FTCE General Knowledge Math Practice Test

Which of the following does NOT include zero?

1. Whole numbers

2. Natural numbers

3. Integers

4. Rational numbers

The correct answer is: Natural numbers

The choice that does not include zero is natural numbers. Natural numbers are defined as the set of positive counting numbers starting from one and extending indefinitely (1, 2, 3, 4, ...). By this definition, natural numbers do not incorporate zero. In contrast, whole numbers include zero along with all the natural numbers (0, 1, 2, 3, ...). Integers consist of whole numbers along with their negative counterparts, so they also include zero (..., -3, -2, -1, 0, 1, 2, 3, ...). Rational numbers encompass all numbers that can be expressed as the quotient or fraction of two integers, which also means zero can be included (for example, 0 can be represented as 0/1). Thus, the set of natural numbers is distinct in that it begins at one and excludes zero.