By Anibal Pérez
Understanding the origins of whole numbers.
Once upon a time, there was a planet called “Planet N,” where beings known as natural numbers lived. These beings were very organized, living at equal distances from each other, starting from a place called “Origin” or “Zero.” Then came One, Two, Three, and so on.
One day, the number Zero decided to take a stroll around Planet N. While walking, Zero encountered Minus One, who seemed lost.
Zero: Hello, Minus One, are you lost? Minus One: Yes, I am. I can’t find my way back home. Zero: Don’t worry, I can help you. Where do you live? Minus One: I live on the other side of the origin. Zero: Ah, then you must live with the negative numbers.
Zero and Minus One began to walk together, but when they reached the other side of the origin, they found that the natural numbers did not want to have anything to do with the negative numbers.
One: We don’t want negative numbers mixed with us! They are not our kind! Two: Yes, they are very different from us. Three: And besides, they don’t fit into our order!
Zero realized that natural numbers have a bias towards negative numbers and decided to do something about it.
Zero: Why don’t we give negative numbers a chance? After all, we are all whole numbers. One: Well, that’s true. Two: Maybe we should give them a chance. Three: Yes, after all, we all have something in common.
Since then, natural and negative numbers coexisted in harmony on Planet N, and together they formed integers. Integers could be positive, negative or zero, but they always maintained that distance and order on Planet N.
Whole numbers were used to count things, to measure distances, and to make calculations. With them, the habitants of Planet N could carry out important tasks and solve complex problems. Zero and Minus One became great friends and together they traveled throughout Planet N, teaching others the importance of being a whole number and the beauty of living together in harmony.
Over time, integers became a fundamental part of life on Planet N, and each of them played an important role in its progress and growth.
The moral of this story is that it doesn’t matter if you are a positive, negative or zero number, we are all equal and we all have something valuable to offer. If we learn to live in harmony and respect differences, we can achieve great things together.
And so, the entire numbers of Planet N lived happily ever after, in a world full of harmony and beauty.
