IGCSE MATHEMATICS
NUMBERS
C1.1 TYPES OF NUMBERS
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C1.1 TYPES OF NUMBERS
Natural Numbers
Natural numbers are the positive integers (WHOLE NUMBERS) used for counting and ordering.
They are also known as counting numbers and form the foundation of our number system.
Definition: Natural numbers are the set of positive integers starting from 1: {1, 2, 3, 4, 5, ...}.
Key Properties:
• Non-negative: All natural numbers are greater than or equal to 1
• Successive Addition: Each natural number is the sum of the previous number and 1
• Infinite: The set of natural numbers continues infinitely
• Zero is not included: Unlike whole numbers, natural numbers do not include zero
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C1.1 TYPES OF NUMBERS
Natural Numbers (…continued)
Examples and Applications:
•Counting objects: pencils, books, students in a classroom
•Measuring quantities in real-world situations
•Converting between numbers and words (e.g., six billion = 6,000,000,000
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C1.1 TYPES OF NUMBERS
Integers
Integers are whole numbers that include natural numbers, zero, and negative numbers.
Definition: Integers are the set {..., -3, -2, -1, 0, 1, 2, 3, ...}
Key Properties:
•Zero Inclusion: Zero is the central element in the set of integers
•Negative and Positive Symmetry: For every positive natural number, there is a negative
counterpart.
•Can be positive, negative, or zero
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C1.1 TYPES OF NUMBERS
Integers (…continued)
Examples and Applications:
• Temperature measurements (above and below freezing)
• Elevation levels (above and below sea level)
• Financial calculations (profit and loss)
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C1.1 TYPES OF NUMBERS
Prime Numbers
Prime numbers are whole numbers [integers] greater than 1 that have exactly two distinct
factors: 1 and themselves
Definition: A prime number is an integer greater than 1 which has no divisors other than 1 and
itself
Key Properties:
• Indivisibility: Cannot be evenly divided by any number other than 1 and itself
• Unique Factorization: Every number can be uniquely expressed as a product of prime
numbers
• 1 is not prime: By definition, 1 is not considered a prime number
• 2 is the only even prime number
First Ten Prime Numbers: 2, 3, 5, 7, 11, 13, 17, 19, 23, 29
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C1.1 TYPES OF NUMBERS
Prime Numbers (…continued)
Examples and Applications:
• Expressing numbers as products of prime factors (e.g., 72 = 2³ × 3²)
• Cryptography and computer security
• Finding common factors and multiples
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C1.1 TYPES OF NUMBERS
Square Numbers
Square numbers are the result of multiplying a number by itself
Definition: A square number is formed when a number is multiplied by itself (n²)
Key Properties:
• Perfect squares: Numbers that have exact square roots
• Algebraic representation: Can be written using a power of 2 (e.g., 4² = 16)
• Pattern recognition: Follow a specific sequence pattern
First 15 Square Numbers: 1, 4, 9, 16, 25, 36, 49, 64, 81, 100, 121, 144, 169, 196, 225
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C1.1 TYPES OF NUMBERS
Square Numbers (…continued)
Examples and Applications:
• Area calculations for squares
• Pythagorean theorem applications
• Algebraic expressions and equations
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C1.1 TYPES OF NUMBERS
Cube Numbers
Cube numbers are the result of multiplying a number by itself twice (n³).
Definition: A cube number is formed when a number is multiplied by itself twice.
Key Properties:
• Three-dimensional representation: Related to volume calculations
• Algebraic representation: Can be written using a power of 3
• Negative cubes: Negative integers can produce negative cube numbers
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C1.1 TYPES OF NUMBERS
Cube Numbers (…continued)
First 5 Cube Numbers: 1, 8, 27, 64, 125
Important to remember: 10³ = 1000
Examples and Applications:
•Volume calculations for cubes
•Three-dimensional geometry
•Polynomial functions
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C1.1 TYPES OF NUMBERS
Common Factors
Common factors are numbers that divide two or more given numbers exactly, without leaving a
remainder.
Definition: A common factor is a factor that is shared by more than one number.
Key Concepts:
• Highest Common Factor (HCF): The largest common factor of two or more numbers
• Finding factors: Use factor pairs to identify all factors systematically
• Applications: Used in simplifying fractions and solving problem
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C1.1 TYPES OF NUMBERS
Common Factors (…continued)
Example:
• Factors of 12: 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 12
• Factors of 18: 1, 2, 3, 6, 9, 18
• Common factors: 1, 2, 3, 6
• HCF = 6
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C1.1 TYPES OF NUMBERS
Common Multiples
Common multiples are numbers that are multiples of two or more given numbers.
Definition: A common multiple is a multiple that is shared by more than one number.
Key Concepts:
•Lowest Common Multiple (LCM): The smallest common multiple of two or more numbers
•Finding multiples: Count up in steps of the given number
•Infinite nature: Every non-zero number has infinite multiples
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C1.1 TYPES OF NUMBERS
Common Multiples
Example:
• Multiples of 4: 4, 8, 12, 16, 20, 24, 28, 32, 36...
• Multiples of 6: 6, 12, 18, 24, 30, 36...
• Common multiples: 12, 24, 36...
• LCM = 12
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C1.1 TYPES OF NUMBERS
Rational and Irrational Numbers
Rational Numbers. Watch Video: [Link]
Rational numbers are numbers that can be expressed as a fraction in the form a/b, where a and
b are integers and b ≠ 0.
Key Properties:
•Fraction representation: Can be written as a fraction of two integers
•Decimal forms: Include terminating and recurring decimals
•Include integers: All integers are rational numbers
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C1.1 TYPES OF NUMBERS
Rational and Irrational Numbers (…continued)
Examples of rational numbers:
•Fractions: 1/2, 3/4, 7/814
•Integers: -3, 0, 514
•Terminating decimals: 0.25, 0.7514
•Recurring decimals: 0.333
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C1.1 TYPES OF NUMBERS
Rational and Irrational Numbers (…continued)
Irrational Numbers
Irrational numbers are numbers that cannot be expressed as a fraction of two integers.
Key Properties:
•Non-terminating, non-recurring decimals: Have endless decimal places with no pattern
•Cannot be written as fractions: No exact fractional representation
•Include surds: Square roots of non-perfect squares
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C1.1 TYPES OF NUMBERS
Rational and Irrational Numbers (…continued)
Examples of irrational numbers:
•π (pi) = 3.14159...
•√2 = 1.41421...
•√3 = 1.73205...
•e = 2.71828...
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C1.1 TYPES OF NUMBERS
Reciprocals: [Link]
Reciprocals are the result of dividing 1 by a given number.
Definition: The reciprocal of a number x is 1/x, also written as x⁻¹.
Key Properties:
•Multiplicative inverse: Any number multiplied by its reciprocal equals 1
•Fraction flipping: For fractions, flip the numerator and denominator
•No reciprocal for zero: 1/0 is undefined
•Reciprocal of reciprocal: Returns the original number
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C1.1 TYPES OF NUMBERS
Reciprocals
Examples:
• Reciprocal of 5 is 1/5
• Reciprocal of 2/3 is 3/2
• Reciprocal of 1/4 is 4
• Reciprocal of -7 is -1/7
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C1.1 TYPES OF NUMBERS
RECAP FROM OTHER SOURCES
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C1.1 TYPES OF NUMBERS
RECAP FROM OTHER SOURCES (…continued)
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C1.1 TYPES OF NUMBERS
Exercise 1.1
