Posted by MathBard on October 23, 2002 at 19:24:38:
In Reply to: Re: natural posted by T.Gracken on October 23, 2002 at 15:01:42:
: : : It 0 a natural number?
: : : Thank you.
: : : Leon-Sotelo.
: this really depends on the definition chosen by your teacher.
: Typically zero is not included in the set of natural numbers.
: Most math texts define a natural number as a number in the set {1, 2, 3, 4, . . . } (where the ". . ." means 'and so on') so zero is not included.
: I like a more formal definition so my definition for natural numbers is: A natural number is the number one or any finite sum of one's. My definition therefor excludes zero.
: 0 is usually included in the definition of whole numbers, which is: a whole number is the union of the set of natural numbers with zero. textbooks usually write this {0, 1, 2, 3, . . . }.
: ...BUT... as stated above, it depends on who is defining the sets. And for you, it definitely depends on who is grading your answers! consult them.
Although Mr. G is correct in either definition and the stuff about it depending who you ask, there is a standard being used. According to textbooks based upon NCTM standards, zero is NOT a natural number.
NCTM= National Council on Teaching Mathematics
MB