a character used to represent a mathematical value
since percentages have been rounded off to whole numbers, the total will not be exactly equal to 100%
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of whole numbersThe trick is to choose some number c² so that there are a whole bunch of pairs of whole numbers a and b such that a² + b² = c².—ArsTechnica,
1 June 2026 The question Price solved—or prompted ChatGPT to solve—concerns special sets of whole numbers, where no number in the set can be evenly divided by any other.—
Joseph Howlett,
Scientific American,
24 Apr. 2026 For instance, mathematicians know that most numbers are irrational, meaning that they can’t be written as a fraction of two whole numbers.—
Jordana Cepelewicz,
Quanta Magazine,
18 Dec. 2025 Cantor has already challenged what seems like common sense with infinite sets of whole numbers.—Big Think,
25 Nov. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for whole numbers
digits
Noun
The semicircular blobs are from the carnivoran’s metacarpal pads; five digits extend out, short like a dog’s paws but spread wide like human fingers.
—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
15 July 2026
Southern California will face its hottest day of the year Wednesday as temperatures soar into the triple digits across much of the region and forecasters warn that dangerous heat will continue through Thursday.