THE NUMBER SYSTEM

1.1 Revision on Natural Numbers and Integers

Introduction
In the previous grades, you learned number systems about natural numbers,
integers and rational numbers. You have discussed meaning of natural
numbers, integers and rational numbers, the basic properties and operations
on the above number systems. In this unit, after revising those properties of
natural numbers, integers and rational numbers, you will continue to learn
about irrational and real numbers.

Remark:
 The set of natural numbers, which is denoted by ℕ is expressed as
ℕ = {1, 2, 3, …}.
 The set of integers, which is denoted by ℤ is expressed as
ℤ = {… , -2, -1, 0, 1, 2, 3, … }.
 Integers do not include fractions or decimals.

1.1.1 Euclid’s Division Lemma

Theorem 1.1 Euclid’s Division Lemma
Given a non-negative integer 𝑎 and a positive integer 𝑏, there exist unique
non-negative integers 𝑞 and 𝑟 satisfying:
𝑎 = (𝑏 × 𝑞) + 𝑟 with 0 ≤ 𝑟 < 𝑏.
Where 𝑎 is called the dividend, 𝑞 is called the quotient, 𝑏 is called the
divisor, and 𝑟 is called the remainder.
Example 1:
Find the unique quotient and remainder when the positive integer
a. 38 is divided by 4
b. 2,574 is divided by 8
Solution:
a. Here, it is given that the dividend is 𝑎 = 38 and the divisor is 𝑏 = 4. So
that we need to determine the unique numbers 𝑞 and 𝑟.
When we divide 38 by 4 we get a quotient 𝑞 = 9 and a remainder 𝑟 = 2.
Hence, we can write this as 38 = 4 × 9 + 2.
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 b. Divide 2,574 by 8 and determine the quotient and remainder.
Using long division if 2,574 is divided by 8, we get 321 as a quotient and
6 as a remainder. We can write 2,574 = 8 × 321 + 6.

Exercise

1. If a = 37and b = 5, what are the values of q and r according to Euclid's

Division Lemma?
A. q = 7, r = 2
B. q = 6, r = 3
C. q = 5, r = 7
D. q = 8, r = 1
2. In 𝑎 = (𝑏 × 𝑞) + 𝑟, what can be concluded if r = 0?
A. a is greater than b
B. a is a multiple of b
C. a is less than b
D. a and b are co-prime
3. Consider the integers a = 57 and b = 10. According to Euclid's Division
Lemma, which of the following equations is true?
A. 57 = 10 × 5 + 7
B. 57 =10 × 6 + -3
C. 57 =10 × 4 + 17

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 D. 57 = 10 × 3 + 27
4. Find all positive integers, when divided by 4 leaves remainder 3.
A. 4, 7, 10, 13, 16, 19,…
B. 3, 6, 9, 12, 15, 18,…
C. 4, 8, 12, 16, 20, 24,…
D. 3, 7, 11, 15, 19, 23,…
5. A man has 68 Birr. He plans to buy items such that each costs 7 Birr. If he
needs 5 Birr to remain in his pocket, what is the maximum number of
items he can buy?
A. 5 B. 6 C. 9 D. 8

1.1.2 Prime numbers

Given two natural numbers ℎ and 𝑝, ℎ is called a multiple of 𝑝 if there is a
natural number 𝑞 such that ℎ = 𝑝 × q . In this way we can say:
▪ 𝑝 is called a factor or a divisor of ℎ.
▪ ℎ is divisible by 𝑝.
▪ 𝑞 is also a factor or divisor of ℎ.
▪ ℎ is divisible by 𝑞.
Hence, for any two natural numbers ℎ and 𝑝, ℎ is divisible by 𝑝 if there
exists a natural number 𝑞 such that ℎ = 𝑝 × 𝑞
Example 1:
Is 249 divisible by 3? Why?
Solution:
249 = 3 × 83, so 249 is divisible by 3.
Example 2:
Is 249 divisible by 7?
Solution:
249 = 7× 35 + 4, so 249 is not divisible by 7.
Definition 1.1 Prime numbers
A natural number that has exactly two distinct factors, namely 1 (one) and
itself is called a prime number.
Example 3: Is 7 a prime number? Why?
Solution:

