Little Subset
Topic: The Number System
(4th – 9th grade)
by Lodge
Little Subset
Give me a number that’s rational
Like any fraction that hurts
Accepting positive or negative
Are you ready…for two thirds?
Or I’ll take the terminating decimal
.15, it will be
If it’s repeating, it’s sensible
So How about, .333333333
Chorus:
Hey little subset, I’m a real number
The big super-set, rational and irrational
Hey smaller subset
You call this place an integer?
It’s bigger than the whole numbers
and counting without the zeros
A rational subset are integers
They walk this number line
Go both directions from zero
They go left, they go right
Now, take the positive integers
And let’s give them a name
zero, 1,2,3,4,5 etc…
That’s the whole number game
Bummed irrational numbers
Feel such heavy shame
They’re real, but that’s just not the same
They envy subsets that complain
So they complain
blah blah blah blah blah
We can’t be written as fractions
Else we’d be rational
We don’t repeat and/or terminate
Like Pi, 3.14159265…
Student Lyric Guide
Name: __________________________
The Number System
Little Subset
Give me a number that’s rational
Like any fraction that hurts
Accepting positive or negative
Are you ready…for two thirds?
A rational number is ________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________
Give two examples of rational numbers (one that is a fraction, and one that can
be simplified into a non-fraction)
1. _________________
2. _________________
Or I’ll take the terminating decimal
.15, it will be
If it’s repeating, it’s sensible
So How about, .333333333
In their decimal form, rational numbers either _______________ or
_______________
An example of a rational number that repeats is: _________________
An example of a rational number that terminates is: _________________
Hey little subset, I’m a real number
The big super-set, rational and irrational
Hey smaller subset
You call this place an integer?
It’s bigger than the whole numbers
and counting without the zeros
Define real numbers:
________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________
List the subsets of Rational Numbers:
_______________________________
_______________________________
_______________________________
List the subsets of Irrational Numbers
_______________________________
Why are Real Numbers called the "Superset"?
________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________
A rational subset are integers
They walk this number line
Go both directions from zero
They go left, they go right
Use the number line to illustrate and define integers. Provide a written definition
below:
___________________
Now, take the positive integers
And let’s give them a name
zero, 1,2,3,4,5 etc…
That’s the whole number game
Use the number line to illustrate and define whole numbers. Provide a written
definition below:
___________________
Is zero considered a positive or negative integer?
________________________________________________________________
Bummed irrational numbers
Feel such heavy shame
They’re real, but that’s just not the same
They envy subsets that complain
So they complain
blah blah blah blah blah
We can’t be written as fractions
Else we’d be rational
We don’t repeat and/or terminate
Like Pi, 3.14159265…
List the attributes of irrational numbers
1. ___________________________________
2. ___________________________________
3. ___________________________________
4. ___________________________________
5. ___________________________________
Give an example of an irrational number. What makes this an irrational number?
________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________
Teacher Key
Name: ________KEY__________________
Little Subset
Give me a number that’s rational
Like any fraction that hurts
Accepting positive or negative
Are you ready…for two thirds?
A rational number is ____ is any number that can be written like x/y - as long as y
is not a zero.
Give two examples of rational numbers (one that is a fraction, and one that can
be simplified into a non-fraction)
1. 2/3
2. 8/4 simplified to 2
Or I’ll take the terminating decimal
.15, it will be
If it’s repeating, it’s sensible
So How about, .333333333
In their decimal form, rational numbers either _______ repeat or _________
terminate
An example of a rational number that repeats is: .33333333
An example of a rational number that terminates is: .15
Hey little subset, I’m a real number
The big super-set, rational and irrational
Hey smaller subset
You call this place an integer?
It’s bigger than the whole numbers
and counting without the zeros
Define real numbers:
Real numbers include both rational numbers like 16 or -5/123 and irrational
numbers such as Pi (3.14159265)
List the subsets of Rational Numbers:
Integers
Whole
Natural/counting
List the subsets of Irrational Numbers
none
Why are Real Numbers called the "Superset"?
Because both rational and irrational numbers are actually subsets of Real
numbers - Real numbers are the biggest, more general set of these numbers.
A rational subset are integers
They walk this number line
Go both directions from zero
They go left, they go right
Use the number line to illustrate and define integers. Provide a written definition
below:
Zero and all the positive and negative numbers found on the number line
Now, take the positive integers
And let’s give them a name
zero, 1,2,3,4,5 etc…
That’s the whole number game
Use the number line to illustrate and define whole numbers. Provide a written
definition below:
Zero and all the positive integers found on the number line
Is zero considered a positive or negative integer?
Nether, zero is a real number placeholder.
Bummed irrational numbers
Feel such heavy shame
They’re real, but that’s just not the same
They envy subsets that complain
So they complain
blah blah blah blah blah
We can’t be written as fractions
Else we’d be rational
We don’t repeat and/or terminate
Like Pi, 3.14159265…
List the attributes of irrational numbers
1. All numbers that are not rational
2. Numbers that cannot be written as normal fractions
3. Don't have any subsets
4. Don't repeat
5. Don't terminate
Give an example of an irrational number. What makes this an irrational number?
Pi - does not repeat, does not terminate. Cannot be written as a normal fraction.
Music Video Extension Activity
1. Hand out or project the lyrics and read them out loud and discuss their meaning
2. Play the song for the students, multiple times, encouraging them to sing along
3. Use the student lyric guide in place of, or to supplement class notes
4. Allow students class time, in small groups, to “act” out a portion of the song
5. Film the student groups singing/acting out the song