Identifying counting numbers and whole numbers
Learn how to define counting numbers and whole numbers along with how to identify them including a practice problem.
Learn how to define counting numbers and whole numbers along with how to identify them including a practice problem.
Counting numbers
Counting numbers (also known as natural numbers) can be defined as numbers that start at \(1\) and continue (by increments of \(1\)).
For example, counting numbers are often represented as:
\[ 1,2,3,... \]
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Your teacher or resource might include zero in the counting numbers as their definition, so you may want to ask your instructor if you should include zero as part of the counting numbers definition for your work.
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If you know what integers are, then you can consider the counting numbers as the positive integers.
Whole numbers
Whole numbers can be defined as the natural numbers and zero, for example:
\[ 0,1,2,3,... \]
Practice problem
Which of the following are natural numbers, whole numbers, both, or neither?
- \( 0 \)
- \( \frac{1}{4} \)
- \( -15 \)
- \( 3 \)
- \( 5.2 \)
- \( 105 \)
