What are counting numbers, starting from 1, called?

What are counting numbers, starting from 1, called?

• A. Whole numbers
• B. Natural numbers
• C. Rational numbers
• D. Integers

Answer: (B)

Counting numbers, starting from 1, are referred to as natural numbers. The set of natural numbers includes all positive integers beginning with 1, such as 1, 2, 3, and so forth. These numbers are foundational in mathematics as they represent quantities that can be counted. Whole numbers include all natural numbers along with the number 0, so the set of whole numbers starts from 0 and extends positively (0, 1, 2, 3, ...). Rational numbers are defined as numbers that can be expressed as the quotient of two integers, where the denominator is not zero, encompassing fractions and whole numbers. Integers include all whole numbers, both positive and negative, as well as zero. Thus, while natural numbers strictly refer to the set starting from 1, the other terms encompass broader or different sets of numbers.

Counting numbers, starting from 1, are referred to as natural numbers. The set of natural numbers includes all positive integers beginning with 1, such as 1, 2, 3, and so forth. These numbers are foundational in mathematics as they represent quantities that can be counted.

Whole numbers include all natural numbers along with the number 0, so the set of whole numbers starts from 0 and extends positively (0, 1, 2, 3, ...). Rational numbers are defined as numbers that can be expressed as the quotient of two integers, where the denominator is not zero, encompassing fractions and whole numbers. Integers include all whole numbers, both positive and negative, as well as zero.

Thus, while natural numbers strictly refer to the set starting from 1, the other terms encompass broader or different sets of numbers.