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What are the Successor and Predecessor?

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Last updated date: 25th Apr 2024
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Successor and Predecessor in Math

The term successor and predecessor in Math means that they come directly after or before the particular number respectively. Both successor and predecessor basically applied only to the whole numbers. The successor is termed as after numbers whereas the predecessor is termed as before numbers. 


Successor in Math refers to the after the term of a particular term while the predecessor in Math refers to them before the term of a particular term. We can find the successor of a whole number by adding one to the particularly given number whereas to find the predecessor of a whole number we will subtract one from the particularly given number. In this article, we will study what are successor and predecessor, successor meaning, predecessor meaning, how to find the successor of a given number, how to find the predecessor of a given number, etc.


Successor Meaning

Successor Meaning in Math is a number that succeeds another number or comes after the given number. In other words, the successor of a given number is 1 more than the previous number. For example, 

The successor of 22 = 22 + 1 = 23

The successor of 100 = 100 + 1 = 101

The successor of 45= 45 + 1 = 46


Predecessor Meaning

Predecessor meaning in Math is a number that precedes another number or comes before the given number. In other words, the predecessor of a given number is 1 less than the given number. For example, 

The Predecessor of 22 = 22 - 1 = 21

The Predecessor of 100 = 100 - 1 = 99

The Predecessor of 45= 45 - 1 = 44


Example of Both Successor and Predecessor

Let's pretend the given number is 18. Its replacement is 19 years old, and its predecessor was 17 years old. If the supplied number was 226, the successor would be 227 and the predecessor would be 225. Furthermore, if x is the successor of y, then y is x's predecessor. For example, because 80 is the successor of 79, 79 is the predecessor of 80.


Role of Whole Numbers in Successor and Predecessor

One thing to keep in mind is that successor and predecessor only apply to entire numbers. This means they apply to numbers such as zero, one, two, three, and so forth.

They also do not apply to negative numbers, fractions, or decimals. In addition, every whole number has to have a successor. With the exception of zero, every whole number has a predecessor. 


How to Find the Successor and Predecessor of a Given Number?

Successor and Predecessor in Math are important topics to be discussed. They are widely used in the field of Math and Physics. The methods to find the successor and predecessor of a given number is discussed below.

Let us first discuss the method to find the successor of a given number.

The successor of a given number can be found by adding 1 to the given number. For example, the successor of 0 is 1, the successor of 1 is 2, the successor of 2 is 3, etc. We can observe every whole number has its successor.

Let us now discuss the method to find the predecessor of a given number.

The predecessor of a given number can be found by subtracting 1 to the given number. For example, the predecessor of 1 is 0, the successor of 2 is 1, the successor of 3 is 2, etc. The only whole number i.e. 0 does not have any predecessor. 

We can observe every whole number except 0 has its predecessor.


Important Note

One important point to be discussed is that the successor and predecessor are both applied only to the whole numbers. It implies that these can be applied to the numbers such as zero, one, two, etc.


Successor and Predecessor are not applied to the fractions, decimals, or negative numbers. Hence, every whole number has its successor also every whole number has its predecessor except zero.


Solved Examples

1. Write the Successor of a Given Number.

68,95,226

10,00,999

49,99,999

48,09,826

8,00,78,593

Solution:

The successor of 68,95,226 is (68,95,226 + 1) = 68,95,226.

The successor of 11,00,999 is (11,00,999+ 1) = 1101000.

The successor of 59,99,999 is (59,99,999+ 1) = 6000000

The successor of 48,09,826 is (48,09,826+ 1) = 48,09,827

The successor of 8,00,78,593 is (8,00,78,593+ 1) = 8,00,78,594.


2. Find the Predecessor of a Given Number.

1000

11999

300099

779

88888

Solution: 

The predecessor of 999 is (999-1) = 998

The predecessor of 12999 is (12999-1) = 12998

The predecessor of 200099 is (200099-1) = 300098

The predecessor of 779 is (779-1) = 778

The predecessor of 88888 is (88888-1) = 88887


3. Which of the assertions below is correct (T) and which is incorrect (F)?

A two-digit number's successor is always a two-digit number.

