The Set of Real Numbers

Real numbers can be defined as the union of both the rational and irrational numbers. They can be both positive
and negative and are denoted by the symbol “R”. All the natural numbers, decimals and fractions come under
this category. See the figure, given below, which shows the classification of real numerals.

Important Subsets of Real Numbers

The set of real numbers consist of different categories, such as natural and whole numbers, integers, rational
and irrational numbers. In the table given below, all these numbers are defined with examples.

Category Definition Example

Natural Contain all counting numbers which start All numbers such as 1, 2, 3, 4,5,6,…..…
Numbers ℕ from 1. N = {1,2,3,4,……}

These are the numbers that we use for

counting.
Whole Collection of zero and natural number. All numbers including 0 such as 0, 1, 2, 3,
Numbers 𝕎 W = {0,1,2,3,…..} 4,5,6,…..…

The set of whole numbers includes 0 and

the natural numbers.
Integers ℤ The collective result of whole numbers Includes: -infinity (-∞),……..-4, -3, -2, -1, 0, 1,
and negative of all natural numbers. 2, 3, 4, ……+infinity (+∞)
{… − 3, −2, −1,0,1,2,3 … }
The set of integers includes the negatives -17, -5, -3, 0, 2, 3,5, 99
of the natural numbers and the whole
numbers.
Rational 𝑎 17 6
( |𝑎 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑏 𝑎𝑟𝑒 𝑖𝑛𝑡𝑒𝑔𝑒𝑟𝑠 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑏 ≠ 0) −17 = − , = 3, −2, 2, 0 2,3,5, 17
Numbers ℚ 𝑏 1 2
2 1
The set of rational numbers is the set of all = 0.4, = 0.5
umbers that can be expressed as a quotient 5 2
2
of two integers, with the denominator not = 0.6666 … = −0. ̅66
̅̅̅
0. Rational numbers can be expressed as 3
terminating or repeating decimals.
Irrational The set of irrational numbers is the set of Irrational numbers are non-terminating and
Numbers 𝕀 all numbers whose decimal non-repeating in nature like √2
representations are neither terminating nor
repeating. Irrational numbers cannot be √2 ≈ 1.414214 …
expressed as a quotient of integers.
−√3 ≈ −1.73205 …
𝜋 ≈ 3.1426 …
All the numbers which are not rational and 𝜋
cannot be written in the form of ratio a/b. ≈ 1.571 …
2

Notice that use of the symbol ≈in the example of irrational numbers. The symbol means “is
approximately equal to” Thus, √2 ≈ 1.414214 …

We can verify that this is only an approximation by multiplying 1.414214 by itself. The product is very
close to but not exactly to 2. 1.414214 x 1.414214 =2.000001237796

Not all square roots are irrational. For example √25 = 5 because 52 = 5 ∙ 5 = 25. Thus √25 is a natural
√25
number, a whole number, an integer and a rational number ( = 5).
1
Real Numbers Chart
The chart for the set of real numerals including all the types are given below:

Properties of Real Numbers

There are four main properties which include commutative property, associative property, distributive property
and identity property. Consider “m, n and r” are three real numbers. Then the above properties can be described
using m, n, and r as shown below:

Name Meaning Examples

Commutative Changing order when adding does not • 13 + 7 = 7 + 13
Property of affect the sum. • 13x + 7 = 7 + 13x
Addition a+b=b+a
Commutative Changing order when multiplying does • 12 𝑥 15 = 15 𝑥 12
Property of not affect the product. • 𝑥 ∙6= 6 ∙𝑥
Multiplication ab = ba
Associative Changing grouping when adding does 3 + (8 + 𝑥) = (3 + 8) + 𝑥
Property of not affect the sum. 3 + 8 + 𝑥 = 11 + 𝑥
Addition (a + b) + c = a + (b + c) 11 + 𝑥 = 11 + 𝑥
Associative Changing grouping when multiplying −2(3𝑥) = (−2 ∙ 3)𝑥
Property of does not affect the product. −6𝑥 = −6𝑥
Multiplication (ab)c = a(bc)
Property of Multiplication distributes over addition. 5(3𝑥 + 7) = 5 ∙ 3𝑥 + 5 ∙ 7
Multiplication 𝑎(𝑏 + 𝑐) = 𝑎𝑏 + 𝑎𝑐 = 15𝑥 + 35
over Addition
Identity Any number added with zero gives the 5+0=5
Property of number. a+0 = a 10+0=10
Addition 0+a=a
Identity Any number multiplied to 1 give the 13x*1=13x
Property of number. The mu 55*1=55
Multiplication a*1=a
1*a=a
Inverse Property The sum of Real Number and its 6x + (-6x) = 0
of Addition additive inverse gives 0, the additive 5+ (-5) = 0
identity (-4y) + 4 = 0
a + (-a) = 0
(-a) + a = 0
Inverse Property of The product of a nonzero real number 1
7= =1
Multiplication and its multiplicative inverse gives 1 7
(reciprocal of the given number), the 1
( ) (𝑥 − 3) = 1, 𝑥 ≠ 3
𝑥−3
multiplicative identity.
1
𝑎 ∗ = 1, 𝑎 ≠ 0
𝑎
1
= 𝑎 = 1, 𝑎 ≠ 0
𝑎
 Real Numbers

