NUMBER SYSTEM Chapter 1

1.1 Real Numbers

1.2 Indices, Surds and Logarithms
1.3 Solving equations involving surds, indices, logarithms

1.1 Real Numbers

 define natural numbers, whole numbers, integers, prime numbers, rational and
irrational numbers
 represent the relationship of number sets in a real number system
diagrammatically
 represent open, closed and half-open intervals and their representations on the
number line.
 simplify union,  , and intersection,  , of two or more intervals with the aid of
number line

Definition Examples
 Natural numbers(N)
- set of counting numbers and denoted by N. N = {1, 2, 3 …}
 Prime numbers(P)
- The natural numbers that are greater than 1 and P = {2, 3, 5, 7 …}
only can be divided by itself and 1.
 Whole numbers (W) W = {0, 1, 2, 3…}
-The natural numbers together with the number 0.

 Integers (Z) Z  ..., 3, 2, 1, 0,1, 2,3, 

-The set of positive integers Z+ = {1, 2, 3 …}

- The set of negative integers.
 Hence Z = Z-  {0}  Z+ Z   ..., 3, 2, 1

Furthermore the elements in Z can be classified

as even and odd numbers where
the set of even numbers = 2k , k  Z 

the set of odd numbers = 2k  1, k Z

 Rational numbers(Q)
- Any number that can be represented as a ratio
(quotient)
- Can be expressed as terminating or repeating
Q  0.5, 2, 5, 
1
2
,0.25,0.3333...  0.3 
decimals
 Irrational numbers ( Q )
- cannot be expressed as a quotient Q   , e, 3,1.41421356 
-Set of numbers whose decimal representations
are neither terminating nor repeating.
 NUMBER SYSTEM Chapter 1

Example 1
 1 
Given S  9, 7, ,  2 , 0, 4,5.125125 , identify the set of :
 3 
a) Natural numbers, N
b) Whole numbers, W
c) Integers, Z
d) Rational numbers, Q
e) Irrational numbers, Q

f) Real numbers, 

Example 2
 1 1 
Given S   5, 2,  ,0,1, 3, 2, e,log1000,  , ,5, 16  , identify the set of :
 2 2 
a) Natural numbers, N
b) Whole numbers, W
c) Prime numbers, P
d) Integer numbers, Z
e) Rational numbers, Q

f) Irrational numbers, Q

g) Real numbers, 
 NUMBER SYSTEM Chapter 1

Number Line

 The set of numbers that corresponds to all points on number lines is called the set of
real number.
 The real numbers on the number line are ordered in increasing magnitude from the
left to the right.
2
 For example for –3.5, and  can be shown on a real number line as:
3

Symbol Description Example

a=b a equals to b 12 = 12
a<b a less than b 5 < 14
a>b a greater than b 33 > 24
Note: The symbols ‘< ’ or ‘ >’ are called inequality sign

All sets of real numbers between a and b, where a < b can be written in the form of intervals
as shown in the following table.

Note:
i) An empty circle “ “ and parentheses   indicate the end- point is not in the interval.

ii) A densed circle “ “ and brackets   indicates the end-point is in the interval.
 NUMBER SYSTEM Chapter 1

Example 3
Represent the following interval on the real number line and state the type of the interval.

Type of intervals Number line

 2, 5

 2,5

 5,  

 x  x  0, x  
or
 , 0

Example 4
Solve the following using the number line:
a) [0,5)  (4,8)
b) (-,5)  (-1,10)
c)  , 0  0,  
d) (, 0)   0,10 

e)  4, 2    0, 4   2, 2 

Example 5
Given A = {x : 1< x < 7, x  Z } B  6, 4, 2, 0, 2, 4, 6

C = {x : 1< x < 5, x   } D   x : 1  x  3, x 

Simplify:
a) A  B b) B  C c) C  D d) (C  D)  B
 NUMBER SYSTEM Chapter 1

1.2 Indices, Surds and Logarithms

 state the rule of indices
 explain the meaning of a surd and its conjugate, and to carry out algebraic
operation on surds.
 apply the law of logarithms.
log b M
 change the base of logarithm using log a M 
log b a
 solve equations involving surds, indices and logarithms.

