math-standard-number-sets.html
* created: 2025-09-26T18:30
* modified: 2025-10-16T12:54
title
Standard Number Sets
description
These are used to categorize numbers, based on their characteristics.
related notes
Standard Number Sets
These include the following in order:
- \mathbb{N}: Natural numbers from 1 to \infty, also described as counting numbers.
- \mathbb{Z}: Integers (ganze Zahlen) are the numbers from -\infty to \infty.
- \mathbb{Q}: Rational numbers also include fraction.
- \mathbb{I}: Irrational numbers have non-repeating, non-terminating decimal expansions (for example: \pi).
- \mathbb{R}: Real numbers on the number line (rational + irrational).
You could also express these as:
\mathbb{N} \subset \mathbb{Z} \subset \mathbb{Q} \subset \mathbb{R}
which helps to contextualize these number sets.
Quantifying Sets
A set M is countable if and only if there exists an injection from M into \mathbb{N}.
- Countable Infinite: If there exists a bijective function f: \mathbb{N} \to M, i.e., |M| = |\mathbb{N}|
- Uncountable Infinite: |M| > |\mathbb{N}|