Whole numbers and integers are both types of numbers, but they have distinct definitions and characteristics.
Whole numbers are all the non-negative numbers that do not have any decimal or fraction part. This means they include zero and all positive numbers:
- 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, …
On the other hand, integers include all whole numbers as well as their negative counterparts. So while integers also do not have any decimal or fraction parts, they can be positive, negative, or zero:
- …, -3, -2, -1, 0, 1, 2, 3, …
In summary, the main difference lies in the inclusion of negative numbers. Whole numbers start from zero and go up (0, 1, 2, …), while integers extend in both directions, encompassing negative numbers as well (such as -1, -2, …). Thus, all whole numbers are integers, but not all integers are whole numbers.