Natural

Natural numbers are the counting numbers {1, 2, 3, ...} (positive integers)

Numbers
or the whole numbers {0, 1, 2, 3, ...} (non-negative integers). Start with the counting numbers Natural
Mathematicians use the term "natural" in both cases. (zero may be included).

Integer 0 1 2 3 Real
Integers are the natural numbers and their negatives π
{... −3, −2, −1, 0, 1, 2, 3 ...}. (Z is from German Zahl, "number".)
Extend the line backward to Integer
include the negatives. Real Algebraic e
√2
Rational −3 −2 −1 0 1 2 3
Rational
−2π
Rational numbers are the ratios of integers, also called fractions, such as 1⁄ −√3
1⁄  = 0.5 or 1⁄  = 0.3333... Rational decimal expansions end or repeat. (Q is
2 3
Insert all the fractions. Rational Integer 2
from quotient.) −23⁄4 −11⁄3 −1⁄2 1⁄ 11⁄3 23⁄4 −1 Transcen-
2 1+√5
Natural −2⁄3 dental
Real Algebraic −3 −2 −1 0 1 2 3 −2 2
The real subset of the algebraic numbers: the real roots of polynomials. 0 2
Real algebraic numbers may be rational or irrational. √2 = 1.41421... is
Insert all the roots. Real Algebraic 1 3 −3 Irrational
irrational. Irrational decimal expansions neither end nor repeat. −√5 −√2 −1⁄2 1⁄ √2 √5 2.25
2

Real −3 −2 −1 0 1 2 3
Real numbers are all the numbers on the continuous number line with no Fill in all the numbers to make
gaps. Every decimal expansion is a real number. Real numbers may be a continuous line.
Real
rational or irrational, and algebraic or non-algebraic (transcendental). −π −e −√2 −1⁄2 1⁄
2 √2 e π
π = 3.14159... and e = 2.71828... are transcendental. A transcendental
−3 −2 −1 0 1 2 3
number can be defined by an infinite series.

Real Number Sets Real Number Line Real Number Set Diagram

Complex Number Sets Complex Number Plane Complex Number Set Diagram
z = x + iy i = √−1
Imaginary
Imaginary numbers are numbers whose squares are negative. They are Complex
Imaginary

Imaginary number line

the square root of minus one, i = √−1, and all real number multiples of i
such as 2i and i√2. πi 1 + πi 1.5 − 2πi e + πi
3i ei
Algebraic −2 + 3i
Algebraic

Imaginary part
The roots of polynomials, such as ax3 + bx2 + cx + d = 0, with integer (or i√2 √2 + i√3 π + i√2
rational) coefficients. Algebraic numbers may be real, imaginary, or i⁄
2 1.7 − 2.8i
complex. For example, the roots of x2 − 2 = 0 are ±√2, the roots of 2i 1 + 2i −2i −3 − 2i Transcen-
x2 + 4 = 0 are ±2i, and the roots of x2 − 4x + 7 = 0 are 2 ± i√3.
dental
i 1+i
Complex π + 1.5i
Natural Integer Rational Real Algebraic Real
Complex numbers, such as 2 + 3i, have the form z = x + iy, where x and y
−√2 + i i
are real numbers. x is called the real part and y the imaginary part. The
set of complex numbers includes all the other sets of numbers. The real 0 0 1 −1 1⁄ √2 π
√2 + i⁄2 2
numbers are complex numbers with an imaginary part of zero. 2 −2 −√3 e
Real number line
3 −3 −2⁄3
Properties of the Number Sets −3 −2 −1 0 1 2 3 Irrational

0
Closed under Addition1 The complex numbers are Real part
Closed under Multiplication1 the algebraic completion
of the real numbers. This −2 − i −i 3−i
Closed under Subtraction1
may explain why they
Closed under Division1
appear so often in the
Dense2 laws of nature. Note: This is an Euler diagram, not a Venn diagram.
Complete (Continuous)3 −2i
Algebraically Closed4
Infinity ∞
1. Closed under addition (multiplication, subtraction, division) means the sum (product,
The integers, rational numbers, and algebraic numbers are countably
difference, quotient) of any two numbers in the set is also in the set. −1.5 − ei
2. Dense: Between any two numbers there is another number in the set. infinite, meaning there is a one-to-one correspondence with the
−3i
3. Continuous with no gaps. Every sequence of numbers that keeps getting closer 1 − πi counting numbers. The real numbers and complex numbers are
together (Cauchy sequence) will converge to a limit in the set. uncountably infinite, as Cantor proved.
4. Every polynomial with coefficients in the set has a root in the set.

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