real number

American  

[ree-uhl, reel] / ˈri əl, ril /

noun

Mathematics.

1. a rational number or the limit of a sequence of rational numbers, as opposed to a complex number.

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real number British  

noun

1. a number expressible as a limit of rational numbers See number

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real number Scientific  

/ rē′əl /

1. A number that can be written as a terminating or nonterminating decimal; a rational or irrational number. The numbers 2, −12.5, 3/7, and pi (π) are all real numbers.

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Etymology

Origin of real number

First recorded in 1905–10

Example Sentences

Youth unemployment officially stands around 15%, though many analysts believe the real number is higher.

From Barron's

Those bites cause about 30,000 deaths annually in sub-Saharan Africa, though some estimates suggest the real number is much higher.

From BBC

The real number of people killed and detained is believed to be significantly higher, but the lack of access means the figures cannot be independently verified.

From BBC

As a result the real number of stateless people is hard to gauge in many parts of the world.

From BBC

For instance, scientists have formally identified around 1.1 million insect species, but many researchers estimate the real number is closer to 6 million.

From Science Daily