a,b)={x|a<x<b}

In here the end points a and b are not included from the interval which is indicated by
the parentheses( ) and open circle on the graph
The closed Interval from a to b is the set

[a,b]= {x|a≤x≤b}
In this interval, the point a and b are included which is denoted by square bracket and solid
circle on the graph

we also consider the infinite interval such as

(a,∞)={x|a<x}

Note that infinity is not a number but a symbol that only indicates that the interval extends
indefinitely for the positive direction
 The nine possible type of Interval Includes:

Notation Set Description Graph

(a,b) {x|a<x<b}

[a,b] {x|a≤x≤b}

[a,b) {x|a≤x<b}

(a,b] {x|a<x≤b}

(a,∞) {x|a<x}

[a,∞) {x|a≤x}

(−∞, �) {x|x<b}

(−∞, �] {x|x≤b}

(−∞, ∞) ℝ(sets of all real numbers)

Express each Interval into set-builder notation and graph the Interval

1. [-5,8) {x|-5≤x<8}
-5 8

2.(1,10) {x|x>1 and x<10}

3. [2,9) {x|x≥2 }U{x|x<9} {x|2≤x<9}