WHOLE NUMBERS

What are counting numbers?

                                                                                              

When we begin to count, we begin with 1, 2, 3, 4…they come naturally. So, these numbers are called Natural Numbers. Natural numbers start from 1.

From all natural numbers, we chose a number say 7.

We know there is a number before 7 and a number after 7.

If we add 1 to 7 we get 7 + 1 = 8.  ‘8’ is called the successor of 7.

If we subtract 1 from 7 we get 7 – 1 = 6. ‘6’ is called the predecessor of 7.

Successor and Predecessor

Successor: The successor of a number is the number obtained by adding 1 to it.

1 is the successor of 0, 2 is the successor of 1, 2 is the successor of 1 and so on…

Predecessor: The Predecessor of a number is the number obtained by subtracting 1 from it.

1 is the Predecessor of 2, 2 is the Predecessor of 3 and so on.

Note that 1 does not have a Predecessor in natural numbers.

Whole Numbers

If we add 0 to the collection of Natural numbers we get whole numbers. All basic operations such as addition, subtraction, multiplication and division can be applied on Whole numbers.

So, 1 has a predecessor in whole numbers that is 0 but 0 does not have a predecessor.

Next we will be discussing number line….