Isn’t a number just a number? No, numbers are quite diverse and can be classified in several ways. Cardinal, ordinal and nominal numbers are common number types that we see in our daily lives – but which is which?
Cardinal numbers
Cardinal numbers, also known as the ‘counting numbers’, represent a quantity in reality.
For example, when you state your age, read a price or count the number of cows in a field.
Ordinal numbers
Ordinal numbers indicate the rank or order of items in a set. So ordinal numbers are relational.
For example, third in line in the queue at McDonalds, second place in a race.
Nominal numbers
Nominal numbers name or identify something. They represent something meaningful, but are not defined as a set of numbers and they do not represent quantity.
For example, a zip code, or the number on a soccer player’s shirt.
