Integrated Algebra Chapter 1: Working with Numbers and Variables

Working with Numbers and Variables

Introduction Vocabulary
 Constant: A quantity that does not change.
 Variable: A quantity that can change.

 Expression: 2 + 3x – 5y is an expression, notice the absence of an equals sign.

 Equation: 3 + x = 4 – y is an equation because one quantity equals another.
 Inequation: Opposite of an equation; where one expression cannot equal another.

 Set: A collection of objects or numbers.

 Elements: members of a set.

Set A with elements 2, 4, 6, 8, 10: 𝐴 = {2, 4, 6, 8, 10}

 Subset: A set within a set.

 Domain: Also known as the replacement set, the values that can be represented by x.

Introduction to Inequalities

Inequalities can also be used to represent an interval.

The Use of Variables

Variables can be used in 3 general ways:

1. Placeholder for numbers

2. As a variable, to represent quantities that change
3. To represent quantities in a given formula.

Mr. Smith 1 Sachem High School North

Integrated Algebra Chapter 1: Working with Numbers and Variables

1.1 The Set of Real Numbers

The Set of Real Numbers contains several subsets:

 Natural Numbers (Counting Numbers)

 Whole Numbers

 Integers

 Rational Numbers

 Irrational Numbers

The Image to keep in mind when thinking about the Set of Real Numbers:

REAL NUMBERS

RATIONAL NUMBERS IRRATIONAL NUMBERS

INTEGERS
WHOLE NUMBERS

NATURAL NUMBERS

Mr. Smith 2 Sachem High School North

Integrated Algebra Chapter 1: Working with Numbers and Variables

1.2 Integers and Absolute Value

 Signed Numbers: Numbers with a positive (+) or negative (-) sign.

 Keep in mind though, positive numbers are often written with no sign.

The relationship of all Real Numbers can be represented by a Number Line:

 A Number Line extends indefinitely in opposite directions, centered at zero which

is known as the origin.

 Positive Integers are to the right of zero, and Negative Integers are to the left.

 Absolute Value: The distance from any number on a number line to zero.

 Therefore two numbers that are inverses have the same absolute value:

Mr. Smith 3 Sachem High School North

Integrated Algebra Chapter 1: Working with Numbers and Variables

1.3 Addition

Representing Addition: Addition can be represented by the plus (+) sign.

The numbers being added are addends, and the solution is known as the sum.

Properties of Addition:

Commutative Property of Addition: when adding terms, order doesn’t matter.

Associative Property of Addition: when grouping addends their sums do not change.

Additive Identity: Any number added to zero is that number.

Additive Inverse: When adding two numbers with identical signs the sum is zero.

Adding numbers with the same sign: ―Add the numbers, and keep the common sign.‖

Examples:

Adding numbers with different signs: ―Subtract and keep the sign of the larger number.‖

Examples:

Mr. Smith 4 Sachem High School North

Integrated Algebra Chapter 1: Working with Numbers and Variables

1.4 Subtraction

Representing Subtraction: Subtraction can be represented by the minus ( — ) sign.

The Solution from a subtraction Problem is known as the difference.

Here are some examples:

16 − 5 =
1 − 11 =
−6 − −7 =
−8 − 9 =
2 − −13 =

1.5 Multiplication

Multiplication is a little different, because there are several ways to indicate if numbers are being
multiplied.

 Generally, people are most familiar with the standard multiplication sign (x).

 Since, this can become a problem when using the variable x; there are two other ways to
express the product (solution from multiplication) of numbers.

 Use of Parentheses:

 Centering a dot between two quantities:

Mr. Smith 5 Sachem High School North

Integrated Algebra Chapter 1: Working with Numbers and Variables

 Also when multiplying a number (coefficient) and a variable, they can be written next to
each other and multiplication is implied.

Properties of Multiplication:

Commutative Property of Multiplication: when multiplying terms, order doesn’t matter.

Associative Property of Multiplication: Regardless of grouping, the product of numbers is

always the same.

Distributive Property: When multiplying a sum by a number, it is equal to the sum of the
products between the number and each addend.

Multiplicative Inverse: When multiplying a number by its inverse the answer is always 1.

Zero Property: Any number multiplied by zero equals zero.

Multiplying numbers with the same sign: Multiply the numbers, the product is positive.

Multiplying numbers with different signs: Multiply the numbers, the product is negative.

Mr. Smith 6 Sachem High School North

Integrated Algebra Chapter 1: Working with Numbers and Variables

1.6 Division

Representing Division: Can be done with a typical division sign, or as a fraction.

In fractional form, the numerator (top number) is known as the dividend, and the denominator
(bottom number) is called the divisor. The Solution to a division problem, is known as the
Quotient.

The Golden Rules of Division

I. Dividing by zero is not allowed.

II. Any number divided by itself is 1. (except zero)

III. Any number divided by one is that number.

Dividing numbers with the same sign: Divide the numbers, the quotient is positive.

