Which of the following is not a characteristic of integers?

The chosen answer is correct because integers are defined as whole numbers that can be positive, negative, or zero but do not include fractions. Fractions represent parts of a whole and are not classified as integers.

Integers are specifically the set of numbers that can be written without a fractional or decimal component, which includes numbers such as -3, 0, 5, and so forth. They fall under the broader category of rational numbers but are restricted to whole values. Therefore, saying that integers include fractions contradicts the very definition of what constitutes an integer.

On the other hand, integers can indeed be positive, negative, or zero, and they do encompass whole numbers, like all whole numeric values without any fractional or decimal part. Also, integers do not include decimals, as decimals imply a division of the whole into parts, which again moves away from the integral definition. Thus, the presence of fractions among the options distinguishes it from acceptable integer characteristics.