1. Natural numbers.

ℕ = {1,2,3,4 … … … … … … … }

2. Whole numbers
𝑊 = {0,1,2,3,4 … … … … … … … }

3. Integers
ℤ = {… … … . −4, −3, −2, −1, 0, 1, 2, 3, 4 … … … … … … … }
ℤ+ = {1,2,3,4 … … … … … … … }
ℤ− = {−1, −2, −3, −4 … … … … … … … }
ℤ+0 = {0,1,2,3,4 … … … … … … … }

SAMITH NISHSHANKA(BSC) 1
4. Rational numbers
ℚ = {𝑝/𝑞|𝑝. 𝑞 ∈ ℤ and 𝑞 ≠ 0 }. 𝑝/𝑞 is must be in its simplest form.

Examples
1 3
, − , 5, −2, 3.5, 1.33333
2 5

5. Fraction
{𝑥/𝑥 = 𝑝/𝑞, 𝑝, 𝑞 ∈ ℤ, and 𝑞 > 𝑝}
Examples
1 5 3
, ,−
5 7 8

6. Finite decimal
Examples
1 3 2
= 0.5, = 0.75, = 0.016
2 4 125

7. Recurring decimal
Examples
1
= 0.333 … . . = 0. 3̇
3
6
= 0.54545454 … . . = 0. 5̇4̇
11
5
= 0.74287428 … … . . = 0. 7̇428̇
7

8. Irrational numbers
𝒑
When p and q are integers, an irrational number cannot be expressed as 𝒒.
Irrational numbers cannot be expressed as finite decimals or recurring decimals. But it can be
expressed as infinite decimals.
Examples
√2, √3, √5, 𝜋, 𝑒

 Prove that √2 is irrational.

𝑝
Assume that √2 is rational. Therefore, √2 = 𝑞 where 𝑝, 𝑞 ∈ ℤ
Getting the square of the both side,
𝑝2
2 = 𝑞2 , 2𝑞 2 = 𝑝2 ……. (1)
2𝑞 2 is divisible by 2(even) and then 𝑝2 is also divisible by 2.
Therefore 𝑝 is divisible by 2.then 𝑝 can be written in the form of 2𝑘 where 𝑘 is an integer.
𝑝 = 2𝑘, 𝑝2 = 4𝑘 2
Substituting 𝑝2 = 4𝑘 2 to (1), 2𝑞 2 = 4𝑘 2 and 𝑞 2 = 2𝑘 2
Therefore 𝑞 2 is divisible by 2. And also 𝑞 is divisible by 2. 𝑝 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑞 Both has a common factor
therefore the statement is false. √2 is not a rational number.

SAMITH NISHSHANKA(BSC) 2
9. Imaginary numbers.
Roots of the equation, 𝑥 2 + 1 = 0 cannot be written on the number line.
𝑥 2 = −1
𝑥 = ±√−1
𝒊 is represented as √−1 ,
𝑖 2 = −1

10. Surds
Surds is a sub set of irrational numbers. Irrational numbers that contain the radical sign √ are
called surds.
Examples
√2, √5 , √7
When working with surds we may use the fallowing properties.
If 𝑥 > 0 , 𝑦 > 0,
2
(√𝑥) = 𝑥 = √𝑥 2
√𝑥𝑦 = √𝑥 × √𝑦
𝑥 √𝑥
√ =
𝑦 √𝑦

EXERCISE

1. Convert the fallowing recurring decimal to fractions.

I. 0.222…. VII. 0.586586…..

II. 0.333… VIII. 0.357357…
III. 0.555… IX. 0.35555….
IV. 0.888… X. 0.512222…
V. 0.232323… XI. 0.30454545….
VI. 0.575757… XII. 0.1275275275........

SAMITH NISHSHANKA(BSC) 3
2. Prove that the following numbers are irrational.
I. √3
II. √5
III. √7
IV. √6
V. √11

3. Rationalize the denominator and simplify the fallowing’s

2 √5
I. VII.
√2 (√7+√5)
6
II. (5√7+1)
√3 VIII.
(5√7−1)
III. (√3 − √2)(√3 + √2)
√3 √2
2 IX. +
IV. (√2 + 1) √2 √3
(√5−√3) (√10−√6)
V.
(√3+1) X. +
(√10+√6) (√5+√3)
(√3−1)
2
1 1 XI. (√2 − 1) (3 + 2√2)
VI. +
(√5+1) (√5−1)

4. Simplify fallowing imaginary numbers.

1
I. 𝑖3 V. VIII. (1 + 𝑖)2
𝑖6
II. 𝑖8 1 IX. (1 + 𝑖)4
VI.
III. 𝑖5 1+𝑖 X. (1 − 𝑖)3 (1 + 𝑖)5
1 1 2 1
IV. 𝑖 −10 VII. 1+𝑖
+ 1−𝑖 XI. (2−𝑖)2 + (1+𝑖)2

SAMITH NISHSHANKA(BSC) 4