FORM 11AT2

(-/9/82)
TRAINING COURSES
FOR
ROAD CONSTRUCTION SUPERVISORS
BASIC MATHEMATICS
CONTENTS
INTRODUCTION

FRACTIONS -

Definitions, Adding, Subtracting, Grouping, Reducing

FRACTIONS Multiplying, Dividing

Practical Problems

9
11

DECIMALS Converting Decimals to Fractions and vice versa

Addition and Subtraction
Multiplication

15

Division

18

RATIOS, PROPORTIONS, PERCENTAGES

17
23

AREAS Square, Rectangle, Parallelogram, Trapezium

31

AREAS Triangle, Circle

35

VOLUMES Prism, Cylinder, Pyramid, Cone

APPENDIX: A - Square Root Calculations

41

The 11AT series of training courses has been compiled by the Construction Branch
for use in training road construction supervisors.
As new and improved practices and methods of construction are constantly being
developed, these courses will be revised from time to as the need arises. Suggested
modifications arising from use of the courses should be forwarded to the construction
Engineer.

INTRODUCTION
It is essential that the present day road construction supervisors has a sound working knowledge
of basic mathematics and is able to employ that knowledge in carrying out the engineering
calculations required of him on the job.
Consequently the courses in "Basic Mathematics" and "Engineering Calculations" should be
treated as essential revision courses to be completed in preparation for the series of training
courses for road construction supervisors.

FRACTIONS - DEFINITIONS
Fraction
A fraction is a part of a whole unit. If a tonne of sand is divided into 4 equal parts, each part is
written as tonne, and 3 of these parts as tonne. Thus fractions consist of an upper and a
lower figure called numerator and denominator respectively,
i.e.

Fraction

numerator
denominator

Denominator
The denominator denotes the number of parts into which the whole is divided.
Numerator
The numerator denotes the number of parts of the whole which are to be taken.
Thus means that the unit is divided into 4 parts and that 3 of them are taken.
Proper Fraction

7
This is a fraction whose numerator is smaller than its denominator, e.g.

8.

Improper Fraction
This is a fraction whose numerator is larger than its denominator, e.g. 9 (= 1 1 ).

Mixed Number
Consists of a whole number and a fraction, e.g. 1 1 .

Common Denominator
This is a denominator which is common to more than one fraction.
Lowest Common Denominator
When comparing more than one fraction the lowest common denominator is the lowest number
into which all denominator can be divided.
Quotient
This is the number which results from the division of one number by another.

Highest Common Factor (HCF)

This is the largest number which will divide evenly into two or more numbers.
Divisor
This is the number which is being divided into another number.
Integer
This simply means "whole number". So in a mixed number of say 2 1 the 2 is the integer.

Dividend
This is the number which is being divided by another number.

ADDING AND SUBTRACTING FRACTIONS

To add or subtract fractions they must first be reduced to a common denominator - i.e. a
denominator which is common to each fraction.

2 , 4 and 1 have a common denominator of 5.

5 5
5
Example 1

Consider 4

3
5 and 4 .

These fractions have denominators of 5 and 4. The denominators are not the same or common. A
common denominators is one into which both denominators can be divided
We find it by multiplying the two denominators, 5 x 4, to give 20.
Thus, the common denominators is 20.
Examples 2
Step 1:

Consider 7

11
9 - 15

Find the lowest common denominator, i.e. the lowest number into which both
denominators can be divided.
You will see that 3 is a common factor of both the denominators as 3 divides into
9 three times (i.e. 3 is the quotient) and into 15 five times (i.e. 5 is the quotient).
3
3 9

5
3 15

Step 2:

The quotients, i.e. 3 and 5 do not have a common factor therefore the lowest
common denominator is the common factor multiplied by each quotient in turn,
i.e. 3 3 5 45

Step 3:

Therefore

7 11 5 7 3 11

9 15
45
35 33

45
2

45

Example 3
Step 1:

Consider

1
4 13

6 15 20

First look for a common factor of two or more of the denominators.

You will see that 2 is a common factor of the denominators 6 and 20 giving the quotients 3 and
10 respectively. The denominator 15 remains unchanged.
2) 6
3
Step 2:

15
15

20
10

Look for a common factor of two or more of the resulting quotients.

The quotients 3 and 15 have a common factor 0f 3, giving quotients of 1 and 5.
The quotient 10 remains unchanged.
2) 6
3) 3
1

Step 3:

20
10
10

The resulting quotients 5 and 10 have a common factor of 5.