1.2.1 Indices

We can write 2  2  2  2  2 as 25. This is known as the power (sometimes called an

exponent or index); a to the power x is written as a x .

Index/power/
exponent

Rules of Indices Examples

mn 5 2
a a  a
m n
3 3  3
5 2
37

m 2
a 2 1
n
 a mn 7
 2 2  7  2 5  5
a 2 2
a  m n
 a mn  4  3 2
  4
32
  4  46
6

abn  a nb n 62  2  32  22 32

n 7
a an 2 27
    a n b n     27  37
b 3
n 7
b 3

Example 6

Simplify the following expressions.

x( xy 4 )2
a) a 2 b 3 (a 2 b 4  ab) d)
( x 2 y )3

x y
b) a 2 bc3 (a 3b  c) e)
x  y 2
2

3x6 y 4
c)
12 xy 3
 NUMBER SYSTEM Chapter 1

Example 7
1
(1  m) 2 1
Show that
1 1
 1 .
 m
(1  m)  (1  m)
2 2

Example 8
1
Given that 7(8 )  9(5 ) and 7(8 )  9(5 ) . Show that 2p 
p q p q

12

1.2.2 Surds
 A surd is a square root which cannot be reduced to a whole number.

 Examples :
Surd Not a surd

42 5  2.2361

9 3 3  1.7321

16  4 6  2.4495

Properties of Surds Examples

ab  a  b 24  6  4

a a 25 25
 
b b 5 5
n
an  a 5
25  2

m n
a  mn a 3
64  2 3
64  6 64  2

a b  c b  a  c  b 4 2  7 2  4  7 2

a b  c b  a  c  b 6 3  3 3  6  3 3
 NUMBER SYSTEM Chapter 1

Example 9
Using the properties of surds, expand and simplify the expressions below:

a) 12  27

b) 90  2 40

147 27
c) 
4 2

 
2
d) 6 2 3

e)  
3 2 2 3 2 

Rationalising the Denominator

 It is the process of eliminating surd in the denominator.
 It is done by multiplying the numerator and the denominator of a fraction by the
conjugate of the denominator.
 Is needed to change the denominator to a rational number (no square roots in the
denominator).

Surds Conjugate

a a , a

 a a , a

3 a 3 a , 3 a
1 a 1 a
1 a 1 a
1 3 a 1 3 a
a b a b
a b a b
a b c  
a b  c , a  b c 
 NUMBER SYSTEM Chapter 1

Example 10

Rationalize the denominator of the following surds:

2
a)
3

3 5
b)
2 3
c) 2
3 1
3 2
d) 
3 1 2 2 1

Example 11
Express each of the following with a rational denominator.

3 1
a)
3 1

8 5 2
b)
5 2 2

Exercises
Simplify the following by rationalizing the denominator
5 3
a)
52

1 1
b) 
2 7 3 2 7 3

1
 
c) 2
3 1

Final answer
a) 11  5 5
6
b)
19
1
c) 1  3
2
 NUMBER SYSTEM Chapter 1

1.2.3 Logarithms
 A logarithm is another way of writing an exponential function in reverse.

Example 12
Fill in the blank with suitable functions:
Exponential Functions Logarithm Functions

53  125 log 5 125  3

log 2 32  5

82  64

log 7 343  3

THE LAWS OF LOGARITHMS

Rules Examples

1) log a xy  log a x  log a y log a 4 x  log a 4  log a x

x 12
2) log a  log a x  log a y log a  log a 12  log a 7
y 7

3) log a x m  m log a x log a 3x  x log a 3

Example 13
Simplify
1
a) log 2 9  log 2 7  log 2 3
2

b)3 log a x  2 log a 1  log a y 3  3

 NUMBER SYSTEM Chapter 1

CHANGE OF BASE OF A LOGARITHMS

THEOREM 1
log b c
log a c 
log b a

THEOREM 2
1
log a c 
log C a

Example 14
Evaluate the following :
a) log 7 12

b) log16 32

The Meaning of ln M and log M

Common Logarithms and Natural Logarithms
 Logarithms with base 10 are called common logarithm
 Logarithms with base e are called natural logarithms.

log10 x  log x  common log

log e x  ln x  naturallog
e  2.71828  irrational number

Important results :
1. log a 1  0 ; log 1  0 ; ln 1  0
2. log a a  1 ; log 10  1 ; ln e  1

3. If log a b  x , then b  a x  a log a b

In general: b  a log a b

In particular: 10log b  b and eln b  b

Example 15

a) 4 5 x  2  8 b) 7 3 x 8  3 x
 NUMBER SYSTEM Chapter 1

Example 16

Solve the 4 x  2  3 x 1 .

