MATHEMATICS GRADE 12
NIKITA VERMEULEN
, ALGEBRA
THE NUMBER SYSTEM
Natural Numbers: N
Start at 1 and increase in ones up to infinity ().
Whole Numbers: N ο
Start at 0 and increase in ones up to infinity ().
Integers: Z
Integers extend whole numbers to include negative numbers.
Start at - and increase in ones up to + .
Rational Numbers:Q
Rational numbers are numbers which can be written:
as a recurring decimal or,
as a decimal that terminates or,
as a fraction, where:
o the numerator and denominator have to be integers, and
o the denominator cannot be equal to zero.
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Examples of rational numbers are: ; 0, 3́; 0,75
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Irrational Numbers:Q '
Irrational numbers cannot be written in any of the forms of rational numbers.
Irrational numbers are non-recurring and non-terminating.
Examples of irrational numbers are: π ; √2 ; √3 9 ; 2,35408 …
pi, and
the square root of numbers that are not perfect squares or,
cube roots of numbers that are not perfect cubes
Non-Real/Imaginary Numbers:
Occurs when you take the even root of a negative number.
Non-real numbers are known as complex numbers.
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Examples of non-real numbers are: √ −2 ; √ −9; 12√ −25
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