Introduction Contents Properties of real numbers Prime Number Homework 1 Algebraic notation Homework 2
STUDY UNIT 1:
1.1. Number Systems
Ms N E Mafatle
[email protected]
Office: A22 - 134
North-West University, South Africa
Department of Mathematics and Applied Mathematics
February 13, 2024
Introduction Contents Properties of real numbers Prime Number Homework 1 Algebraic notation Homework 2
Learning Outcomes
On completion of this study section you should be able to:
identify the different number systems;
explain the difference between the number systems;
explain what a prime number is.
Students will be assessed on their knowledge of number
systems.
Introduction Contents Properties of real numbers Prime Number Homework 1 Algebraic notation Homework 2
Natural numbers:
Natural numbers are denoted by N
and consist of the numbers 1, 2, 3, 4, ...
Integers:
Integers are denoted by Z
and consist of the natural numbers together with the
negatives and 0, therefore it will be the numbers
..., −3, −2, −1, 0, 1, 2, 3, ...
Introduction Contents Properties of real numbers Prime Number Homework 1 Algebraic notation Homework 2
Rational numbers:
Rational numbers are denoted by Q
We can define the set of natural numbers as the subset of
real numbers consisting of all quotients ba with a, b ∈ Z and
b ̸= 0.
Informally, we can say that rational numbers are:
numbers which can be written as fractions
1 5 7 4
2 , 1 , 3 , 2 9 , ...
numbers with a finite decimal representation
0.1, 0.81, 5.732, ...
numbers with a repeating decimal representation
0.7̇, 0.4̇2̇, 5.78̇, 1.285714, ...
Introduction Contents Properties of real numbers Prime Number Homework 1 Algebraic notation Homework 2
Irrational numbers
Irrational numbers are denoted by I
Irrational numbers cannot be expressed as a ratio of
integers
The decimal representation of an irrational number is
non-repeating and not finite:
√
2 = 1.414213562...
π = 3.141592653589793...
Take Note:
π ̸= 22 22
7 because 7 = 3.142857
22
Also note the 7 = 3.142857 can be written as a fraction or
decimal representation which is repeating, therefore 22
7 is a
rational number, whereas, the decimal representation of
π = 3.141593653589793... is non-repeating and not finite,
therefore π is an irrational number.
Introduction Contents Properties of real numbers Prime Number Homework 1 Algebraic notation Homework 2
Real numbers:
Real numbers are denoted by R
All the rational numbers and irrational numbers together
form the real numbers and it can be written as R = Q ∪ I.
Nonreal numbers:√
Numbers such as −7 are nonreal numbers.
Introduction Contents Properties of real numbers Prime Number Homework 1 Algebraic notation Homework 2
The number system can be summarized as follows:
Introduction Contents Properties of real numbers Prime Number Homework 1 Algebraic notation Homework 2
Commutative Property:
a + b = b + a:
This means that when we add two numbers, the order
doesn’t matter.
Example: 2 + 3 = 5 and 3 + 2 = 5.
Therefore, 2 + 3 = 3 + 2.
ab = ba:
This means that when we multiply two numbers, the order
doesn’t matter.
Example: 2 × 3 = 6 and 3 × 2 = 6.
Therefore, 2 × 3 = 3 × 2.
Introduction Contents Properties of real numbers Prime Number Homework 1 Algebraic notation Homework 2
Associative Property:
(a + b) + c = a + (b + c):
If we add three numbers, it doesn’t matter which two we
add first
Example: (2 + 3) + 4 = 5 + 4 = 9 and
2 + (3 + 4) = 2 + 7 = 9
(ab)c = a(bc):
If we multiply three numbers, it doesn’t matter which two
we multiply first
Example: (2 × 3) × 4 = 6 × 4 = 24 and
2 × (3 × 4) = 2 × 12 = 24.
Therefore, (2 × 3) × 4 = 2 × (3 × 4)
Introduction Contents Properties of real numbers Prime Number Homework 1 Algebraic notation Homework 2
Distributive Property:
a(b + c) = ab + ac:
When we multiply a number by the sum of two numbers,
we get the same results as multiplying the number by each
of the terms and then adding the result.
Example: 4(2 + 3) = 4(5) = 20 and
4 × 2 + 4 × 3 = 8 + 12 = 20
Introduction Contents Properties of real numbers Prime Number Homework 1 Algebraic notation Homework 2
Prime number
a natural number p > 1 is said to be prime if it does not
have any factors apart from 1 and p.
2, 3, 5, 7, ...
2 is the only even prime number.
Introduction Contents Properties of real numbers Prime Number Homework 1 Algebraic notation Homework 2
Homework Exercise
Do Exercise 1 on page 6 of the Study Guide.
Introduction Contents Properties of real numbers Prime Number Homework 1 Algebraic notation Homework 2
1.2. Algebraic Notation
Introduction Contents Properties of real numbers Prime Number Homework 1 Algebraic notation Homework 2
Learning Outcomes
On completion of this study section you should be able to:
translate simple word problems into mathematical form.
Students will be assessed on their ability to translate simple
word problems into mathematical form.
Introduction Contents Properties of real numbers Prime Number Homework 1 Algebraic notation Homework 2
Recall:
+ : the sum of; increased by
− : the difference between; decreased/reduced by
× : the product of
÷ : the quotient
= : is; is equal to
Introduction Contents Properties of real numbers Prime Number Homework 1 Algebraic notation Homework 2
Examples
Write the following as algebraic expressions:
1.2. Let x be a variable. Write a number that is 4 greater than
x.
1.3. A certain number increased by 5.
1.4. The sum of 2 times a number and 4.
Write the following as an algebraic equation:
1.5 x is two times the product of y and z.
Introduction Contents Properties of real numbers Prime Number Homework 1 Algebraic notation Homework 2
Homework Exercise
Do Exercises on page 8 of the Study Guide.
