A real number is any number that can be found on the number line. This includes both rational numbers, which can be expressed as the quotient of two integers (like 1/2, 3, or -4), and irrational numbers, which cannot be expressed as a simple fraction (like √2 or π).
Real numbers encompass a wide variety of values, including positive numbers, negative numbers, whole numbers, and decimals. They are used in various fields such as physics, engineering, and economics to represent quantities that can be measured or counted.
In contrast to real numbers, there are also imaginary numbers, which involve the square root of negative one, denoted as ‘i’. Together, real and imaginary numbers form the complex numbers, but real numbers remain a fundamental building block in mathematics.