400 is known to be the predecessor of 399

Solution: 

False - The successor of 99 is the three-digit number 100.

False - 398 is the year before 399.


Quiz Time

1. What is the Successor of 99?

100

101

102

103


2. Circle the Successor of 900

901

898

896

435


3. What is the Predecessor of 57?

56

67

89

34


4.  Circle the Predecessor of 900

899

898

897

896


5. When it comes to successor and predecessor in math, which of the following statements is false?

They are not valid for whole numbers.

They are referred to as after and before numerals, respectively.

They are useful in the fields of mathematics and science.

There are two approaches for determining successors and predecessors.

Answer: Option A., "they don't apply to entire numbers," is the correct response. Because successors and predecessors only apply to entire numbers, this is the case.

This is in stark contrast to Option A.'s assertion. Furthermore, when it comes to successors and predecessors in mathematics, the other three possibilities are certainly correct.

FAQs on What are the Successor and Predecessor?

1. Define Whole Numbers.

The whole number belongs to a number system in which includes all the positive integers i.e. from 0 to infinity. These numbers can be drawn on the number line, therefore they are also known as real numbers. We can say, all the whole numbers can be considered as real numbers but not all the real numbers are considered as whole numbers. 


The whole numbers are represented as ‘W’ and the set of the whole numbers are { 0,1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8}. The whole numbers includes all the positive numbers including zero but they do not include fractions or decimals numbers.


Mathematical operations such as addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division are easily operated with the whole numbers.

2. Explain the Relationship Between Successor and Predecessor in Maths and in the Business Organizations.

The term successor and predecessor refer to the term succeed and precede respectively. In Mathematics, a successor is a number that comes after the given numbers whereas a predecessor is a number that comes before the given numbers. For example, the successor of 10 is 11 whereas the predecessor of 10 is 9.

In the Business organization, the successor and predecessor are those who got a new position or were in that particular position for a time being.

For example,

  • The new ride in the garden is more beautiful than its predecessor.

  • Mohit succecced John’s position as Marketing Manager.

3. Give a brief overview about the successor and predecessor.

In mathematics, the phrases successor and predecessor refer to terms that come directly after or before a given number. In addition, this only applies to entire numbers. After and before numbers are used to describe successors and predecessors, respectively.


The predecessor refers to the prior term of a term, whereas the successor refers to the future term of a term. One must add one to the supplied number in order to obtain the successor of a full number. One must remove one from the supplied number in order to discover a predecessor. To garner more knowledge, click here.

4. How to find the predecessor of 15?

The term "predecessor" refers to the period preceding the number. They, like successors, have significant mathematical and scientific applications. Above all, there are two methods for determining whether a number is preceding or before another.


The counting numbers must be said in the first approach. Furthermore, the guy must come to a halt at the number before which he must find them.


Find the number that comes before or precedes 11 as an example. As a result, 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10,11 must be said.


As a result, before 11 p.m., we said 10. As a result, 10 comes before 11. 

In the second technique, the specified number must be subtracted by one. This procedure is also necessary for determining the predecessor of a particular unique number. The fact that a whole number zero has no precedent is particularly significant.

15 - 1 = 14 is an example of a predecessor.

5. What is meant by the successor function?

The successor function is an element of the formal language used to express the Peano axioms, which formalize the natural number structure. The successor function is a primitive operation on natural numbers in this formalization, and the standard natural numbers and addition are described in terms of it. For example, 1 is defined as S(0), and natural-number addition is defined recursively as:

m + 0 equals m, and m + S(n) equals S(m + n).


This formula can be used to add any two natural integers together. 5 + 2 = 5 + S(1) = S(5 + 1) = S(5 + 1) = S(5 + S(0)) = S(S(5 + 0)) = S(S(5 + 0)) = S(S(5)) = S(6) = 7.


Within set theory, several natural number constructions have been proposed. Access the Vedantu app and website for free study materials.