Question 681890: what is natural numbers
Answer by MathLover1(20849)   (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website! The term "natural number" refers either to a member of the set of positive integers 1, 2, 3, ... or to the set of nonnegative integers 0, 1, 2, 3, ... e.g., Regrettably, there seems to be no general agreement about whether to include 0 in the set of natural numbers. In fact, Ribenboim (1996) states "Let P be a set of natural numbers; whenever convenient, it may be assumed that 0 in P."
The set of natural numbers (whichever definition is adopted) is denoted N.
Due to lack of standard terminology, the following terms and notations are recommended in preference to "counting number," "natural number," and "whole number."
set................................ name.............. symbol
..., -2, -1, 0, 1, 2, ......... integers.......... Z
1, 2, 3, 4, ............ positive integers.. Z-+
0, 1, 2, 3, 4, .......... non-negative integers... Z-*
0, -1, -2, -3, -4, ......... non-positive integers......
-1, -2, -3, -4, ........... negative integers......... Z--
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