
Chapter 1
1.2
INTRODUCTION
In the lower classes, we have studied natural numbers, whole numbers, integers and fractions. We
are also familiar with terms such as factors, multiples, primes, coprimes, HCF, and LCM. In this
chapter, we shall revise these ideas and learn what rational and irrational numbers are.
Natural Numbers
All counting numbers are natural numbers.
1, 2, 3, 4, … are natural numbers.
Whole Numbers
Zero and natural numbers together are called whole numbers.
Integers
All the numbers … −3, −2, −1, 0, 1, 2, 3 … are integers.
If a, b and c are natural numbers and ab = c, then a and b are factors of c. c is a multiple of a as
well as of b.
For ...