TOPIC 3: THE REAL NUMBER SYSTEM

 A number system consists of a set of elements called numbers and operations defined on those
numbers.
 There are different sets of numbers:
3.1 Natural numbers
 This set consist of the ordinary counting numbers. It is denoted by ℕ.
 ℕ = 1,2,3, …
Definition 3.1.1 [closure of arithmetic operations on ℕ]
For all 𝑎, 𝑏 ∈ ℕ
i. 𝑎 + 𝑏 ∈ ℕ i.e The sum is a natural number.
ii. 𝑎 × 𝑏 ∈ ℕ i.e The product is a natural number.
Therefore the set ℕ is closed under addition and multiplication (i.e it satisfies closure property with respect
to +𝑎𝑛𝑑 ×).
Definition 3.1.2 [Laws of arithmetic operations onℕ ]
i. Commutative law
For all 𝑎, 𝑏 ∈ ℕ,
𝑎 + 𝑏 = 𝑏 + 𝑎 and 𝑎 × 𝑏 = 𝑏 × 𝑎
ii. Associative law
∀ 𝑎, 𝑏, 𝑐 ∈ ℕ,
𝑎 + 𝑏 + 𝑐 = 𝑎 + 𝑏 + 𝑐 and
𝑎 × 𝑏 × 𝑐 = (𝑎 × 𝑏) × 𝑐
 The Real Number System
3.2 Integers
Definition 3.2.1
A set of integers denoted as ℤ comprises of negative whole numbers, zero and positive whole numbers.
ℤ = *… , −2, −1, 0, 1, 2, … +
Definition 3.2.2 [closure of arithmetic operations on ℤ]
∀ 𝑎, 𝑏 ∈ ℤ
i. 𝑎+𝑏 ∈ℤ
ii. 𝑎 − 𝑏 ∈ ℤ
iii. 𝑎 × 𝑏 ∈ ℤ
Hence ℤ is closed under +, − 𝑎𝑛𝑑 ×.
Definition 3.2.3 [Laws of arithmetic operations on ℤ ]
a) For each 𝑘 ∈ ℤ,
i. 𝑘 + 0 = 𝑘, 0 is called the additive identity on ℤ.
ii. 𝑘 × 1 = 𝑘, 1 is the multiplicative identity on ℤ.
iii. 𝑘 + −𝑘 = 0, −𝑘 is the additive inverse of 𝑘.
b) Commutativity
∀𝑎, 𝑏 ∈ ℤ,
𝑎 + 𝑏 = 𝑏 + 𝑎 and 𝑎 × 𝑏 = 𝑏 × 𝑎
c) Distributivity
∀𝑎, 𝑏, 𝑐 ∈ ℤ
𝑎. 𝑏 + 𝑐 = 𝑎. 𝑏 + 𝑎. 𝑐
 The Real Number System
d) Associativity
∀ 𝑎, 𝑏, 𝑐 ∈ ℤ,
𝑎 + 𝑏 + 𝑐 = 𝑎 + 𝑏 + 𝑐 and 𝑎. 𝑏. 𝑐 = 𝑎. 𝑏 . 𝑐

Remark 3.2.4
i. The sum of 2 odd integers is an even integer.
ii. The sum of 2 even integers is even.
iii. The product of 2 odd integers is odd.
iv. The product of 2 even integers is even.

3.3 Rational Numbers

Definition 3.3.1
𝑚
 The set of Rational numbers denoted by ℚ has numbers of the form ℚ = : 𝑚, 𝑛 ∈ ℤ, 𝑛 ≠ 0
𝑛
𝑚
 The fraction is in its simplest form.
𝑛
4
 All integers can be expressed as rational numbers e.g −4 = −
1
 Hence ℤ ⊂ ℚ.
 The Real Number System
Definition 3.3.2 [closure]
𝑎 𝑐
∀ , ∈ ℚ, we have
𝑏 𝑑
𝑎 𝑐 𝑎𝑑+𝑏𝑐
i. + = ∈ ℚ The sum is rational
𝑏 𝑑 𝑏𝑑
𝑎 𝑐 𝑎𝑑−𝑏𝑐
ii. − = ∈ ℚ The difference is rational
𝑏 𝑑 𝑏𝑑
𝑎 𝑐 𝑎𝑐
iii. × = ∈ ℚ The product is rational
𝑏 𝑑 𝑏𝑑
𝑎 𝑐 𝑎𝑑
iv. ÷ = ∈ ℚ, 𝑤ℎ𝑒𝑛 𝑐 ≠ 0 The quotient is rational
𝑏 𝑑 𝑏𝑐
ℚ is closed under +, −,× 𝑎𝑛𝑑 ÷.
Definition 3.3.3 [Laws of arithmetic operations on ℚ]
a) For any k∈ ℚ
i. 𝑘 + 0 = 𝑘, 0 is called the additive identity on ℚ.
ii. 𝑘 × 1 = 𝑘, 1 is the multiplicative identity onℚ.
iii. 𝑘 + −𝑘 = 0, −𝑘 is the additive inverse of 𝑘.
1 1
iv. 𝑘 × = 1, is the multiplicative inverse of 𝑘 and vice versa.
𝑘 𝑘
b) Commutativity
∀𝑎, 𝑏 ∈ ℚ,
𝑎 + 𝑏 = 𝑏 + 𝑎 and 𝑎 × 𝑏 = 𝑏 × 𝑎
c) Distributivity
∀𝑎, 𝑏, 𝑐 ∈ ℚ
𝑎. 𝑏 + 𝑐 = 𝑎. 𝑏 + 𝑎. 𝑐
 The Real Number System
d) Associativity
∀ 𝑎, 𝑏, 𝑐 ∈ ℚ
𝑎 + 𝑏 + 𝑐 = 𝑎 + 𝑏 + 𝑐 and 𝑎. 𝑏. 𝑐 = 𝑎. 𝑏 . 𝑐
e) For any 𝑎, 𝑏, 𝑐 ∈ ℚ
i. Either 𝑎 < 𝑏, 𝑎 = 𝑏, 𝑜𝑟 𝑎 > 𝑏
ii. If 𝑎 < 𝑏 and 𝑏 < 𝑐 then 𝑎 < 𝑐.
iii. If a< 𝑏 then 𝑎 + 𝑐 < 𝑏 + 𝑐
Definition 3.3.4 [Decimal Representation of Rationals]
Since rational numbers are fractions , they can be expressed in decimal form
i. Recurring decimals
These are decimal numbers where numbers to the right of of the decimal point recur at some point
2 5
e.g = 0.6666 … = 0. 6; = 0.071422857142285 … . 𝑒. 𝑡. 𝑐
3 7

ii. Non-terminating decimals

These are decimals that do not terminate nor recur at some point e.g 2, 5 e.t.c
They cannot be expressed as fractions hence they are not rational numbers
These numbers are called irrationals and are denoted by ℚ𝑐 .
Exercise 3.3.5
Prove that 𝟐 is not a rational number.