Math Basics: Whole Numbers – Understanding, Addition, Subtraction, Multiplication, and Division

Whole Numbers

positive numbers that include 0

1. What are whole numbers?

Whole numbers are numbers that represent counting or the total number of things. These numbers include 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, and all positive integers, including those larger than 9.

2. How are whole numbers different from natural numbers?

Whole numbers include 0, while natural numbers only include positive integers. In other words, natural numbers start with 1 while whole numbers start with 0.

3. How do you add and subtract whole numbers?

To add whole numbers, you simply add the individual digits in each place value column, carrying any leftover amount to the next column when the addition in a single column exceeds ten. For example, to add 125 and 199, we begin by adding the digits in the ones column, which gives us 5 + 9 = 14. We carry the 1 to the tens column and add the digits in that column, which gives us 2 + 9 + 1 = 12. We carry the 1 to the hundreds column and add the digits in that column, which gives us 1 + 1 = 2. Thus, the sum is 324.

To subtract whole numbers, you use a similar process to addition. You begin by subtracting the ones column and borrow from the next higher place value column if necessary. Then you subtract the numbers in the tens column, and so on. For example, to subtract 128 from 443, we begin by subtracting 8 from 3, which requires borrowing from the tens column. We then subtract the digits in the tens column, which gives us 3 – 2 = 1. Finally, we subtract the digit in the hundreds column, which gives us 4 – 1 = 3. Thus, the difference is 315.

4. How do you multiply and divide whole numbers?

To multiply whole numbers, you multiply each digit of one number by each digit of the other number, starting with the ones place and moving to the left. Then, you add up the resulting products at the correct place value positions. For example, to multiply 12 x 5, we multiply 2 x 5 = 10, and write down 0 in the ones place and carry over the 1 to the tens place. We then multiply 1 x 5 = 5, and add the carry-over from the previous multiplication to get 6. Thus, the product is 60.

To divide whole numbers, you divide the largest place value digit of the dividend by the divisor, then multiply the divisor by the quotient from the first step. You subtract the result from the dividend and bring down the next digit. Repeat the process until the remainder is less than the divisor, and then the quotient is the answer. For example, to divide 81 by 9, we first find the quotient of 8 by 9, which is 0. We then bring down the next digit of the dividend to get 81. We divide 8 by 9 again, which gives us a quotient of 0, and multiply 9 by 0 to get 0. We subtract 0 from 81, bringing down the 1 to get 1. We divide 1 by 9, which gives us a quotient of 0 again. Thus, the answer is 9 with a remainder of 0.

More Answers: