
In set A, if there are a total of 25 elements then 25 is the cardinal number of set A represented by n(A). How is Cardinal Number Different from the Ordinal Number?Ĭardinal numbers are numbers that represent the number of items(quantity) while ordinal numbers represent the rank or position of an item in the given list. We start by 1 and then go on as per the number sequence. How do you Find Cardinal Numbers?Ĭardinal numbers can be found by counting. The smallest cardinal number is 1 (one) as whenever we count, we always start from 1. They do count how many toys they have, how many people are there around them, how many friends they have, how many subjects do they study at school, etc. Even a small child uses this mathematical concept without knowing the term for it. In our daily life, we use cardinal numbers a lot.


In the case of a set, the cardinal number is the total number of elements present in it. For instance, where does the object lies in the list?Įxamples are 1 st, 2 nd, 3 rd, 4 th, 5 th, 10 th, etc. Ordinal numbers give us the answer of 'where'. They are based on the rank or position of an object in a given list or order.Ĭardinal numbers give us the answer of 'how many?'. They are counting numbers that represent quantity. Let's discuss ordinal and cardinal number differences in the table below: Cardinal Numbers In the above image, we can see the position of the runners in the running event. In the above image, we can see a team of 4 workers on the construction site. Here is an example that explains cardinal and ordinal numbers:

Example: 1 st, 2 nd, 3 rd, 4 th, 5 th, etc. While an ordinal number is a number that denotes the position or place of an object. Difference Between Cardinal and Ordinal NumbersĪll the natural numbers are also referred to as cardinal numbers.