2) 6
3) 3
5) 1
1

Step 4:

15
15
5

15
15
5
1

20
10
10
2

No more common factors can be found.

Multiply each of the common factors and the quotients in turn,
i.e. 2 x 3 x 5 x 1 x 1 x 2
=
60,
which is the lowest common denominator.

Step 5:

Then,

1 4 13 1 10 4 4 13 3

6 15 20
60
10 16 39

60
33

60
11

20

GROUPING FRACTIONS
Fractions may be grouped in three (3) ways:

Braces

Brackets

parenthesis

In large equations, braces can group brackets which in turn can group together parenthesis,
e.g.

5 7 3 1
7
8 16 7 16

When we group negative fractions together, we must change the signs within the parenthesis to
plus signs as the quantity to be subtracted is the total of the figures within the parenthesis.
Example: Group together
Answer

5 2 7 6

8 3 9 15
5 2 7 6

8 3 9 15

If no sign appears between two sets of brackets or between a number and a set of brackets,
multiplication is the operation intended.
Example: 5 1
8 7

1 5
1 2 8

1
1
7

1
2

0.2 3 0.1 0.2 3 0.1

Reducing Fractions to their Lowest Terms

By this we mean dividing both numerator and denominator by the largest number which will
divide evenly into each. The objective is to reduce the size of the numbers thus making further
calculations easier.
The Highest Common Factor (HCF) of two numbers may be found by a process of
division. The smaller number is divided into the larger. The remainder is then divided into the
previous divider (called a divisor) and this process is repeated until an exact division is found.
The exact division is the HCF.

Example 1 Find the HCF of 438 and 4453.

10
438 4453

4380
73

6
73 438

438
......

(No remainder)

Then 73 is the HCF of 438 and 4453.

Having found the HCF we can proceed to reduce a fraction to its lowest terms.

Example 2 Reduce

Divide

438
to its lowest terms.
4453

438
6
top and bottom by 73 (the HCF) and the answer is
4453
61

Example 3 Reduce to its lowest terms.

2
1253 2864

2506
358

3
1253

1074
179

2
358
358
......

(No remainder)

Therefore HCF is 179.

Therefore

1253 is divided top and bottom by 179 and the answers is 7 .

2864
16

EXERCISES
(A) Find the value of :1. 1 1

4.

6
2

13 5

2. 2 5

5.

1 1 1

4 2 12

3.

4 1

15 3

(B)

6.

Simplify

1. 1 1 2 3 1 1
12

15

2. 4 2

10

30

5
3
18 19
13
7

3. 3 2 1 3 8 2 6 1 4

(C) Reduce to lowest terms :1.

148
629

2.

318
583

3.

374
561

4.

119
731

1
2
3
2 1
2
3
4

10

MULTIPLYING FRACTIONS
To multiply fractions, multiply the numerators to get a new numerator and the denominators to
get a new denominator.
Example
5
3
5
3
5 3 1
51

of
6
4
6
4
6 2 4
2 4

(after dividing by the 3 common to numerator and denominator),

Thus,

5
3 5
of (in its lowest terms).
6
4 8

The word "of" is almost equivalent to the multiplication sign; if binds the quantities together as
through they were in brackets.
A whole number may be treated as a fraction by taking unity (1) as the denominator.
Thus,
7

7
.
1

4
4 7
of 7

21
21 1

Example 1

4 1

3 1

1
1 .
3

Example 2

Find the value of 5 of $10.50.

Value = $10.50
10

5
7

1 5

2 7

21 5

2 7

3 5 15
1

7
2
2
2

5 of $10.50 = $7.50.
7

11

DIVIDING FRACTIONS
To divide by a fraction, invert the divisor and multiply.
Example 1

3 6
3 11

7 11 7 6

When we divide by a fraction, we are virtually wanting to know how many times that fraction
goes into the other number or fraction.
Thus, in the above we want to know how many times

6
goes into
11

3
.
7

9
9 3
3

11
11 1

Example 2
We invert

to 3 get

Then, 9
9 3 9 3 1
3
3
1
11
11 1 11 3
11
(dividing top
and bottom by 3).

In multiplication and division, mixed numbers must be reduced to improper fractions.

Example 3

3
1 18 9
2
,
5
4
5 4

What we have done is to multiply the whole number (integer) by the denominator and add the
numerator: 3 3 5 3 15 3 18
3

,
5
5
5
5
2

1 2 4 1 8 1 9

,
4
4
4
4

Thus, 18 9 18 4 18 2 4 8 1 3
5

(Since 9 cancels out leaving 2).

