Classification of Numbers

The broadest classification of numbers is into real numbers and complex numbers. Real numbers
are the ones which can be represented on the number line; complex numbers are those which
cannot be represented on a number line.
1) Real numbers can be classified into rational numbers and irrational numbers. A clear
classification of real numbers is shown in the table

2) Complex numbers are of the form p+qi where “p” is the real part and “qi” is the imaginary
part. “i” is defined as √-1

NUMBER LINE

THE NUMBER LINE GOES ON TILL INFINITY IN BOTH DIRECTIONS

Left side of zero➜negative integers Right side of zero➜positive integers Zero + positive
integers➜whole numbers
COMPARING INTEGERS

Integers can be compared by looking at their positions on the number line. The integer on the
right will always be greater than the integer on the left.

Every positive integer is greater than any negative integer

DEFINITIONS

1) NATURAL NUMBERS:- the numbers used for counting are called natural numbers. They
are present on the positive side of the number line.

They are also called positive integers. The lowest natural number is one

2) WHOLE NUMBERS:- When zero is included with the natural numbers, the set of numbers
are called whole numbers

3) INTEGERS:- They comprise of natural numbers, negative integers and zero. Zero is neither
positive nor negative.
Two integers are said to be opposites if each of the two are from the same distance from the
origin. One will have a positive sign and the other will have a negative sign

4) PRIME NUMBERS AND COMPOSITE NUMBERS:- Numbers that are divisible by only
1 and itself are called PRIME NUMBERS.

Eg ) 2, 7, 11,13 NOTE: Factors are those numbers which divide a given number completely, that
is, without leaving a remainder ( 2 is a factor of 8. 7 is not a factor of 22)

➜Numbers that have factors other than itself and unity are called COMPOSITE NUMBERS

eg) 4,6,8,15

ILLUSTRATION

For example – To check whether 37 is prime Take the approximate square root of 37=6 Check if
there is a prime number below 6 which divides 37.

None of 2,3 and 5 divides 37. Hence, 37 is prime

5) RELATIVELY PRIME NUMBERS:- Numbers whose highest common factor is 1 (i.e the
highest common divisor of both the numbers is 1),

are said to be relatively prime numbers.

Eg) 6 and 13 are relatively prime; since 1 is the highest common factor of these two
numbers; similarly 2 and 3, 7 and 9 etc

6) ODD NUMBERS AND EVEN NUMBERS:- If “A” is an integer and if there is an integer
“N” such that A=2N+1, then A is said to be an odd number.
If there exists an integer N such that A=2N, then A is an even number.

EVEN NUMBERS are those numbers which are divisible by 2 (positive or negative) whereas
ODD NUMBERS are those numbers(positive or negative) that are not divisible by 2.