The correct answer is:
C. Whole numbers, integers, and rational numbers
Explanation:
- Whole numbers: \(0, 1, 2, 3, \ldots\) (includes zero)
- Integers: \(\ldots, -2, -1, 0, 1, 2, \ldots\) (includes zero)
- Rational numbers: Any number that can be expressed as a fraction \(\frac{a}{b}\) where \(a\) and \(b\) are integers and \(b \neq 0\) (zero can be expressed as \(\frac{0}{1}\))
Zero does not belong to:
- Natural numbers: \(1, 2, 3, \ldots\) (does not include zero)
- Irrational numbers: Numbers that cannot be expressed as a fraction of two integers (e.g., \(\sqrt{2}, \pi\), etc.)
Thus, option C is the only set that includes zero.