Does every natural number have a predecessor?

Answer

To determine whether every natural number has a predecessor, we can analyze the definition of natural numbers and their sequence.

### Step-by-Step Solution:

1. **Define Natural Numbers**:
Natural numbers are defined as the set of positive integers starting from 1 and continuing indefinitely. The sequence of natural numbers is: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, ...

2. **Identify the Predecessor**:
A predecessor of a number is the number that comes immediately before it in the sequence. For example, the predecessor of 2 is 1, the predecessor of 3 is 2, and so on.

3. **Examine the First Natural Number**:
The first natural number is 1. Since there is no natural number before 1, it does not have a predecessor.

4. **Consider Other Natural Numbers**:
For all other natural numbers (2, 3, 4, ...), each has a predecessor. For instance:
- The predecessor of 2 is 1.
- The predecessor of 3 is 2.
- The predecessor of 4 is 3.
- This pattern continues indefinitely.

5. **Conclusion**:
Therefore, we can conclude that every natural number has a predecessor except for the first natural number, which is 1.

### Final Answer:
No, not every natural number has a predecessor. The number 1 does not have a predecessor.