Question

can whole numbers be integers

Answer 1

Most ‘whole number’ definitions do not include the negative integers. Given that, there are still two different definitions for ‘whole number’.

The first definition starts at 1 and goes up from there. In set notation, it might look like: {1, 2, 3, 4 . . .}. This is sometimes called the positive integers and that’s a pretty good description of it.

The second definition includes the integer 0 along with the positive integers. Zero is usually considered ‘unsigned’ in Mathematics. I guess this set might be called the ‘non-negative integers’. In set notation, it might look like: {0, 1, 2, 3, 4 . . .}.

When people talk to you about ‘integers’ or ‘whole numbers’, you really want to have them clarify which set of integers or whole numbers they are talking about.

To me, when I hear ‘integer’, I think about ANY integer, positive, negative or zero. But, you do need context to know how to answer these questions.

Finally, after all of that, I will say that, yes, all whole numbers are integers and that this is true regardless of which set of numbers you reference. The reverse won’t always be true, though, depending on the set of integers.