11/17/2014

Numbers and Number Systems -- Kids Encyclopedia | Children's Homework Help | Kids Online Dictionary | Britannica

Numbers and Number Systems

Children's Encyclopedia

A number is a basic unit of mathematics.

Numbers are used for counting, measuring,
and comparing amounts. A number system
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is a set of symbols, or numerals, that are
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used to represent numbers. The most
common number system uses 10 symbols calleddigits0, 1, 2, 3, 4,
5, 6, 7, 8, and 9and combinations of these digits.
A pencil and paper ar e
mor e useful than finger s
as tools for counting.
Will & Deni
M cIntyre/Corbis

Kinds of Numbers

Numbers can be classified in many ways. The simplest class is the natural, or counting,
numbers (1, 2, 3, ). With the addition of 0, these are known as the whole numbers.

The integer s can be

pictur ed as points on a
line that continues
for ever in both
dir ections.
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Fr actions, as well as
whole number s, can be
shown on a number line.
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Britannica, Inc.

The natural numbers are also called positive numbers because they
are greater than 0. For each of the positive numbers, there is also
a negative number (-1, -2, -3, ). Negative numbers are less than
0. The natural numbers, their negative equivalents, and 0 make up
the set of numbers called integers. The integers can be pictured as
points on a line that continues forever in both directions.

Fractions are numbers that represent parts of a whole. Fractions

are written as digits separated by a line, as in 3/4. The digit below
the line is called the denominator. The digit above the line is
called the numerator. In reading a fraction, the numerator is
stated first. For example, 3/4 is read as three-fourths. Fractions

can be shown on a number line, too.

Fractions can also be written in a form called decimals. Decimals are written using the
digits (09) along with a dot called a decimal point. A fraction can be changed to a
decimal by dividing the numerator by the denominator. In this way, 3/4 can be
changed to the decimal 0.75.
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Numbers and Number Systems -- Kids Encyclopedia | Children's Homework Help | Kids Online Dictionary | Britannica

Ancient Number Systems

The first system of numbers was probably the tally system. In this system a separate
mark was made for every item being counted. This system was useful only with small
numbers.
The ancient Egyptians developed a complex system for writing large numbers in
symbols called hieroglyphics. There was a single hieroglyphic symbol for the number
1,000. But to write the number 999, it was necessary to write the symbol for 100 nine
times, then the symbol for 10 nine times, and finally the symbol for 1 nine times.
The ancient Romans used letters to represent numbersI for 1, V for 5, X for 10, L for
50, C for 100, D for 500, and M for 1,000. This system is known as Roman numerals. In
Roman numerals, 256 is written as CCLVI.
Base-ten and Other Systems

Hindu-Ar abic numer als

ar e now used in most of
the countr ies of the
wor ld. It took mor e than

The most common number system used today is called the baseten, or decimal, system. It has 10 digits (09) that can be combined
to write any number. The base-ten system was invented by Hindus
in ancient India. Later, Arabs improved the system. For this reason
the digits 09 are called Hindu-Arabic numerals.

1,500

In the base-ten system, the value of each digit is based on its

position, or place, in a number. There is a ones place, a tens
place, a hundreds place, and so forth. In the number 456, for
example, the 4 is in the hundreds place, the 5 is in the tens place, and the 6 is in the
ones place. Written in another way, the number 456 actually represents (4 x 100) + (5
x 10) + (6 x 1).
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Electr onic calculator s

conver t number s into
base-two (binar y) for m
befor e wor king with

For some purposes other number systems are more useful than
base-ten. For example, computers use the base-two, or binary,
number system. Instead of 10 digits, this system uses only two0
and 1. In a computer these numbers stand for off and on, the
only two possible states of the computer's electric switches.

them. Then
Holger Winkler
zefa/Corbis

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