NOTE: Quantities connected by the sings "x" and " "must be reduced to simple form
before quantities connected by the signs "+" and "-".

12

PRACTICAL PROBLEMS IN FRACTIONS

(1)

21 tonnes of gravel is placed at a point. A, when it is to be shared so that points B, C

and D each receive some. For every tonne B receives, C receives 2 tonnes and D
receives tone. How much gravel do points B, C and D get, if A retains 3 tonnes of
gravel for its own use?
For every tonne B receives, C receives 2 tonnes and D receives tonne. Total 3
tonnes.
So, for every 3 tonnes shared between B, C and D: B gets 1 tonne

1
1

1
1 72
3
2

7
2
1
2
7

= 2 share
7

C gets 2 tonnes

2
2

2
1 72
3
2

7
2
2
2
7

= 4 share
7

D gets tonne

= 12 12 1
1
3
2

72

7 1 2

2 2 7

= 1 share
7

Since A consumes 3 tonnes there are: 21-3

= 18 tonnes left to be shared.

B's share

C's share

2
of 18
7

4 of 18
7
D's share = 1 of 18
7

= 5

1
tonnes.
7

2 = tonnes.
7
=
4 tonnes.
2
7
10

13

(2)

If it takes one man 10 minutes to shift m 3 of sand, how long would it take 6 men to
shift 10 m3 of sand?
One man shifts m3 in 10 minutes.

(3)

One man shifts 1 m3 in 20 minutes.

Six men shift 1 m3 in

Six men shift 10 m3 in

6
1
x 10 minutes = 33 .
20
3
1

A machine costs $4,800. It is decided to depreciate it (i.e. write down its value) by 4 of
its value each year. What will be its value at the end of 3 years?
Initial Value

$4,800.

Depreciation in 1st Year =

1
4800 =
4

$1,200

So Value at end 1st Year =

4800 - 1200

= $3,600

Depreciation in 2nd Year =

1
3600 =
4

$900

So Value at end 2nd Year =

3600 - 900 = $2,700

Depreciation in 3rd Year =

So value at end 3rd Year =

(4)

20
minutes.
6

1
2700 =
4

$675

2700-675 = $2,025

A hole fills with muddy water in 35 minutes. When it is full a labourer is told to drain
the hole with a sump pump. It would take him 20 minutes normally to empty the hole if
all seepage has ceased. However, how long would it take him if water is still seeping in?
1
its capacity.
35
1
In 1 minute the hole empties by
its capacity.
20
1
1

of its size, per minute.

Therefore, it empties faster than it fills, by
20 35

In 1 minute the hole fills by

1
1

?
20 35

14

In both denominators we have a common factor "5". 5 divides into 20 evenly, the
quotient being 4. 5 divides into 35 evenly, the quotient being 7.

The lowest common denominator

1
1
74
3

20 35
140
140

5 4 7 140 .

(20 divides into 140, 7 times)

(35 divides into 140, 4 times)
3
of its size.
140

the hole is emptied out per minute by

to empty it completely takes

(5)

If a tank can be filled in 15 minutes by using one of two pumps and in 25 minutes by
using the other pump, how long would it take to fill if both pumps were used together?

140
2
46 minutes.
3
3

1
of the tank.
15
1
In 1 minute, the 2nd pump fills
of the tank.
25

In 1 minute, the 1st pump fills

In 1 minute, together, they fill

1
1
8

of the tank.
15 25 75

75
3
9 minutes.
8
8

Time taken

(6)

If the outlet can empty this tank in 12 2 minutes how long would it take to fill the tank
if both pumps were used and the outlet left open?

Time taken to empty = 12

1 25

minutes.
2
2

In 1 minute tanks fills by

8
2
and empties by
parts.
75
25

i.e.

8
2
86
2

parts
75 25
75
75

Time taken

75
1
37 minutes.
2
2

15

EXERCISES
(A)

Find the value of :-

1.

1 1

6 5

4.

2.

7 4

8 5

5.

7
3
5

18 21 9

3.

(B)

Simplify -

1.

1
1 4
5 3
2 1
2
2 5
6 11

2.

3 2 3 5 3

4 3 4 8 4

1 6

2 7
1
3
3
7
3
2 3 3
13
5 10
11

1
7
1
3
8

6.

(C)
5

1.

$360 is Divided between A, B and C. A receives 8 , B 3 and C the remainder. How

much does C receive?

2.

A man pays $126 a year rent and rates. If the rates are 5 of the rent, how much will he
pay monthly for the rent?