User:Ccm/sandbox

Is 0 a natural number?

Error creating thumbnail: Unable to save thumbnail to destination

There seems to be no definite answer to this seemingly simple question, as seen very obviously in the wikipedia page on natural numbers.

Definitions to consider

1. Number
2. Natural Number vs Whole Number
3. Natural Number as defined by Peano

Details

1. The definition of number seen in Encyclopedia Britannica Online, completely ignores the Natural Numbers and discusses the Positive and Negative Integers, then jumps to the Real and Complex Numbers.

This defintion is a bit odd since it discusses positive and negative integers, but ignores 0. It also bypasses the Rational Numbers to discuss the Real Numbers and Complex Numbers.

2. Often the set of Natural Numbers is defined to begin at 1, described as 'Counting Numbers' and if 0 is included the set is then called the Whole Numbers. (get citation)

3. In Logic and Computer Science the set of Natural Numbers begins at 0, as numbers are defined by sets, and 0 relates to an empty set.