The numbers associated with points on a number line are called the real numbers. The set of real numbers is denoted by \(\mathbb{R}\text{.}\) You are already familiar with several types, or subsets, of real numbers:
The set \(\mathbb{N} \) of natural, or counting numbers, as its name suggests, consists of the numbers \(1, 2, 3, 4 , \ldots ,\) where "\(\ldots\)" indicates that the list continues without end.
The set \(\mathbb{W} \) of whole numbers consists of the natural numbers and zero: \(0, 1, 2, 3 \ldots\text{.}\)
The set \(\mathbb{Z} \) of integers consists of the natural numbers, their negatives, and zero: \(\ldots , -3, -2, -1, 0, 1, 2, 3, \ldots\text{.}\)
All of these numbers are subsets of the rational numbers.
SubsectionRational Numbers
A number that can be expressed as the quotient of two integers \(\dfrac{a}{b} \) where \(b\ne 0\text{,}\) is called a rational number. The integers are rational numbers, and so are common fractions. Some examples of rational numbers are \(5, -2, 0, \dfrac{2}{9} , \sqrt{16},\) and \(\dfrac{-4}{17} \text{.}\) The set of rational numbers is denoted by \(\mathbb{Q} \text{.}\)
Every rational number has a decimal form that either terminates or repeats a pattern of digits. For example,
Some real numbers cannot be written in the form \(\dfrac{a}{b} \) , where \(a\) and \(b\) are integers. For example, the number \(\sqrt{2} \) is not equal to any common fraction. Such numbers are called irrational numbers. Examples of irrational numbers are \(\sqrt{15}, \pi, \) and \(-\sqrt[3]{7} \text{.}\)
The decimal form of an irrational number never terminates, and its digits do not follow a repeating pattern, so it is impossible to write down an exact decimal equivalent for an irrational number. However, we can obtain decimal approximations correct to any desired degree of accuracy by rounding off. A graphing calculator gives the decimal representation of \(\pi\) as \(3.141592654\text{.}\) This is not the exact value of \(\pi\text{,}\) but for most calculations it is quite adequate.
Some \(n\)th roots are rational numbers and some are irrational numbers. For example,
\begin{equation*}
\sqrt{49},~~~ \sqrt[3]{\frac{27}{8}}, ~~\text{ and } ~~81^{1/4}
\end{equation*}
are rational numbers because they are equal to \(7, \dfrac{3}{2},\) and \(3\text{,}\) respectively. On the other hand,
\begin{equation*}
\sqrt{5}, ~~~\sqrt[3]{54}, ~~\text{ and } ~~7^{1/5}
\end{equation*}
are irrational numbers. We can use a calculator to obtain decimal approximations for each of these numbers:
The subsets of the real numbers are related as shown in Figure A.113. Every natural number is also a whole number, every whole number is an integer, every integer is a rational number, and every rational number is real. Also, every real number is either rational or irrational.
FigureA.113.
ExampleA.114.
\(2\) is a natural number, a whole number, an integer, a rational number, and a real number.
\(\sqrt{15}\) is an irrational number and a real number.
The number \(\pi\text{,}\) whose decimal representation begins \(3.14159\ldots\) is irrational and real.
\(3.14159\) is a rational and real number (which is close but not exactly equal to \(\pi\)).
SubsectionProperties of the Real Numbers
The real numbers have several useful properties governing the operations of addition and multiplication. If \(a\text{,}\)\(b\text{,}\) and \(c\) represent real numbers, then each of the following equations is true:
\(\displaystyle \begin{aligned}[t]
\amp a + b = b + a \amp\amp\hphantom{blankblank}\blert{\text{Commutative properties}}\\
\amp ab = ba
\end{aligned}\)
\(\displaystyle \begin{aligned}[t]
\amp a + 0 = a \amp\amp\hphantom{blankblank0000}\blert{\text{Identity properties}}\\
\amp a\cdot 1 = a
\end{aligned}\)
These properties do not mention subtraction or division. But we can define subtraction and division in terms of addition and multiplication. For example, we can define the difference \(a-b\) as follows:
\begin{equation*}
a - b = a + (-b)
\end{equation*}
where \(-b\text{,}\) the additive inverse (or opposite) of \(b\text{,}\) is the number that satisfies
\begin{equation*}
b + (-b) = 0
\end{equation*}
Similarly, we can define the quotient \(\dfrac{a}{b}\text{:}\)
Real numbers obey properties about order, that is, properties about inequalities. The familiar inequality symbols, \(\lt\) and \(\gt\text{,}\) have the following properties:
If \(a\) and \(b\) are any real numbers, then one of three things is true:
\begin{equation*}
a \lt b, ~~\text{ or }~~ a\gt b, ~~\text{ or }~~ a = b
\end{equation*}
(Transitive property) For real numbers \(a\text{,}\)\(b\text{,}\) and \(c\text{,}\)
\begin{equation*}
\text{if } a \lt b ~\text{ and }~ b \lt c, ~\text{ then }~ a \lt c
\end{equation*}
We also have three properties that are useful for solving inequalities:
If \(a\lt b\text{,}\) then \(a+c\lt b+c\text{.}\)
If \(a\lt b\) and \(c\gt 0\text{,}\) then \(ac \lt bc\text{.}\)
If \(a\lt b\) and \(c\lt 0\text{,}\) then \(ac\gt bc\text{.}\)
ExampleA.116.
If \(x\lt y\) and \(y\lt -2\text{,}\) then \(x\lt -2\)
\(\pi \lt 3.1416\text{,}\) so \(10\pi\lt 31.416\text{.}\)
\(\dfrac{1}{3}\gt 0.33\text{,}\) so \(-\dfrac{1}{3}\lt -0.33.\)
SubsectionSection Summary
SubsubsectionVocabulary
Look up the definitions of new terms in the Glossary.
Real number
Multiplicative inverse
Additive inverse
Distributive property
Whole number
Natural number
Reciprocal
Opposite
Irrational number
Integers
Counting number
Transitive property
Commutative property
Terminating decimal
Rational number
Identity property
Associative property
Repeater bar
SubsubsectionSKILLS
Practice each skill in the exercises listed.
Identify types of numbers: #1–12
Write the decimal form of a fraction: #13–20
Use the properties governing arithmetic operations: #21–40
Use the properties of order: #41–46
ExercisesExercises A.13
Exercise Group.
For Problems 1-12, name the subsets of the real numbers to which the number belongs
1.
\(-\dfrac{5}{8} \)
2.
\(137\)
3.
\(\sqrt{8} \)
4.
\(2.71828\ldots\)
5.
\(-36 \)
6.
\(\sqrt{49} \)
7.
\(0 \)
8.
\(0.0\overline{357} \)
9.
\(13\overline{289} \)
10.
\(\sqrt{\dfrac{4}{9}} \)
11.
\(2\pi \)
12.
\(\dfrac{13}{7} \)
Exercise Group.
For Problems 13-20, write the rational number in decimal form. Does the decimal terminate or does it repeat a pattern?
13.
\(\dfrac{3}{8}\)
14.
\(\dfrac{5}{6}\)
15.
\(\dfrac{2}{7}\)
16.
\(\dfrac{43}{11}\)
17.
\(\dfrac{7}{16}\)
18.
\(\dfrac{5}{12}\)
19.
\(\dfrac{11}{13}\)
20.
\(\dfrac{25}{6}\)
Exercise Group.
For Problems 21-30, fill in the blank according to the indicated property.