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 Observe that, 7 = 1 × 7, This indicates that only 1 and 7are factors of 7.
Hence, 7 is a prime number
Example 4:
Is 18 a prime number? Why?
Solution:
Observe that, 18 = 1 × 18, 18 = 2 × 9 or 18 = 3 × 6 .This indicates 1, 2,
3, 6, 9 and 18 are factors of 18. Then 18 has more than two factors.
Hence, 18 is not prime number.

Example 5:
Find a prime number(s) greater than 50 and less than 55.
Solution:
The natural numbers greater than 50 and less than 55 are 51, 52, 53 and
54.
51 = 3 × 17, so that 3 and 17 are factors of 51.
52 = 2 × 26, so that 2 and 26 are factors of 52, and
54 = 2 × 27, hence 2 and 27 are factors of 54. Therefore, these three
numbers are not prime. But 53 = 1 × 53 .Hence, 1 and 53 are the only
factors of 53 So that 53 is a prime number. Therefore, 53 is a prime
number greater than 50 and less than 55.

1. Which one of the following numbers is prime?

A. 91 B. 97 C. 105 D. 121
2. Which one of the following statements about prime numbers is false?
A. The only even prime number is 2.
B. All prime numbers are greater than 1.
C. A prime number can be expressed as the sum of two distinct odd numbers.
D. There are infinitely many prime numbers.
3. Which prime number is the largest two-digit prime?
A. 89 B. 97 C. 91 D. 83
4. If n is a prime number, which of the following expressions is always true?
A. n2 + 1 is prime.
B. n − 1 is even.

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 C. n + 1 is prime.
D. n is odd natural numbers except 2.

1.1.3 Composite numbers

Definition
A natural number that has more than two distinct factors is called a
composite number.
Example 1: Is 8 a composite number? Why?
Solution:
8 = 1 × 8, 2 × 4. This indicates that 8 has three factors namely 1, 2, 4, 8.
Hence, 8 is a composite number
Note:
 1 is neither prime nor composite.
 2 is the only even prime number.
 Factors of a number are always less than or equal to the number.
Twin prime numbers are a pair of prime numbers that have a difference of 2. In
other words, if p and p + 2 are both prime, then they form a twin prime pair

Exercise

1. Which one of the following is a composite number?

A 17 B. 23 C. 29 D. 45
2. How many composite numbers are there between 1 and 20?
A. 8 B.9 C. 10 D.11
3. Which one of the following statements is not true about composite
numbers?
A) All even numbers greater than 2 are composite.
B) The number 1 is a composite number.
C) Composite numbers can have more than two positive divisors.
D) Composite numbers can be expressed as the product of prime numbers .
4. Which one of the following statements is ‘true’?
A. 1 is a factor of all natural numbers.
B. There is no even prime number.
C. 391 is a prime number.

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 D. If a number is natural, then it is either prime or composite.
5. Which one of the following statements about prime numbers is true?
A. Every even number greater than 2 is prime.
B. The number 1 is considered a prime number.
C. There are infinitely many prime numbers.
D. A prime number has exactly three positive divisors .
6. Which one of the following numbers is both prime and odd?
A. 2 B. 15 C. 9 D. 11
7. Which one of the following pairs of prime numbers are twin prime?
A. 7, 9 B. 13, 15 C. 29, 31 D. 51, 53

1.1.4 Divisibility Test

Divisibility Test:- It is an easy way to check whether a given number is
divisible
by 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, 9 or 10 without actually performing the
division process.
A natural number is divisible by
 2, if its unit digit is divisible by 2.
 3, if the sum of its digits is divisible by 3.
 4, if the number formed by its last two digits is divisible by 4.
 5, if its unit digit is either 0 or 5.
 6, if it is divisible by 2 and 3.
 8, if the number formed by its last three digits is divisible by 8.
 9, if the sum of its digits is divisible by 9.
 10, if its unit digit is 0.
Example 1
Use the divisibility test to determine whether 2,416 is divisible by 2, 3, 4, 5, 6,
8, 9 and 10.
Solution:
 2, 416 is divisible by 2 because the unit’s digit 6 is divisible by 2.
 2,416 is divisible by 4 because 16 (the number formed by the last two
digits)
is divisible by 4.

