Number vs. Numeral: Know the Difference
By Shumaila Saeed || Updated on December 25, 2023
A number is a mathematical concept representing quantity or value, while a numeral is a symbol or group of symbols used to represent a number.
Key Differences
A number is an abstract concept that represents a quantity or an amount. It's a part of mathematics and is used in counting, measuring, and labeling. On the other hand, a numeral is a symbol or a group of symbols used to express a number. For example, the number three can be represented by the numeral "3" in the decimal system, or "III" in the Roman numeral system.
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Dec 07, 2023
Numbers exist independently of their representation; they are ideas that describe how many of something there are. In contrast, numerals are the specific written or printed characters that we use to symbolize these numbers. While the concept of 'four' (a number) remains constant, the way it is written can change, as in '4', 'IV', or 'four'.
Shumaila Saeed
Dec 07, 2023
The study of numbers is a fundamental part of mathematics, encompassing concepts from basic counting to advanced topics in algebra and calculus. Conversely, the study of numerals falls under the domain of linguistics and typography, focusing on how numbers are expressed in different writing systems.
Shumaila Saeed
Dec 07, 2023
Numbers are used in a variety of mathematical operations such as addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division. Numerals, however, are used to encode these numbers in a form that can be communicated and understood by humans, forming the basis of arithmetic operations.
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Dec 07, 2023
In summary, numbers are abstract concepts that quantify or measure things, and numerals are the physical representations of these concepts. Both play a crucial role in various fields, from mathematics and science to everyday life.
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Dec 07, 2023
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Comparison Chart
Definition
An abstract concept representing quantity or value.
A symbol or group of symbols representing a number.
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Dec 07, 2023
Role
Quantifying, measuring, and performing mathematical operations.
Encoding numbers for communication and understanding.
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Dec 07, 2023
Variability
Concept is constant regardless of representation.
Can vary in form (e.g., Arabic numerals, Roman numerals).
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Dec 07, 2023
Application
Used in theoretical and practical mathematics.
Used in written and printed communication.
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Dec 07, 2023
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Number and Numeral Definitions
Number
A member of the set of positive integers; one of a series of symbols of unique meaning in a fixed order that can be derived by counting.
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Oct 19, 2023
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Number
A member of any of the following sets of mathematical objects
Integers, rational numbers, real numbers, and complex numbers. These sets can be derived from the positive integers through various algebraic and analytic constructions.
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Oct 19, 2023
Numeral
Graphical Representation of Quantity
On the clock, the numeral '12' is at the top.
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Dec 07, 2023
Number
A numeral or a series of numerals used for reference or identification
His telephone number.
The apartment number.
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Oct 19, 2023
Number
A position in an ordered sequence that corresponds to one of the positive integers
The house that is number three from the corner.
Ranked number six in her class.
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Oct 19, 2023
Numeral
A symbol that is not a word and represents a number, such as the Arabic numerals 1, 2, 3 and the Roman numerals I, V, X, L.
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Oct 19, 2023
Number
One item in a group or series considered to be in numerical order
An old number of a magazine.
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Oct 19, 2023
Numeral
(linguistics) A number word, a simple or compound word for a number often having particular grammatical attributes depending on the language.
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Oct 19, 2023
Number
An indefinite quantity of units or individuals
The crowd was small in number. A number of people complained.
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Oct 19, 2023
Numeral
(card games) A card whose rank is a number (usually including the ace as 1).
Jacks, queens, and kings are not numerals.
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Oct 19, 2023
Numeral
Of or pertaining to number; consisting of number or numerals.
A long train of numeral progressions.
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Oct 19, 2023
Number
(Grammar) The indication, as by inflection, of the singularity, duality, or plurality of a linguistic form.
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Oct 19, 2023
Numeral
Expressing number; representing number; as, numeral letters or characters, as X or 10 for ten.
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Oct 19, 2023
Number
Metrical feet or lines; verses
"These numbers will I tear, and write in prose" (Shakespeare).
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Oct 19, 2023
Numeral
A figure or character used to express a number; as, the Arabic numerals, 1, 2, 3, etc.; the Roman numerals, I, V, X, L, etc.
