The Set of Natural Numbers (the Positive Integers Z+ 1, 2, 3, ...; Sloane's A000027), denoted , also called the Whole Numbers. Like whole numbers, there is no general agreement on whether 0 should be included in the list of natural numbers.
Due to lack of standard terminology, the following terms are recommended in preference to ``Counting Number,'' ``natural number,'' and ``Whole Number.''
Set | Name | Symbol |
..., , , 0, 1, 2, ... | integers | Z |
1, 2, 3, 4, ... | positive integers | Z+ |
0, 1, 2, 3, 4 ... | nonnegative integers | Z* |
, , , , ... | negative integers | Z- |
See also C, Cardinal Number, Counting Number, I, Integer, Q, R, Whole Number, Z, Z+
References
Sloane, N. J. A. Sequence
A000027/M0472
in ``An On-Line Version of the Encyclopedia of Integer Sequences.''
http://www.research.att.com/~njas/sequences/eisonline.html and Sloane, N. J. A. and Plouffe, S.
The Encyclopedia of Integer Sequences. San Diego: Academic Press, 1995.