1.1: Background regarding numbers
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The natural numbers (denoted by N are the numbers
1,2,3,4,5,…
The integers (denoted by Z are the numbers
…,−4,−3,−2,−1,0,1,2,3,4,5,…
The rational numbers (denoted by Q are the fractions ab of integers a and b with b≠0. Here are some examples of rational numbers:
35,−26,17,0,3−8
The real numbers (denoted by R are the numbers on the real number line
Here are some examples of real numbers:
√3,π,−25,18,0,6.789
A real number that is not a rational number is called an irrational number. Here are some examples of irrational numbers:
π,√2,523,e