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  2,416 is divisible by 8 because the number formed by the last three digits
(416) is divisible by 8.
 2,416 is not divisible by 5 because the unit’s digit is not 0 or 5.
 Similarly you can check that 2,416 is not divisible by 3, 6, 9, and 10.
Therefore, 2,416 is divisible by 2, 4 and 8 but not by 3, 5, 6, 9 and 10.

Exercise
1. Which one of the following numbers is NOT divisible by 4?
A.120 B. 236 C. 432 D. 527
2. A number is divisible by 6 if it is divisible by which two numbers?
A. 2 and 3 B. 3 and 5 C. 4 and 2 D 2 and 5
3. What is the divisibility rule for 8?
A. The last three digits must be divisible by 8.
B. The last digit must be even.
C. The sum of the digits must be 8.
D. The number must end in 0.
4. Which one of the following number is divisible by 6?
A. 533 B. 202 C. 160 D. 150

1.1.5 Prime Factorization

Definition: The expression of a number as a product of prime numbers is

called prime factorization.
Example 1: Find the prime factorization of 1,530.
Solution: Start dividing 1,530 by its smallest prime factor. If the quotient is a
composite number, find a prime factor of the quotient in the same
way.

1530

2 765

3 255

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 1,530 = 2 × 32 × 5 × 17
Example 2:
Find the prime factorization the following
a. 180
b. 216
c. 540
Solution:
a. 180 = 22 × 32 × 5
b. 216 = 23 × 33
c. 540 = 22 × 33 × 5

Theorem: Fundamental theorem of arithmetic

Every composite number can be expressed (factored) as a product of primes and
this factorization is unique

Exercise
1. What is the prime factorization of 84?
A. 22 × 3 × 7 B. 2 × 3 × 142 C. 3 × 28 D. 23 × 3 × 5
2. Which of the following numbers is a product of two distinct prime numbers?
A. 15 B. 24 C. 30 D. 42
3. What does the Fundamental Theorem of Arithmetic state?
A. Every integer greater than 1 can be expressed as a product of prime
numbers uniquely, except for the order of the factors.
B. Every integer can be expressed as a sum of prime numbers.
C. Every composite number has at least two prime factors.
D. The sum of the prime factors of a number is always prime.
4. Which one of the following is true about two numbers having the same prime
factorization?
A. They are equal.

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 B. One is a multiple of the other.
C. They are both prime.
D. They are both composite.
5. 180 can be written as 2a × 3b × 5c. Then find the value of 𝑎, 𝑏 and 𝑐.
A. a =1, b = 3, c = 1
B. a =2, b = 3, c = 1
C. a =1, b = 3, c = 2
D. a =2, b = 2, c = 1

1.1.6 Greatest Common Factor

Definition:
i. Given two or more natural numbers, a number which is a factor of these
natural numbers is called a common factor.
ii. The Greatest Common Factor (GCF) or Highest Common Factor (HCF) of two
or more natural numbers is the greatest natural number of the common
factors. GCF (𝑎, 𝑏) is to mean, the Greatest Common Factor of 𝑎 and 𝑏.
Intersection Method
Example 1:
Find the greatest common factors of 36 and 56 by intersection method.
Solution:
Factors of 36 are 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 9, 12, 18, 36 and factors of 56 are 1, 2, 4, 7, 8,
14, 28, 56.
Here 1, 2 and 4 are the common factors for both 36 and 56. The greatest one
from these common factors is 4.
Hence GCF (36, 56) = 4.
You can also observe this from the following Venn diagram.