Allona Vheb G. Bargamento

Name: ______________________________________________ Score: _______________
B
Course and Year: _____________________________________ Date: ________________
A. Multiple Choice
Directions: Choose the letter of your best choice. Use the google form Answer sheet provided in
the google classroom.

1. Which number below is natural, whole, integer and rational?

A. -4 C. 3
B. 0.7 D. 5.1

2. Which of the following statements is always TRUE?

A. Some whole numbers are not rational. C. All whole numbers are integers.
B. All rational numbers are integers. D. All integers are whole numbers.

3. The product of 5 and is __________.

A. rational because one is irrational C. irrational because one is irrational
B. rational because both are rational D. irrational because both are irrational

4. Which of the following are irrational numbers?

I. -√100 II. √400 III. √40 IV. √10
A. I and II C. II and III
B. III and IV D. II and III
1
5. The sum of 0.25 and 5 is __________.
A. rational because both are rational C. irrational because both are rational
B. rational because both are irrational D. irrational because both are irrational

6. Which combined sets make up all real numbers?

A. Rational and irrational numbers C. Irrational numbers and integers
B. Rational and natural numbers D. Integers and whole numbers

7. The counting numbers starting from 1 and going to infinity belong to the set of __________.
A. Integers C. Natural numbers
B. Rational numbers D. Whole numbers

8. Which of the following is always true?

A. 0.121212... is an irrational number. C. 0.34353637 is an integer.
B. 5.12345... is a real number. D. 8.14 is a natural number.

9. Which of the followings set contains non-integers only?

A. {6, 5, 1.25} ̅)
C. {3√5, 4.5, 0. 3
B. {−8, 4√13, 25} D. {164, 8, 7, 9}

10. Margaret is asked to write 4 irrational numbers. Which of these numbers are correct?
1.212223.., √30, 3π, √22.
A. 1.212223..... and √30 only C. All of them
B. √30, 3π, 𝑎𝑛𝑑 √22 D. None of them

11. A motorcab service charges is P8.00 for the first 8 km and P0.50 for each additional km. How
1
much will you pay if you cover a distance of 12 2 km?
A. Php 10.25 C. Php 10.50
B. Php 10.75 D. Php 11.25
12. Rachel rode her bike for one-fifth of a mile on Monday and two-fifths of a mile on Tuesday. How
many miles did she ride altogether?
1 3
A. 5 C. 10
3 4
B. D.
5 5

4
13. Martha spends of her allowance on food. What fraction of her allowance is left?
9
9 13
A. C.
5 9
9 5
B.
13
D.
9

14. In a fruit basket, there are 13 pieces of fruits, 5 of which are apples. How can you express the
number of apples in fraction?
A. 5 13/5 C. 13 5/12
B. 13/ 5 D. 5/12

15. Which of the following numbers are irrational?

I. 0.3333 II. √25 III. 2√5 IV. 4.121314…
A. I and II C. II and III
B. III and IV D. I and IV

B. Recognizing subset of real numbers

3
̅̅̅̅, √5, 𝜋, 7.3, √81}
1. {−7, − , 0, 0. 66
4

List the numbers in the set that are

a. Natural Numbers
b. Whole Numbers
c. Integers
d. Rational Numbers
e. Irrational Numbers
f. Real Numbers

2. {−9, −1.3, 0. ̅̅̅̅̅̅̅̅̅̅̅̅̅̅̅̅̅̅̅̅̅

𝜋
33, , √9, √10}
2

List the numbers in the set are:

a. Natural Numbers
b. Whole Numbers
c. Integers
d. Rational Numbers
e. Irrational Numbers
f. Real Numbers