Hello everyone, today we are going to talk about types of numbers.

First of all, let’s think about one question. Why we need to know the types of numbers?

As we all know, Math, is a science and a kind of language, is specially working on how to understand our world by using numbers and graphs.

That’s why we need to becomes best friends of numbers before we learn math.

There are many different types of numbers with different names.
Let me introduce you some of the types of numbers that we use very often.

I guess Natural Numbers should be the most popular type we use in daily life and study.


It is whole numbers from 1 and up. Please note, the concept of Natural Number in China is a little different from foreign country. The Number zero 零， is included in Natural Number in Chinese Math books, while it is not included by foreign countries.

Normally, we also cal Natural Numbers the counting numbers, which means we use them very often when we count things.

As we know Natural Numbers are all Whole Numbers
The Whole Numbers also can be separated into Positive Whole Numbers, zero, and Negative Whole Numbers.

And normally in foreign countries, Positive Whole Numbers and zero are Named The Whole Numbers, while Positive Whole Numbers are Named Natural Numbers, and Positive Whole numbers, Negative Whole Numbers and zero are called Integers.

In China, We use Types of Number as Below：

Natural Numbers, Positive Whole Numbers and zero are called Natural Numbers; Whole Numbers, Positive Whole Numbers are called Whole Numbers; Integers, Positive Whole numbers, Negative Whole numbers and zero are called Integers.


Anyway, Whole Numbers include Positive Numbers and zero which are with no fractional or decimal part. Cannot be negative.

Integers are all whole numbers and their negative counterparts.


Let’s take some example.
In China, zero is not a Positive Whole Numbers, also is not a Negative Whole Number, but it is a Integer. That’s means that although zero is a Integer, but it is neither a Positive Whole or a Negative Whole, it is a independent part of Integer alone.
At the same time, zero is also a Natural Number.

Perfect, today we talked about what’s the difference between Chinese and foreign number system for Whole Numbers, Integers, and Natural Numbers. We already know their Chinese name and English Names.


Next time, I’m going to show you more types of numbers which we use very often in our daily life and math books.


Today’s math class is over, class dismissed, see you next time.