The Real Number System v2

THE REAL
NUMBER
SYSTEM
Sir A
REAL NUMBER SYSTEM
 REVIEW OF REAL NUMBER SYSTEM
 REAL NUMBER LINE
 ABSOLUTE VALUE
REVIEW OF REAL NUMBER SYSTEM
Real Numbers
Given any number n, we know that n is either rational or irrational. It cannot be both. The sets of rational
and irrational numbers together make up the set of real numbers. As we saw with integers, the real numbers
can be divided into three subsets: negative real numbers, zero, and positive real numbers. Each subset
includes fractions, decimals, and irrational numbers according to their algebraic sign (+ or –). Zero is
considered neither positive nor negative.
The real numbers can be visualized on a horizontal number line with an arbitrary point chosen as 0, with
negative numbers to the left of 0 and positive numbers to the right of 0. A fixed unit distance is then used to
mark off each integer (or other basic value) on either side of 0. Any real number corresponds to a unique
position on the number line. The converse is also true: Each location on the number line corresponds to
exactly one real number. This is known as a one-to-one correspondence. We refer to this as the real
number line as shown below.
Real Numbers
Real Numbers
Sets of Numbers as Subsets
Beginning with the real numbers, we have expanded each set to form a larger
set, meaning that there is a subset relationship between the sets of numbers
we have encountered so far. These relationships become more obvious when
seen as a diagram.
DIAGRAM OF SYSTEM NUMBERS

 The numbers we use for counting, or enumerating items, are the natural

numbers: 1,2,3,4,5,1,2,3,4,5, and so on. We describe them in set notation as {1,2,3,…}
{1,2,3,…} where the ellipsis (…) indicates that the numbers continue to infinity. The natural
numbers are, of course, also called the counting numbers. Any time we enumerate the
members of a team, count the coins in a collection, or tally the trees in a grove, we are using
the set of natural numbers. The set of whole numbers is the set of natural numbers and
zero: {0,1,2,3,…}{0,1,2,3,…}.
 The set of integers adds the opposites of the natural numbers to the set of whole
numbers: {…−3,−2,−1,0,1,2,3,…}{…−3,−2,−1,0,1,2,3,…}. It is useful to note that the set of
integers is made up of three distinct subsets: negative integers, zero, and positive integers. In
this sense, the positive integers are just the natural numbers. Another way to think about it is
that the natural numbers are a subset of the integers.
 negative integers zero positive integers…,
−3,−2,−1, 0, 1,2,3,…
The set of rational numbers is written as
Notice from the definition that rational numbers are fractions (or quotients) containing integers
in both the numerator and the denominator, and the denominator is never 00. We can also see
that every natural number, whole number, and integer is a rational number with a denominator
of 11.
 Because they are fractions, any rational number can also be expressed in decimal form. Any
rational number can be represented as either:
Irrational Numbers
At some point in the ancient past, someone discovered that not all numbers are rational numbers. A builder, for instance,
may have found that the diagonal of a square with unit sides was not
2 or even 3/2, but was something else. Or a garment maker might have observed that the ratio of the circumference to the
diameter of a roll of cloth was a little bit more than
3, but still not a rational number. Such numbers are said to be irrational because they cannot be written as fractions. These
numbers make up the set of irrational numbers. Irrational numbers cannot be expressed as a fraction of two integers. It is
impossible to describe this set of numbers by a single rule except to say that a number is irrational if it is not rational. So
we write this as shown.
Irrational Numbers
Irrational Numbers
DIAGRAM OF SYSTEM NUMBERS

ABSOLUTE VALUE
ABSOLUTE VALUE
ABSOLUTE VALUE
ABSOLUTE VALUE
Use Properties of Real Numbers
 LEARNING OUTCOMES
• Define and use the commutative property of addition and multiplication
• Define and use the associative property of addition and multiplication
• Define and use the distributive property
• Define and use the identity property of addition and multiplication
• Define and use the inverse property of addition and multiplication
Use Properties of Real Numbers
 LEARNING OUTCOMES
• Define and use the commutative property of addition and multiplication
• Define and use the associative property of addition and multiplication
• Define and use the distributive property
• Define and use the identity property of addition and multiplication
• Define and use the inverse property of addition and multiplication

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THE REAL

Sets of Numbers as Subsets

DIAGRAM OF SYSTEM NUMBERS

 The numbers we use for counting, or enumerating items, are the natural

The set of rational numbers is written as

DIAGRAM OF SYSTEM NUMBERS

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