Sunday Express Magazine

[Chris&Wendy]

We cannot confirm the last one anywhere! 4. down 'A Rational Number that can be expressed as the sum or difference of a finite number of units'

seven letter I - - E - E

Is it Indexer?

[Chris&Wendy]

sorry, there should be another letter at the end!

[Wrangler]

I'm no mathematician but is it 'integer?'

[Chris&Wendy]

we found that, but can't equate it to the clue?

[JoolsTwo]

It is all I can come up with too. Not being a mathematician either, but does this help at all.

http://www.onelook.com/?loc=rescb&w=integer

[sddsddean]

Yep, I'd go with 'Integer'. An integer is a rational number, as opposed to complex number and if it is expressed as the sum or difference of finite units, it must itself be a finite unit. Having said that, i'm assuming the crossword setter is defining a finite unit as an integer. Perhaps he/she isn't a mathematician either!

[crofter]

My background is in mathematics and I don't relate to the clue, but I reckon that the answer is INTEGER.

A rational number is one which can be expressed as a ratio such as 7/3. An integer can be expressed in this form since 7 = 7/1, but it is unnecessary to do so!

A better clue would have been "A real number that can describe a finite number of units: a whole number"

[crofter]

It's just occurred to me that the reason that such a convoluted clue has been given for INTEGER is to cover negative values and zero.

The numbers that we all learn to count with are called the Natural Numbers = {1,2,3,4,...};
however the set of Integers = { ...,-2,-1,0,1,2, ...}.

In order to define these WITHOUT using the concept of a minus sign leads to the wording as adopted in your clue.

Sorry if the answer is as convoluted as the clue itself!

[Chris&Wendy]

Integer it is then!

Thank you everyone for your help...

[Esperanza]

Well, I'm glad that you could all sort out this problem. It was the last clue for me to finish, and I was starting to tear out my hair.
Many thanks.

[waldenhouse]

integer

[Crossiefan55]

that's what I thought too!