Counting Number

A Positive Integer: 1, 2, 3, 4, ... (Sloane's A000027), also called a Natural Number. However, 0 is sometimes also included in the list of counting numbers. Due to lack of standard terminology, the following terms are recommended in preference to ``counting number,'' ``Natural Number,'' and ``Whole Number.''

Set	Name	Symbol
..., $-2$, $-1$, 0, 1, 2, ...	integers	Z
1, 2, 3, 4, ...	positive integers	Z+
0, 1, 2, 3, 4 ...	nonnegative integers	Z*
$-1$, $-2$, $-3$, $-4$, ...	negative integers	Z-

See also Natural Number, Whole Number, Z, Z-, Z+, Z*

References

Sloane, N. J. A. Sequence A000027/M0472 in ``An On-Line Version of the Encyclopedia of Integer Sequences.'' http://www.research.att.com/~njas/sequences/eisonline.html and Sloane, N. J. A. and Plouffe, S. The Encyclopedia of Integer Sequences. San Diego: Academic Press, 1995.