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Are Fractions Integers?

Published in Number Systems 2 mins read

No, fractions are not integers.

According to the provided reference, an integer is defined as a "round number" or "whole number" that can be positive or negative and does not include decimal parts or fractions. This means numbers like 3, -10, and 1025 are integers. In contrast, numbers with decimal components, like 2.76 and 1.5, and numbers that represent parts of a whole, such as the fraction 3 ½, are not considered integers.

Here's a table summarizing the difference between integers and fractions:

Feature Integers Fractions
Definition Whole numbers, positive or negative, no decimal/fractional parts Parts of a whole, represented as a ratio of two numbers
Examples -3, 0, 5, 100, -200 1/2, 3/4, 7/8, 5/3
Decimal Parts Not applicable Can have decimal representations

Therefore, to reiterate, the essential aspect of an integer is that it is a whole number. Fractions, on the other hand, represent parts of a whole and are, by definition, distinct from integers. This can be further broken down into:

  • Integers: Represent complete units (e.g., you have 5 apples).
  • Fractions: Represent portions of a unit (e.g., you have half an apple which is represented as ½).

In summary, based on the definition of an integer as a whole number and the distinct nature of a fraction, it's clear that fractions do not belong to the set of integers.

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