What is the term for positive, negative, or zero whole numbers?

• A. Integer
• B. Fraction
• C. Decimal
• D. Rational Number

Answer: (A)

The term that describes positive, negative, or zero whole numbers is "Integer." An integer is a complete number that does not have a fractional or decimal component. It includes all the whole numbers and their negative counterparts, as well as zero. Therefore, integers can be expressed as follows: ..., -3, -2, -1, 0, 1, 2, 3, ...

The other options refer to different categories of numbers. A fraction represents a part of a whole and is expressed as a numerator divided by a denominator. A decimal is a way to express fractions that includes a decimal point. Rational numbers are numbers that can be expressed as the quotient or fraction of two integers, which includes integers, fractions, and decimals, but does not specifically refer to whole numbers alone. Thus, the definition aligns specifically with the characteristics of integers.