Learn It

Look at the numbers below.

  • 8
  • negative4
  • two thirds
  • zero and one hundred eleven thousandths repeated
  • 0
  • pi
  • negativeeight halves

Each of these numbers is unique in its design and has special characteristics. Some of these numbers have common properties, while others are different altogether.

In this module, you will look at real numbers (like those shown above). You will explore various properties that belong to different sets of the real numbers.

If you click on the term “real numbers” above, the definition of this term appears. You may not find this definition very helpful. What are rational numbers? What are irrational numbers? How are rational numbers and irrational numbers related? How are they different? In what ways are they important?

Explore the following interactive to help answer these questions and to clarify this big world of numbers.