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Oct 19, 2023
Numeral
A symbol used to represent a number;
He learned to write the numerals before he went to school
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Oct 19, 2023
Numeral
Of or relating to or denoting numbers;
A numeral adjective
Numerical analysis
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Oct 19, 2023
Number
One of the separate offerings in a program of music or other entertainment
The band's second number was a march.
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Oct 19, 2023
Number
(Slang) A frequently repeated, characteristic speech, argument, or performance
Suspects doing their usual number—protesting innocence.
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Oct 19, 2023
Number
(Slang) A person or thing singled out for a particular characteristic
A crafty number.
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Oct 19, 2023
Number
To assign a number to or mark with a number
Did you number the pages of the report?.
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Oct 19, 2023
Number
To determine the number or amount of; count
Tickets sold for the show were numbered at 500.
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Oct 19, 2023
Number
To total in number or amount; add up to
The ships in the harbor number around 100.
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Oct 19, 2023
Number
To have as a total; amount to a number
The applicants numbered in the thousands.
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Oct 19, 2023
Number
(countable) An abstract entity used to describe quantity.
Zero, one, −1, 2.5, and pi are all numbers.
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Oct 19, 2023
Number
(countable) A numeral: a symbol for a non-negative integer.
The number 8 is usually made with a single stroke.
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Oct 19, 2023
Number
An element of one of several sets: natural numbers, integers, rational numbers, real numbers, complex numbers, and sometimes extensions such as hypercomplex numbers, etc.
The equation includes the most important numbers: 1, 0, , , and .
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Oct 19, 2023
Number
(Followed by a numeral; used attributively) Indicating the position of something in a list or sequence. Abbreviations: No or No., no or no. (in each case, sometimes written with a superscript "o", like Nº or №). The symbol "#" is also used in this manner.
Horse number 5 won the race.
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Oct 19, 2023
Number
Quantity.
Any number of people can be reading from a given repository at a time.
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Oct 19, 2023
Number
A sequence of digits and letters used to register people, automobiles, and various other items.
Her passport number is C01X864TN.
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Oct 19, 2023
Number
(grammar) Of a word or phrase, the state of being singular, dual or plural, shown by inflection.
Adjectives and nouns should agree in gender, number, and case.
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Oct 19, 2023
Number
(countable) A performance; especially, a single song or song and dance routine within a larger show.
For his second number, he sang "The Moon Shines Bright".
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Oct 19, 2023
Number
A marijuana cigarette, or joint; also, a quantity of marijuana bought from a dealer.
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Oct 19, 2023
Number
(dated) An issue of a periodical publication.
The latest number of a magazine
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Oct 19, 2023
Number
A large amount, in contrast to a smaller amount; numerical preponderance.
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Oct 19, 2023
Number
(transitive) To label (items) with numbers; to assign numbers to (items).
Number the baskets so that we can find them easily.
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Oct 19, 2023
Number
(intransitive) To total or count; to amount to.
I don’t know how many books are in the library, but they must number in the thousands.
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Oct 19, 2023
Number
That which admits of being counted or reckoned; a unit, or an aggregate of units; a numerable aggregate or collection of individuals; an assemblage made up of distinct things expressible by figures.
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Oct 19, 2023
Number
A collection of many individuals; a numerous assemblage; a multitude; many.
Ladies are always of great use to the party they espouse, and never fail to win over numbers.
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Oct 19, 2023
Number
A numeral; a word or character denoting a number; as, to put a number on a door.
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Oct 19, 2023
Number
Numerousness; multitude.
Number itself importeth not much in armies where the people are of weak courage.
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Oct 19, 2023
Number
The state or quality of being numerable or countable.
Of whom came nations, tribes, people, and kindreds out of number.
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Oct 19, 2023
Number
That which is regulated by count; poetic measure, as divisions of time or number of syllables; hence, poetry, verse; - chiefly used in the plural.
I lisped in numbers, for the numbers came.
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Oct 19, 2023
Number
The distinction of objects, as one, or more than one (in some languages, as one, or two, or more than two), expressed (usually) by a difference in the form of a word; thus, the singular number and the plural number are the names of the forms of a word indicating the objects denoted or referred to by the word as one, or as more than one.
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Oct 19, 2023
Number
The measure of the relation between quantities or things of the same kind; that abstract species of quantity which is capable of being expressed by figures; numerical value.
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Oct 19, 2023
Number
To count; to reckon; to ascertain the units of; to enumerate.
