Successor and Predecessor in Maths: Meaning, Definition, and Examples

Successor and Predecessor

Mathematics is all about numbers and understanding how they relate to each other. One of the most basic concepts in math is knowing which number comes before or after a given number. These ideas are called predecessor and successor. Learn What is Successor in Maths. By learning about successors and predecessors, students can easily count forward and backwards, recognize number patterns, and understand the order of numbers on a number line.

These concepts are not just for small numbers; they work for all integers, including negative numbers, zero, and positive numbers. Read the complete blog to understand the concept of successor and predecessor in detail. Read more about What is Successor in Maths and Predecessor and Successor meaning  for better understanding.

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Successor and Predecessor Definition in Maths

In mathematics, Successor and Predecessor in Maths are terms commonly used when working with number sequences. A successor is the number that comes right after a given number, while a predecessor is the number that comes just before it. 

These relationships are easy to visualize on a number line, where each number has a successor to its right and a predecessor to its left. For instance, starting from 0 on a number line, the successor of 0 is 1, and the predecessor of 1 is 0. Moving further along, the successor of 1 is 2, and the predecessor of 0 is -1. 

In mathematics, predecessor meaning in maths refers to the number that comes just before a given number, while the successor is the number that comes just after it. To understand what is successor and predecessor, remember that if you take any number, its predecessor is one less and its successor is one more. The predecessor and successor meaning is simple yet important as it helps in learning number order and sequences.

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What is Successor in Maths?

A successor in maths is the number that comes immediately after a given number in a sequence. In other words, it is the next number following a specific number. If a number is represented as n, then its successor is calculated as:

Successor = n + 1

Examples of Successor:

• If n = -6, the successor is -6 + 1= -5

• If n = 95, the successor is 95 + 1 = 96

• If n = 28, the successor is 25 + 1= 29

• If n = 30, the successor is 30 + 1= 31

What is Predecessor in Maths?

Predecessor meaning in maths is discussed here. A predecessor is the number that comes immediately before a given number in a sequence. It is the previous number just before a specific value. If a number is represented as x, its predecessor is calculated as:

Predecessor = x − 1

Examples of Predecessor:

• If x = 5, the predecessor is 5 − 1 = 4

• If x = 10, the predecessor is 10 − 1= 9

• If x = 20, the predecessor is 20 − 1= 19

• If x = 50, the predecessor is 50 − 1= 49

• If x = 100, the predecessor is 100 −1 = 99

Thus, the predecessor of any number is always one less than the original number.

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Predecessor and Successor of Integers

Integers are the set of numbers made up of zero, positive whole numbers, and their negative counterparts. In other words, integers include numbers like:

Z= {...,−5,−4,−3,−2,−1,0,1,2,3,4,5,...}

For any integer, the successor is the number immediately after it, and the predecessor is the number immediately before it.

From this table, we can see that the successor is always one more than the number, and the predecessor is always one less. This rule works for all integers, whether negative, zero, or positive.

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Difference Between Successor and Predecessor

The concepts of successor and predecessor may seem similar, but they are opposite in meaning. The main differences are shown in the table below:

Successor and Predecessor Solved Examples

For example, in the predecessor and successor example, the predecessor of 10 is 9 and the successor of 10 is 11. Predecessor and Successor example are given here:

Example 1: Find the successor and predecessor of 27.

Solution:

Successor = 27+ 1 = 28

Predecessor = 27 − 1 = 26

Example 2: Determine the successor and predecessor of -4.

Solution:

Successor = −4 + 1 = − 3

Predecessor = −4 − 1 = −5

Example 3: Find the successor and predecessor of 0.

Solution:

Successor = 0 + 1=10 

Predecessor = 0 −1 = −10 

Example 4: Write the after numbers of 45 up to 50.

Solution: Numbers after 45: 46, 47, 48, 49, 50

Example 5: Find the successor and predecessor of 100.

Solution:

Successor = 100 + 1 = 101

Predecessor = 100 − 1 = 99

Also read: 10 Minutes Daily Exercises to Improve Mental Maths Skills

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