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Chris&Wendy | 09:28 Sun 07th Jan 2007 | Quizzes & Puzzles
11 Answers
We cannot confirm the last one anywhere! 4. down 'A Rational Number that can be expressed as the sum or difference of a finite number of units'

seven letter I - - E - E

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sorry, there should be another letter at the end!
I'm no mathematician but is it 'integer?'
Question Author
we found that, but can't equate it to the clue?
It is all I can come up with too. Not being a mathematician either, but does this help at all.

http://www.onelook.com/?loc=rescb&w=integer
Yep, I'd go with 'Integer'. An integer is a rational number, as opposed to complex number and if it is expressed as the sum or difference of finite units, it must itself be a finite unit. Having said that, i'm assuming the crossword setter is defining a finite unit as an integer. Perhaps he/she isn't a mathematician either!
My background is in mathematics and I don't relate to the clue, but I reckon that the answer is INTEGER.

A rational number is one which can be expressed as a ratio such as 7/3. An integer can be expressed in this form since 7 = 7/1, but it is unnecessary to do so!

A better clue would have been "A real number that can describe a finite number of units: a whole number"
It's just occurred to me that the reason that such a convoluted clue has been given for INTEGER is to cover negative values and zero.

The numbers that we all learn to count with are called the Natural Numbers = {1,2,3,4,...};
however the set of Integers = { ...,-2,-1,0,1,2, ...}.

In order to define these WITHOUT using the concept of a minus sign leads to the wording as adopted in your clue.

Sorry if the answer is as convoluted as the clue itself!
Question Author
Integer it is then!

Thank you everyone for your help...
Well, I'm glad that you could all sort out this problem. It was the last clue for me to finish, and I was starting to tear out my hair.
Many thanks.
integer
that's what I thought too!

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