Definition

1. Noun:
   • A number that is not a fraction; an integer: A "whole number" is a number without any fractional or decimal part. It can be positive, negative, or zero. In many contexts, especially in early mathematics, it is used synonymously with the natural numbers (0, 1, 2, 3...), but its precise definition can vary.

Usage

• The term "whole number" is commonly used in elementary mathematics to distinguish numbers like 5, -12, and 0 from fractions like 1/2 or decimals like 3.14.
• It is important to note that in some educational systems, "whole number" refers only to non-negative integers (0, 1, 2, 3...), while in others, it includes all integers. The context often clarifies the meaning.

Examples

• Noun:
  • The set of whole numbers includes 0, 1, 2, 3, and so on.
  • Please round your answer to the nearest whole number.
  • Negative seven is also a whole number, or integer.

Advanced Usage

• "Whole number arithmetic": Refers to calculations involving only integers, without fractions or decimals.
  • Students first learn whole number arithmetic before moving on to fractions.

Variants and Related Words

• Integer (n): A more precise mathematical term for a whole number; a number that can be written without a fractional component. This includes positive numbers, negative numbers, and zero.
  • The numbers -5, 0, and 17 are all integers.
• Natural number (n): Typically refers to the set of positive integers (1, 2, 3...), though sometimes includes zero. This is a subset of whole numbers/integers.

Synonyms

• Integer: The most direct synonym in formal mathematics.
• Counting number: Often used for positive integers (1, 2, 3...), excluding zero.

Related Phrases

• Round to the nearest whole number: A common instruction to approximate a decimal or fraction to the closest integer.
  • 3.78 rounds to the whole number 4.

Noun

1. any of the natural numbers (positive or negative) or zero
   • an integer is a number that is not a fraction