Final answer:
A whole note typically gets four beats in music and can fill an entire measure in 4/4 time. However, it doesn't fit into a single measure of 2/4 or 3/4 time; instead, half notes or dotted half notes would be used to fill those measures.
Step-by-step explanation:
In music theory, the number of beats a whole note receives varies depending on the time signature. In a 2/4, 3/4, or 4/4 time signature, a whole note typically gets four beats. However, it would not fit entirely within a measure of 2/4 or 3/4, as these time signatures only allow for two and three beats per measure respectively. So, while a whole note is worth four beats in 4/4 time, it would extend beyond a single measure in 2/4 and 3/4 times, making it necessary to either split the whole note across measures or to use a different note value that fits within the measure.
For example, in 4/4 time, a whole note would take up an entire measure. In contrast, in 2/4 time, you would need to use a half note to fill the measure since it's equivalent to two beats. Similarly, in 3/4 time, you might use a dotted half note, which equals three beats, to fill a measure.