Example 17

Given log 2 2x  log 4 ( x  3) , show that 2 x   x  3

2

Example 18

mn
If log m  log n  2 log   , prove that m  n  14 mn  0 .
2 2

 4 

Exercise
Answer:
Simplify the following : 1
a) log 2 or  log 2 15
1 15
a) log 2 25  log 2 3  2 log 2 15
2 pq
b) 2log a
b) log a p  2 log a q  2
2
a

1.3 Solving equations involving surds, indices and logarithms

1.3.1 Surd

Example 19:
Find the values of x of which satisfy the following equations.

a) 7 x  x 5
b) 3  3x  1  x .
c) x  2  2x  3  8
 NUMBER SYSTEM Chapter 1

1.3.2 Indices

INDICES

SAME DIFFERENT
BASE BASE

2 TERMS 3 TERMS Have NO Common

Common Base Base

Compare Substituition Compare Using

Index Method Index logarithm

2 3x  2 6  
3 3x
2
 
 10 3 x  3  0 52x 
1 7 x  12
3x  6 25 log 7 x  log 12
Let u  3 x
5 2 x  25 
1
x2 x log 7  log 12
3u  10u  3  0
2
2
5 2x
5
3u  1u  3  0 x
log 12
2 x  2 log 7
1
u u 3 x 1 x  1.277
3
1 x
3x  3 3
3
x  1 x  1

Example 20:
Find the values of x of which satisfy the following equations.
a) 8 x  32
4 x 5
1
b) 9  3 x   
 3
c) 32 x  4  32 x1  25
 NUMBER SYSTEM Chapter 1

Example 21:
Find the values of x of which satisfy the following equations.
a) 2 x1  3 x
b) 2 x  23  3 x  5 x

Example 22:
Find the value of x of which satisfy the following equation.
a) 32 x 10  3 x  9  0
b) 3  9 x  5  3 x  2  0
c) 2 x  2 x3  9  0

1.3.3 Logarithm

LOG  INDEX CHANGE BASE

log a x  b  x  a b log b a 
log c a
log c b
log 7 x  3  x  7 3

SOLVING LOGARITHM EQUATION

Different Same Base Terms of Log at Coefficient of
Base LHS/ Constant Log must be 1
RHS (use Power Rule)

Check Solve for Change to Simplify LHS

Answer x Index Form using properties
of Log
SOLVING LOGARITHM (variable Base)

Change the Substitution Quadratic Solve Quadratic

variable Base Method (Let u) Equation Equation
u)

Substitute u Solve Quadratic

Solve for x Equation
 NUMBER SYSTEM Chapter 1

Example 23:
Solve the following equations:
a) log x  log( x  1)  log( 3x  12)
b) 2 log 9 x  log 9 (6 x  1)  0
c) ln 10  ln( 7  x)  ln x

Example 24:
Solve the following equations:
a) log 2 2x  log 4 x  3
b) log 4 x  log x 4  2.5

Exercises:
1. Solve the equations.

(a ) 2 x  32(2 x )  12 ( x  2 or x  3)

8 ( x  2 or x  4)
( b) 2 x  6
2x

(c) 2 x5e 3 ln x  9 x  10  0 ( x  2.5 or x  2)

(d) 3e 2 ln x  5eln x  2 1
(x  )
3

2. Solve the equations.

(a) 2 log b 4  log b 5  log b 10  log b x ( x  8)

1
(b) log 3 x  4 log x 3  3  0 ( x  , x  3)
81
(c) 3 ln 2 x- 4  2 ln 2 x ( x  27.299 )