Which set describes Whole Numbers?

Which set describes Whole Numbers?

• A. {1,2,3,...}
• B. {0,1,2,3,...}
• C. {-1,0,1,2,...}
• D. {0,1,2,3,...,-1}

Answer: (B)

Whole numbers are the nonnegative integers: zero and all positive counting numbers, with no fractions or negatives. The set that matches this description is {0,1,2,3,...} because it includes zero and every positive whole number, continuing without end. The other options don’t fit: one starts at 1 and leaves out zero; another contains negative numbers like -1; and the last also contains -1, which is not a whole number.

Whole numbers are the nonnegative integers: zero and all positive counting numbers, with no fractions or negatives. The set that matches this description is {0,1,2,3,...} because it includes zero and every positive whole number, continuing without end. The other options don’t fit: one starts at 1 and leaves out zero; another contains negative numbers like -1; and the last also contains -1, which is not a whole number.