Mathematics is an interesting subject where you can learn about new ways to solve numerical problems. Whole numbers are one of the parts of it. Successor and predecessor fall under the whole numbers. 

Successor refers to the number after, and predecessor refers to the number before. These two terms are very interesting, and there are many problems that you can solve with their help.

Successors and predecessors are very easy to find. The names may confuse us, but in general, it's very easy to find out. The successor and predecessor examples will help us understand the successor and predecessor in a better way.

Let us learn more about successors and predecessors to understand them and apply them to our problems. Let’s start with what is the successor.


What is the successor?

In mathematics, successor means any number which comes after any particular number. One simple example will help you understand it. It succeeded the given number and gave another number that came immediately after the particular number.

Example:

Given numbers are 22 and 23. Here, 23 is the number which comes after 22. So, 23 is the successor of 22, as it comes after the number 22. 


What is the predecessor?

Like successor, predecessor means just the opposite of it. Predecessor means any number which comes before any particular number. It means that the number precedes the particular number that means it comes just before the particular number. 

If we see the example, the meaning of the predecessor will be understood.

Example:

Given numbers 21 and 22. Here 21 is the number which comes just before 22. Hence, 21 is the predecessor of 22 as it comes just before the number 22.


How do you find out the successor and predecessor?

It is very simple to find out both successor and predecessor. You just need to follow simple steps to find out. 

Successor 

The following steps to find out successor are as follows:

Step 1: We need to check if the given number is a whole number or not.

Step 2: We need to add 1 with the given particular number. As the successor is just after the particular number, we can easily find it by adding one.

Example: 

Q1. Find out the successor of 256?

Ans: The successor of 256 = 256 1 = 257

Q2. Find out the successor of 19923?

Ans: The successor of 19923 = 19923 1 = 19924

Predecessor

The following steps to find out predecessor are as follows:

Step 1: We need to check if the given number is a whole number or not.

Step 2: We need to subtract -1 with the given particular number. As the predecessor is just before the particular number, then just by subtracting one, we can find it out easily.

Example: 

Q1. Find out the predecessor of 277?

Ans: The successor of 277 = 277 -1 = 276

Q2. Find out the predecessor of 19893?

Ans: The successor of 19893 = 19893 - 1 = 19892


Important Facts 

We need to know some of the important facts that we need to keep in mind as we will find a successor and predecessor. Some of the important facts are:

  • A predecessor will never become a 0. You need to remember that 0 will never be a predecessor, even if it comes just before any particular number. If you encounter any problem whose predecessor will be 0, just write there is no predecessor of the particular number.
  • Successor and predecessor are only applicable for whole numbers and not any other categories of numbers. 
  • The whole number only consists of digits that are not expressed in fractions or decimals etc. Successor and predecessor will only be whole digits and not in the form of decimals or fractions.
  • Successors and predecessors will never be in negative numbers. It will always be positive. If you find any successor or predecessor as a negative number, then it is not applicable.

Solved Examples

Let us see some of the solved examples to get a better understanding of the topic. 

  1. Find out the successor of the following numbers:
  • 5589
  • 7785
  • 9956
  • 33667
  • 23456
  • 92567

Ans: To find out the successor of the given number, the first step is to check the given numbers. As all the numbers are whole numbers, we can find out the successors of the numbers.

  1. The successor of 5589 = 5589+1 = 5590
  2. The successor of 7785 = 7785+1 = 7786
  3. The successor of 9956 = 9956+1 = 9957
  4. The successor of 33667 = 33667+1 = 33668
  5. The successor of 23456 = 23456+1 = 23457
  6. The successor of 92567 = 92567+1 = 92568
  1. Find out the predecessor of the following numbers:
  1. 99269
  2. 10000
  3. 63340
  4. 956
  5. 7892
  6. 23568

Ans: To find out the predecessor of the given number, the first step is to check the given numbers. As all the numbers are whole numbers, we can find out the predecessor of the numbers. 

  1. The predecessor of 99269 = 99269 -1 = 99268
  2. The predecessor of 10000 = 10000 -1 = 9999
  3. The predecessor of 63340 = 63340 - 1 = 63339
  4. The predecessor of 956 = 956 - 1 = 955
  5. The predecessor of 7892 = 7892 - 1 = 7891
  6. The predecessor of 23568 = 23568 - 1 = 23567

Solve it yourself

Here are some problems that you should practice yourself to get a better idea of successor and predecessor and how to find them during any given problems. 

  1. What is the predecessor of 68299?
  1. What is the successor of 445499?
  1. What is the successor of 199999? 
  1. What is the predecessor of 47810?
  1. Write the predecessor of the given numbers:

(i) 3,47,100

(ii) 8,83,469

(iii) 6,88,840

(iv) 9,22,233

(v) 8,00,055

  1. Write the successor of the given numbers:

(i) 8,76,999

(ii) 7,69,841

(iii) 8,09,002

(iv) 5,00,999

(v) 9,89,999

Conclusion 

With the help of this article, we have come to understand the meaning of successor and predecessor. All the problems are very easy, and if we follow the steps carefully to find out the successor and predecessor, we will not have any problem getting the solution. 

If we practice more sums, it will help us remember the steps and also use them during our examinations.

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