Dividing numbers with different signs: Divide the numbers, the quotient is negative.

Mr. Smith 7 Sachem High School North

Integrated Algebra Chapter 1: Working with Numbers and Variables

1.7 Exponents & Scientific Notation

An exponent (power) is the number of times that a base number is multiplied by itself.

For example: two raised to the sixth power is represented as such:

 In this example, Two is the base,

 And 6 is the exponent or power

▪ Which is the amount of times two is multiplied by itself.

Now before we continue please note:

 The exponent is the number of times the base is multiplied not the number to multiply by.

There are two exponent values to remember:

Some number a raised to the first power:

Any number to the first power is itself.

Some number z raised to the zero power:

Any number to the zero power is one.

Mr. Smith 8 Sachem High School North

Integrated Algebra Chapter 1: Working with Numbers and Variables

Properties of Positive Exponents:

1) Product Rule

When multiplying values in exponential form with the same base, we can add the
exponents as such:

2) Quotient Rule

Dividing values in exponential form with the same base is the complete opposite,
we can subtract the exponents like so:

3) “Power to a Power” Rule

To raise a value that is already in exponential form to another power, multiply the
exponents.

Negative Exponents:

If a number has a negative exponent it really means the inverse of that Value.

Recall: the inverse of a number is 1 over that number.

“Negative exponent—throw it in the basement.”

–Frank DeMeo, Math Teacher at Seneca

But, what happens when there is a negative exponent in the denominator of a fraction?

The procedure remains the same: Take the inverse of the value, and solve.

Mr. Smith 9 Sachem High School North

Integrated Algebra Chapter 1: Working with Numbers and Variables

Scientific Notation is the way we represent large and small numbers that include several zeros
in them.

Example 1: Earth is approximately 4.536 Billion km from the former planet, Pluto.

Now we can write that in scientific notation like so:

It is even more useful when describing small objects.

Example 2: The mass of an electron is:

Written in scientific notation it runs as such:

How absurdly Quite so,
simple! Watson.

Now notice the difference between the two numbers we’ve generated.

 Why is the ten raised to a positive power in the first example and
a negative power in the latter?

Practice Problems:

Mr. Smith 10 Sachem High School North

Integrated Algebra Chapter 1: Working with Numbers and Variables

1.8 Order of Operations

The Million Dollar Question: Where do we begin?

 The Order of Operations are as follows:

 Do the operations inside the Parentheses, if any.

 Do any Exponents

 Multiply and/or Divide in order from left to right.

 Add and/or Subtract from left to right.

There are a few ways to remember this, but I prefer to use the Acronym: PEMDAS

Some people like remembering the mnemonic:

Please Excuse My Dear Aunt Sally

With that in mind, let’s try our original problem:

The Correct
Answer is:

369

Mr. Smith 11 Sachem High School North

Integrated Algebra Chapter 1: Working with Numbers and Variables

1.9 The Language of Math

For English, press one.

Para Español, pulsar dos.

As for any foreign language in order to effectively communicate, If your brother Johnny is
one must be able to translate and make sense of what is going on. three years older than
your sister Mary then
please stay on the line.
Luckily, unlike Spanish or Italian, we translate between English
and Math every day. Let’s take a look:

Jack weighs 100 lbs. more than his brother Phil.

In 3 years, Tom will be half his mom’s age.

In my wallet, I have $7 less than I did yesterday.

That’s the general idea, now we get into the specifics.

How the expression is phrased will explain exactly what is going on. Here are some key words to
look for:

Addition Examples: Subtraction Examples:

The Sum of n and 5. 3 subtracted from x.

5 more than n 3 less than x.

x diminished by 3.

Multiplication Examples: Division Examples:

4 times x. n divided by 2.

The product of 4 and x. One-half of n.

Mr. Smith 12 Sachem High School North

Integrated Algebra Chapter 1: Working with Numbers and Variables

The Language of Math: Inequalities

When it comes to translating between Math and English, probably the most useful and important
translations are inequality expressions.

 Recall the four inequality symbols we discussed earlier:

There are a few phrases that can be represented by these symbols as well, here are a few:

The Symbolic Representation for, The Symbolic Representation for,

―Less Than‖ ―Greater Than‖

She has less than $5 in her pocket. He has more than $300 in the bank.

*She has at most $5 in her pocket. *He has at least $300 in the bank.

*She has no more than $5 in her pocket. *He has no less than $300 in the bank.

*These expressions are most often misinterpreted incorrectly due to tricky wording.

When examining these expressions, try and visualize what is going on, I like to think of money
because we deal with it on a daily basis, and I know that if I have at most $3 in my pocket, I
should probably hit the atm before going to a restaurant so I have money to tip the waiter.

Mr. Smith 13 Sachem High School North