Whole Number

Topic

Place Value

Definition

A whole number is a non-negative integer, including zero, without any fractional or decimal part.

Description

Whole numbers are the set of non-negative integers, including zero, that do not have any fractional or decimal components. They are fundamental in mathematics as they represent complete units and are used in counting, ordering, and basic arithmetic operations. For example, the numbers 0, 1, 2, 3, and so on are all whole numbers.

In real-world applications, whole numbers are used in various contexts such as counting objects, representing quantities, and measuring discrete units. They are essential in financial transactions, inventory management, and statistical data analysis.

In algebra, whole numbers are important for solving equations and understanding number properties. They form the basis for integer operations and are used in defining number sets.

Teaching whole numbers is relevant to math education because they provide the foundation for understanding the number system and arithmetic operations. They help students develop numerical fluency and prepare them for more advanced mathematical concepts.

Teacher's Script: "Let's count the number of apples in a basket: 1, 2, 3, 4, and so on. These are whole numbers because they represent complete units without fractions or decimals."

For a complete collection of terms related to Place Value click on this link: Place Value Collection

A Brief Review of Place Value

When you first learned to count, you started with single-digit numbers. Here’s a set of number lines that show how to count from 0 to 10.

In counting from 0 to 9, all the digits are in the ones place.

The change from 9 to 10 is to now include the tens place.

Whole Numbers

Whole numbers include zero and the counting numbers from 1 to infinity. 

Whole numbers don’t include:

• Fractional values
• Decimal values