Example 2:
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 Use intersection method to find GCF (12, 18, 36).
Solution:
Factors of 12 are 1, 2, 3, 4, 6 and 12
Factors of 18 are 1, 2, 3, 6, 9 and 18
Factors of 36 are 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 9, 12, 18 and 36
Then 1, 2, 3 and 6 are common factors. The greatest one from these
common factors is 6.
Hence, GCF (12, 18, 36) = 6.
Prime Factorization Method
Example 3:
Find the greatest common factors of 36 and 56 by prime factorization
method.
Solution:
Let us write each of the given two numbers as prime factorization form
36 = 22 × 32
56 = 23 × 7
In the above factorizations 2 is common prime factors of the numbers
(36 and 56).
Furthermore the least power of 2 is 2. So 2 2 = 4 is the greatest common
factor of 36 and 56.
Hence, GCF (36, 56) = 4.
Example 4:
Use prime factorization to find GCF (12, 18, 36).
Solution:
Let us write each of the given three numbers as prime factorization form
12 = 22 × 31
18 = 21 × 32
36 = 22 × 32
In the above factorizations 2 and 3 are common prime factors of the
numbers (12, 18 and 36).
Further the least power of 2 is 1 and least power of 3 is also 1. So that
the product of these two common prime numbers with least power of
each is
2 × 3 = 6.

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 Hence, GCF (12, 18, 36) = 6.
Exercise:
1. What is the GCF of 72 and 120?
A. 12 B. 24 C. 36 D. 48
2. A school has 180 pencils and 240 erasers. What is the largest number of
identical boxes that can be used to store all the pencils and erasers without
any items left over?
A. 30 B. 60 C. 90 D. 120
3. Which of the following pair of numbers has a GCF of 1?
A. 14 and 28 B. 15 and 28 C. 27 and 81 D. 18 and 36
4. Find the GCF (144, 240, 396).
A. 12 B. 24 C. 36 D. 48
5. A farmer has 90 apples and 150 oranges. He wants to pack them into boxes
such that each box contains the same number of each fruit. What is the
greatest number of boxes he can create?
A. 10 B 15 C. 30 D. 45

1.1.7 Least Common Multiple

Definition:
For any two natural numbers 𝑎 and 𝑏, the Least Common Multiple of 𝑎
and 𝑏 denoted by LCM (𝑎, 𝑏), is the smallest multiple of both 𝑎 and 𝑏.
Intersection Method
Example 1:
Find Least Common Multiple of 6 and 9, that is, LCM (6, 9).
Solution:
6, 12, 18, 24, 30... are multiples of 6 and
9, 18, 27, 36, 45… are multiples of 9. Hence,
18, 36, 54,… are common multiples of 6 and 9. The least number from the
common multiples is 18.
Therefore, LCM (6, 9) is 18.
Prime Factorization Method
Example 2:
Find LCM (6, 10, 16) using factorization method.
Solution:

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 Writing each by prime factorization, we have
6=2×3
10 = 2 × 5
16 = 24
The prime factors that appear in this factorization are 2, 3 and 5.
Taking the product of the highest powers gives us:
LCM (6, 10, 16) = 24 × 3 × 5 = 240.

Exercise:
1. What is the LCM of 18 and 24?
A. 72 B. 144 C. 36 D. 48
2. Which one of the following is the LCM of 15, 20, and 25?
A. 100 B. 300 C. 150 D. 75
3. A factory produces widgets every 15 minutes and gadgets every 20
minutes. If they both start at noon, when will they next be produced
together?
A. 30 minutes B. 60 minutes C. 90 minutes D. 120 minutes
4. Two traffic lights change every 45 seconds and 60 seconds, respectively. If
both lights change together at noon, how many seconds will pass before
they change together again?
A. 180 seconds B. 360 seconds C. 270 seconds D. 540 seconds
5. Two trains leave a station at the same time. One train travels every 20
minutes, while the other train travels every 30 minutes. How long will it be
before both trains leave the station at the same time again?
A.) 60 minutes B. 90 minutes C. 120 minutes D. 150 minutes

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