NUMBER SYSTEM
Meaning and examples of Natural numbers
Meaning: positive whole numbers used in
counting.
Examples; N= {1, 2, 3, 4, 5,},
They are a part of real numbers including
only the positive integers, BUT not zero,
fractions, decimals, and negative numbers.
It is unobservable in real life
It is the result of arithmetic operations
Example; 1 – 2 = -1
‘N’ = {-1, -2, -3 ….}
The set of natural numbers and Zero is called
a whole number
Using W to represent this set, we can then
express it as W = {0, 1, 2, 3, …..}
BUT not fractions, decimals, and negative
numbers.
The set of whole numbers and the negative of
counting numbers constitute the set of
integers.
That is, an integer is a number with no
decimal or fractional part.
T = {…, -2, -1, 0, 1, 2, ….}
Note that while addition, subtraction and
multiplication are defined on integers.
Division operation is not.
the system that includes all fractions in which
m and n are integers and n is not zero
comprises the rational numbers.
Rational numbers can also be written as
decimals.
all integers are rational numbers.
Rational numbers are closed under addition,
subtraction multiplication, and division.
Any number that cannot be expressed as a
ratio of integers is called an irrational
number.
Examples are √2 , ∏ and e.
they can be expressed numerically only as the
approximation 1.414, 3.142 and 2.718
respectively.
A real number is a decimal expression whose
digits may or may not terminate or repeat.
Thus a real number is rational if and only if
their digits repeat or terminate.
Real numbers that aren’t rational are
irrational.
The set of real numbers is closed under
additional, subtraction, multiplication and
division.
Property of Equality.
Property of Addition and Multiplication
Identity property
Inverse Property
Note that no real number when multiplied by
itself gives -1.
Thus, the equation x2= -1 has no solution in
the real number system.
The desire for a solution to the problem
stated above gave rise to the concept of
imaginary number.
i = √-1,
i2 = -1,
i3 = -1√-1,
i4 = 1,
i5 = i
The combination of real and imaginary
numbers give rise to complex numbers.
Examples are;
2+i
-4 + 3i
1 – 4i
In general, the above expressions can be
written as ;
Z = a + bi
A is called the real part of Z, while bi is its
imaginary part.
The four arithmetic operations can be
conducted on complex numbers
The sum (Z1 +Z2) of two complex numbers
Z1 = a1 + b1i and Z2 = a2 + b2i is Z1 + Z2
= a1 + b1i +a2 +b2i
= (a1 +a2 ) + (b1 + b2) i
Example (8+2i ) + (5+3 i)
= (8+5) + (2+3) i
= 13 + 5i
The difference (Z1 - Z2) between
Z1 = a1 + b1i and Z2 = a2 + b2i is
Z 1 - Z2
= (a1 - a2 ) + (b1 - b2) i
Example; (8+2 i) – (5+3 i)
= (8-5) + (2-3)i
=3-i
The product (Z1 x Z2) of Z1 = a1 + b1i and
Z2 = a2 + b2 i is
Z1 x Z2 = (a1 + b1i)(a2 + b2 i )
= a1a2 + a1b2i +b1ia2 + b1b2i2
= (a1a2 - b1b2) +(a1b2 +b1a2 ) i
NB; i2 = -1
The quotient (Z1/ Z2 ) of two complex
numbers Z1 = a1 + b1i and Z2=a2+b2i where
Z ≠ 0 is such a number p+qi such that
(a2 +b2i)(p+ qi) = a1 + b1i . We can find p + q
as follows:
i i i
p q1 a b a b a b
1 1 1 1 1 1
a b i a b i a b i
2
2
2
2
2
2
a a b b b a a b i
1 2 1 2 1 2 1 2
a b
2 2
2 2
a a b b b a a b
1 2 1 2 1 2 1 2
a b a b
2 2 2 2
2 2 2 2
