natural number
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A natural number is a basic counting number, though mathematicians don't always agree on whether to start counting from zero or from one. Understanding natural numbers matters because they form the foundation for all arithmetic and higher mathematics that we use in everyday life and science.
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Natural numbers can be used for counting: one apple plus two apples equals three apples.
In mathematics, the natural numbers are the numbers 0, 1, 2, 3, and so on, possibly excluding 0. The terms positive integers, non-negative integers, whole numbers, and counting numbers are also used. The set of the natural numbers is commonly denoted by a bold N or a blackboard bold