Question

The smallest positive integer is
(a)0
(b)100
(c)1
(d)9

Answer 1

Hint: The set of positive integers consist of the whole numbers {1, 2, 3… n}, where n represents positive infinity. While 0 is a whole number and an integer, it is neither negative nor positive.


Complete step-by-step answer:
The positive integers are used in basic calculations. For example, when a store is checking its inventory, or how many items it has, the manager needs to use positive integers and basic math to figure out totals.
The set of integers is {…,-3, -2, -1, 0, 1, 2, 3, …}.
The set of positive integers is the set of integers that are strictly greater than zero. So, we omit all the negative integers and zero from the set of integers, and we are left with the set {1, 2, 3, …}.
The smallest of the numbers in the set {1, 2, 3, …} is 1.
So, the number 1 is the smallest positive integer.
Therefore, the correct option is option (c).

Note: Integers do not consist of fractions, decimals or percent (unless they can be rewritten as a whole number). A few examples of positive integers would be$\frac{24}{8}=3$; 17.0 = 17; and, 500% = 5.