Whole numbers
Elementary
The whole numbers are $0, 1, 2, 3, \dots$, the numbers with no fractional or decimal part.
Examples
Examples
Non-examples
Things that may be mistaken for examples.
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$2.5$
Elementary
$2.5$ is not a whole number or a natural number, because it has a fractional part.
Notes
“Whole numbers” is mostly used in schools. Some authors use it for all integers ($\dots, -2, -1, 0, 1, 2, \dots$) or for the positive integers, so it is best avoided in technical writing.
Distinctions involving this term
- Whole numbers vs. natural numbers: “Whole numbers” and “natural numbers” are used synonymously by some others to indicate all nonnegative integers, $0, 1, 2, 3, \dots$. “Whole numbers” is the usual name in primary schools, and “natural numbers” (or “nonnegative integers”) is the usual name in mathematics. “Natural numbers” is, however, used by some authors to indicate the non-negative integers, $1, 2, 3, \dots$ and “whole numbers” is used to indicate all integers, “$\dots, -2, -1, 0, 1, 2, \dots$.