NATURAL NUMBERS

Definition Of Natural Numbers

All the counting numbers 1, 2, 3,... are called Natural Numbers.

More About Natural Numbers

The set of natural numbers is represented by using the symbol N.
The main purpose of the natural numbers is counting and ordering.
All natural numbers are whole numbers but all whole numbers are not natural numbers.
A natural number 'n' can be written in the form of rational number as n/1 . So, all natural numbers are rational numbers.
The square of any natural number can be expressed as a sum of odd numbers.
Natural numbers are a subset of the whole numbers, the integers, the rational numbers, and the real numbers.

Video Examples: What are Natural Numbers ? - Natural numbers explained

Examples of Natural Numbers

The above number line describes the natural numbers
 
The number of apples in the basket is 7, which is a natural number.

Solved Example on Natural Numbers

Ques: Which of the following is a natural number?

Choices:

A. 1/3
B. 0
C. 57
D. - 26
Correct Answer: C

Solution:

Step 1: 1/3 is a rational number. [A rational number is the ratio of two integers in the form a/b , where b ≠ 0.]
Step 2: 0 is a whole number. [Whole Numbers are {0, 1, 2, ...}.]
Step 3: - 26 is a negative integer. [Integers are the set of whole numbers and their opposites.]
Step 4: 57 is a natural number. [Natural numbers are {1, 2, 3, ...}.]