WHY DOWE NEED

WHOLE NUMBERS AND

WHAT IS THE
DIFFERENCE BETWEEN
NATURAL NUMBERS
AND WHOLE NUMBERS?
➢ Natural numbers are counting numbers. The
set of natural numbers is denoted by N = {1,
2, 3, ….., 20, 21,….}
➢ We always begin counting from 1, so 1 is
the smallest natural number.
➢ Since, natural numbers are infinite, so
largest natural number does not exist.
 How will you describe such situations?
➢ If a box is empty, then how many bottles of sauce are there in it?
➢ If a girl has nothing in her hand, then how many bananas does she have in her
hand?

We will see there is nothing in the box and there is nothing in the
hands.
To quantify such situations we use number ‘0’.
0 basically represents nothingness or absence of something.
Who invented ‘0’ ?

ARYABHATA
➢ Counting numbers including 0 form the
set of whole numbers.
The set of whole numbers is denoted by
W = {0, 1, 2, 3…., 20, 21,…..}
➢ 0 is the smallest whole number.
➢ Since, whole numbers are infinite, so
largest whole number does not exist.

Are all natural Are all whole

numbers whole numbers natural
numbers? numbers?
Yes No
Successor : When we take any whole number, its successor is
obtained by adding ‘1’ to it (i.e. the number which comes just
after the given whole number is its successor).
For example: Successor of 15 = 15 + 1 = 16.
Predecessor : When we take any whole number, its
predecessor is obtained by subtracting ‘1’ from it (i.e. the
number which comes just before the given whole number is its
predecessor).
For example: Predecessor of 15 = 15 - 1 = 14.
Every whole Every whole
number has a number, except 0
successor. has a predecessor.
The numbers which are to the
left on the number line are
smaller in comparison to the
ones on the right and vice-
versa.
 Ex 2.1 (NCERT)

Q4) How many whole numbers are there between

32 and 53?
Ans) There are 20 (53 – 32 – 1) whole numbers
between 32 and 53.

Q7) In each of the following pairs of numbers,

state which whole number is on the left of the
other number on the number line. Also write them
with the appropriate sign (>,<) between them.
(d) 9830415, 10023001
Ans) 9830415 lies on the left of 10023001 on the
number line, so 9830415 < 10023001
3+4

3+4=7 Solve 2 + 6
using number
line
8-3

8– 3=5 Solve 7 – 4
using number
line
 Solve 3 × 4
using number
line