Example

Example of Classifying Numbers as Whole, Integer, Rational, Irrational, or Real

Given the values 7-7, rac{14}{5}, 88, 5\sqrt{5}, 5.95.9, and 64-\sqrt{64}, we can systematically classify them into nested number sets:

  • Whole numbers: The only whole number in the list is 88, since whole numbers consist of 0,1,2,3,0, 1, 2, 3, \ldots
  • Integers: Includes the whole number 88, the negative whole opposite 7-7, and since 82=648^2 = 64, the negative square root 64=8-\sqrt{64} = -8.
  • Rational numbers: This set includes all integers (7-7, 88, 64-\sqrt{64}) plus all terminating or repeating fractions and decimals ( rac{14}{5} and 5.95.9).
  • Irrational numbers: The value 5\sqrt{5} is the only irrational number, because 55 is not a perfect square, resulting in a non-repeating, non-terminating decimal.
  • Real numbers: All the numbers provided are real numbers, as they fall into either the rational or irrational categories.

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Updated 2026-05-02

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