Pre-Algebra : Integers and Types of Numbers

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for Pre-Algebra

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Example Questions

Example Question #1 : Number Theory

Which of the following is an integer and is not a whole number?

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

An integer is any number without a fractional component, such as the following:



A whole number is any positive number with no fractional component, such as the following:



The major difference between the two groups of numbers is that there are no negative whole numbers, while there are negative integers. 

The first step of this problem is to eliminate any choices that are not integers. The choices , and , are all fractions or contain fractional components, so none of these values can be considered integers. 

Of the remaining choices,  falls under the categories of whole number and integer, so it cannot be the answer. 

 fufills both requirements of the question. It is an integer by having no fractional component, and it is not a whole number because it is a negative value, so it must be the correct answer. 

Example Question #1 : Integers And Types Of Numbers

Which of the following is not a natural number?

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

Natural numbers are considered the "counting numbers". They are all of the integers from 1 until infinity. 0 and negative integers are not natural numbers, therefore, the answer to this problem is .

Example Question #2 : Integers And Types Of Numbers

Which of the following describes the number ?

Possible Answers:

all of the other choices

whole number

integer

natural number

Correct answer:

integer

Explanation:

Natural numbers are the counting numbers from  to infinity (all positive numbers). Whole numbers are the natural numbers plus . Integers are the positive and negative counting numbers, including . Therefore, the most accurate term to describe the number  is an integer.

Example Question #3 : Integers And Types Of Numbers

Which of these numbers is an integer but not a whole number?

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

The whole numbers are the elements of the set

.

The integers are the the elements of the set

.

The numbers that belong to the former but not the latter are exactly the set of negative integers. Of the given choices, only  is such a number. It is the correct choice.

Example Question #3 : Integers And Types Of Numbers

Evaluate:

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

First evaluate everything inside of the absolute value. 3-5=-2.

The absolute value then turns all negative numbers into a positive number, so the -2 becomes a positive 2.

Example Question #2 : Integers And Types Of Numbers

If a and b are even integers, what must be odd?

Possible Answers:

\dpi{100} \small a-b

\dpi{100} \small a\times b

\dpi{100} \small a+b-2

\dpi{100} \small a+b-1

\dpi{100} \small a+b

Correct answer:

\dpi{100} \small a+b-1

Explanation:

The sum (or difference) or 2 even integers is even. Similarly, the product (or quotient) of 2 even integers is also even; therefore the answer must be \dpi{100} \small a+b-1, which can be easily checked by plugging in any two even numbers. 

For example, if \dpi{100} \small a=2\ and\ b=4,\ a+b-1=2+4-1=5, which is odd.

Example Question #3 : Properties Of Integers

What is the greatest prime factor of

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

The only prime factors are 3 and 5, therefore, 5 will be the greatest prime factor.

Example Question #4 : Integers And Types Of Numbers

Is  an integer, decimal, or a fraction?

Possible Answers:

Fraction

Decimal

None

Integer

Correct answer:

Fraction

Explanation:

A fraction is a number with a numerator and denominator that can not be simplified into an integer so the number  is a fraction.

Example Question #5 : Integers And Types Of Numbers

Which of the following is an integer?

Possible Answers:

-100.1

1.5

Correct answer:

Explanation:

Integers are any number that doesn't have anything in the decimal places.  They are also known as whole numbers.  The cubed root of 64 is 4, which is the only whole number out of the answer choices.

Example Question #5 : Integers And Types Of Numbers

Which of the following is NOT an integer?

Possible Answers:

-4

1024

Correct answer:

Explanation:

An integer is simply a whole negative or positive number, which means it can be expressed without decimal places.  Any number can be considered an integer as long as it fits this criteria.  They can be expressed as square roots, fractions, or anything else, as long as the final answer is a whole number.  In this question, the only answer that is not a whole number is , which is 1.6.

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