If a man can number the dust of the earth, then shall thy seed also be numbered.
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Oct 19, 2023
Number
To reckon as one of a collection or multitude.
He was numbered with the transgressors.
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Oct 19, 2023
Number
To give or apply a number or numbers to; to assign the place of in a series by order of number; to designate the place of by a number or numeral; as, to number the houses in a street, or the apartments in a building.
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Oct 19, 2023
Number
To amount; to equal in number; to contain; to consist of; as, the army numbers fifty thousand.
Thy tears can not number the dead.
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Oct 19, 2023
Number
The property possessed by a sum or total or indefinite quantity of units or individuals;
He had a number of chores to do
The number of parameters is small
The figure was about a thousand
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Oct 19, 2023
Number
A concept of quantity derived from zero and units;
Every number has a unique position in the sequence
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Oct 19, 2023
Number
A short theatrical performance that is part of a longer program;
He did his act three times every evening
She had a catchy little routine
It was one of the best numbers he ever did
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Oct 19, 2023
Number
A numeral or string of numerals that is used for identification;
She refused to give them her Social Security number
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Oct 19, 2023
Number
The number is used in calling a particular telephone;
He has an unlisted number
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Oct 19, 2023
Number
A symbol used to represent a number;
He learned to write the numerals before he went to school
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Oct 19, 2023
Number
One of a series published periodically;
She found an old issue of the magazine in her dentist's waitingroom
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Oct 19, 2023
Number
A select company of people;
I hope to become one of their number before I die
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Oct 19, 2023
Number
The grammatical category for the forms of nouns and pronouns and verbs that are used depending on the number of entities involved (singular or dual or plural);
In English the subject and the verb must agree in number
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Oct 19, 2023
Number
An item of merchandise offered for sale;
She preferred the black nylon number
This sweater is an all-wool number
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Oct 19, 2023
Number
Add up in number or quantity;
The bills amounted to $2,000
The bill came to $2,000
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Oct 19, 2023
Number
Put into a group;
The academy counts several Nobel Prize winners among its members
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Oct 19, 2023
Number
Determine the number or amount of;
Can you count the books on your shelf?
Count your change
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Oct 19, 2023
Repeatedly Asked Queries
Can the same number have different numerals?
Yes, like '4' and 'IV' both represent the number four.
Shumaila Saeed
Dec 07, 2023
Do numerals vary across cultures?
Yes, different cultures use different numeral systems.
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Dec 07, 2023
Are numbers used in mathematics only?
No, numbers are used in various fields, not just mathematics.
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Dec 07, 2023
Is understanding numerals important?
Yes, as they are crucial for communicating numeric information.
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Dec 07, 2023
What is a number?
A number is an abstract concept representing a quantity or value.
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Dec 07, 2023
Do numbers have intrinsic value?
Yes, numbers represent quantities or values intrinsically.
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Dec 07, 2023
Are numerals universal?
While some numeral systems like Arabic numerals are widely used, numerals are not universally the same.
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Dec 07, 2023
Are numbers and numerals the same?
No, numbers are concepts, while numerals are symbols representing those concepts.
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Dec 07, 2023
Is 'zero' a number or a numeral?
Zero is a number, and '0' is its numeral representation.
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Dec 07, 2023
Are there different types of numbers?
Yes, like whole numbers, fractions, and decimals.
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Dec 07, 2023
Do all numeral systems use base 10?
No, some systems use different bases, like binary (base 2).
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Dec 07, 2023
Do numerals impact calculations?
No, numerals are just representations; they don't impact the underlying calculations.
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Dec 07, 2023
Is the concept of numbers the same globally?
Yes, the concept of numbers is universally understood, though numerals may differ.
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Dec 07, 2023
Can numerals be graphical?
Yes, numerals can be designed in various graphical forms.
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Dec 07, 2023
Can numbers exist without numerals?
Yes, numbers are abstract concepts independent of their representation.
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Dec 07, 2023
Are numerals always digits?
No, numerals can be digits, letters, or other symbols.
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Dec 07, 2023
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About Author
Written by
Shumaila SaeedShumaila Saeed, an expert content creator with 6 years of experience, specializes in distilling complex topics into easily digestible comparisons, shining a light on the nuances that both inform and educate readers with clarity and accuracy.
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