A number is a concept that we have for some value. For example, hold out four fingers. You can conceive of the number four, you know how many are there. That is the number – more or less the concept you have in your mind.
A numeral is a name or a symbol for that concept. The symbol may be a 4 (in base 10) or a 100 (in base 2) or IV (if you are using Roman numerals) or |||| if you are using tally marks, etc. All of those symbols look different on paper. But the concept in your mind remains the same.
So a number may be expressed many different ways, using different numerals. But a numeral will always represent the same number, as long as you know what system (base, Roman, tally, etc.) you are using.
It might help to think of it like languages. For example, a “book” is a word for that thing you read, with many pages. In German, it’s a “Buch,” in French it’s a “libre,” in Spanish it’s a “libro,” and in Vulcan it’s, well, I don’t know what it is in Vulcan, but you get the picture. They are all different words for the same Idea. The book is the actual object, but “book,” “Buch,” “livre” and “libro” are simply words, or names for the object.
So you might consider numbers to be the Ideas, and numerals to be the names for the Ideas.
Of course, as always, there are more in-depth ways to look at this issue, but the above should give you a good, working basis to explore further, if you wish.
I hope this gave you something to think about,
Your pal,
Brian
Thank you for your help this helped me on my home work….thank you again
hey brian its really rich info thnx 4 shairing it ……..thnx a lot
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thanks a lot…
:-)
this helped me answering my assignment… thanks! ^_^ ♥♥♥
You you could make changes to the page name What is the difference between a number and a numeral? | The Math Mojo Chronicles to more generic for your webpage you write. I liked the post all the same.
I came across this site after watching the Heat-Mavs game last night. As you know, the PA guy announces the starting lineups before the game starts. Last night (and before Game 3), he would say, “…at guard, number 3 Dewayne Wade…at forward number 6 LeBron James…numeral 0 Mike Bibby…”
The (Dallas) announcer did the same thing when announcing the starts for the Mavericks…”…number 11 JJ Barea….numeral 0 Shawn Marion…”
I think that both are correct, though number is much more common. Any idea why he would choose different words for 0?
Isaac,
Now that is an interesting question. I guess both are technically correct in some sense, but “numeral” implies a written symbol. My best guess (but it’s still a guess) is that that the announcer doesn’t know the difference, and was making his decision intuitively by the sound of the announcement. “Number zero, Shawn Marion” just doesn’t have the right ring. Also, “numeral zero” makes the announcer sound like he has some math knowledge. Somehow it sounds “cooler.”
In the case of what he is wearing on his uniform, you would say, “Shawn Marion, wearing the numeral 0,” or “LeBron James, wearing the numeral 6.” So, in my humble (but I wouldn’t bet the farm on it) opinion, I’d say, “We are number one! (But we have the numeral one stitched on our jerseys!)” But colloquially, I’d just say “number” for both. (Oooh, I can see the math police in my rear window now!)
Thnx fr the infrmation… Fr my assignment
this helped me out
what is the numeral between 10 and 20?