To determine the smallest subset into which the number -5 fits, we can consider several common sets of numbers:
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Natural Numbers (N): This subset includes all positive integers (1, 2, 3, ...). -5 does not fit here.
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Whole Numbers (W): This subset includes all non-negative integers (0, 1, 2, 3, ...). -5 does not fit here either.
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Integers (Z): This subset includes all whole numbers, both positive and negative (-3, -2, -1, 0, 1, 2, ...). -5 does fit in this subset.
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Rational Numbers (Q): This subset includes all numbers that can be expressed as a fraction of two integers (like -5/1). Since -5 can be written in this form, it fits in this subset.
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Real Numbers (R): This set includes all rational and irrational numbers. Since -5 is a rational number, it fits in this set as well.
Based on the above classifications, the smallest subset that -5 fits into is the set of integers (Z).