Sets of Numbers and Interval Notation

Irrational Rational Numbers

Numbers

Integers

Whole Numbers

Natural
Numbers

The Real Numbers

Natural Numbers: {1, 2, 3, 4, …}

Whole Numbers: {0, 1, 2, 3, …}

Integers: {…, -3, -2, -1, 0, 1, 2, 3, …}

Rational Numbers: the collection of all numbers that can be represented in the
m 3 7
form where m and n are integers, n  0 . Eg. ,−
n 4 1

Irrational Numbers: the collection of all decimal numbers that neither terminate
nor repeat. The collection of real numbers which are not rational.
Eg.  , 2

Real Numbers: the collection of all rational and irrational numbers.

A set is a collection of objects. We often call these objects ____________,

Eg. A = {−2, 3, 7} , the set of irrational numbers, x x  5

The _________________ (written_____) is the set containing no elements.

Roster Notation or Roster Method {−3, 5, 9}, {… , −4, −2, 0, 2, 4 … }

When we describe a set by listing its elements, this is called the

___________ method of describing the set. Use __________ brackets and

separate elements with commas.

Set–Builder Notation { 𝑥 | property 𝑥 must have to be in set }

Use _________ brackets.

Set-builder notation y
Roster notation Graph

x x is an integer and − 1  x  4
y -6 -5 -4 -3 -2 -1 0 1 2 3 4 5 6

x x is an integer and x 2  3 -6 -5 -4 -3 -2 -1 0 1 2 3 4 5 6

Interval Notation (𝑎, 𝑏), [𝑎, 𝑏], [𝑎, 𝑏), (𝑎, 𝑏]

We use interval notation to represent ____________ of real numbers.

A square bracket indicates that the endpoint is _________________.

A round bracket indicates that the endpoint is __________________.

Order matters. The smaller endpoint is on the left inside the brackets, the bigger
end point is on the right
 y
Interval notation Set-builder Graph

(2, 5) y {x 2  x  5}
-6 -5 -4 -3 -2 -1 0 1 2 3 4 5 6

[−3, 2] y
-6 -5 -4 -3 -2 -1 0 1 2 3 4 5 6

y
[0, 5)
-6 -5 -4 -3 -2 -1 0 1 2 3 4 5 6

{x − 1  x  4}
-6 -5 -4 -3 -2 -1 0 1 2 3 4 5 6

If the interval has no left endpoint (ie interval continues forever in the
_______________ direction), we use the symbol ______ on the left.

If the interval has no right endpoint (ie interval continues forever in the
_______________ direction), we use the symbol ______ on the right.

A round bracket is used next to the symbols ∞ and −∞.

y
Interval notation Set-builder Graph

(−, 4) y
-6 -5 -4 -3 -2 -1 0 1 2 3 4 5 6

y {x x  2}
-6 -5 -4 -3 -2 -1 0 1 2 3 4 5 6

y
{x x  −1}
-6 -5 -4 -3 -2 -1 0 1 2 3 4 5 6

[0, )
-6 -5 -4 -3 -2 -1 0 1 2 3 4 5 6

To represent the set of all real numbers using interval notation, we write ______

Note that 1, 4 and [1, 4] do not represent the same sets.
y
Graph of 1, 4 : Graph of [1, 4] :

-6 -5 -4 -3 -2 -1 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 -6 -5 -4 -3 -2 -1 0 1 2 3 4 5 6