NEWCOLORs_basic_math_rev 3/31/08 3:52 PM Page 1

Basic Math Review

Numbers Important Properties
NATURAL NUMBERS PROPERTIES OF ADDITION
{1, 2, 3, 4, 5, …} Identity Property of Zero: a + 0 = a
WHOLE NUMBERS Inverse Property: a + 1- a2 = 0
{0, 1, 2, 3, 4, …} Commutative Property: a + b = b + a
INTEGERS Associative Property: a + 1b + c2 = 1a + b2 + c
{…, !3, !2, !1, 0, 1, 2, …}
PROPERTIES OF MULTIPLICATION
The Number Line Property of Zero: a # 0 = 0

–5 – 4 –3 –2 –1 0 1 2 3 4 5 Identity Property of One: a # 1 = a, when a Z 0.

Inverse Property: a # = 1, when a Z 0.
1
Negative integers Positive integers
a
Zero Commutative Property: a # b = b # a
Associative Property: a # 1b # c2 = 1a # b2 # c
RATIONAL NUMBERS PROPERTIES OF DIVISION
All numbers that can be written in the form a>b, where a 0
and b are integers and b Z 0. Property of Zero: = 0, when a Z 0.
a
IRRATIONAL NUMBERS a
Property of One: = 1, when a Z 0.
Real numbers that cannot be written as the quotient of two a

= a#1
integers but can be represented on the number line. a
Identity Property of One:
1
REAL NUMBERS
Include all numbers that can be represented on the number
line, that is, all rational and irrational numbers.
Absolute Value
Real Numbers The absolute value of a number is always ≥ 0.
2 1, etc.
Rational Numbers 23, 22.4, 21 4_5 , 0, 0.6,
If a 7 0, ƒ a ƒ = a.
Irrational
Numbers If a 6 0, ƒ - a ƒ = a.
Integers p 23, 22, 21, 0, 1, 2, 3, p
25VN 3, For example, ƒ -5 ƒ = 5 and ƒ 5 ƒ = 5. In each case, the
VN2, p, etc. answer is positive.
Whole Numbers 0, 1, 2, 3, p

Natural Numbers 1, 2, 3, p

PRIME NUMBERS
A prime number is a number greater than 1 that has only
itself and 1 as factors. ISBN-13: 978-0-321-39476-7
ISBN-10: 0-321-39476-3
Some examples:
2, 3, and 7 are prime numbers. 9 0 0 0 0

COMPOSITE NUMBERS
A composite number is a number that is not prime. For
example, 8 is a composite number since
8 = 2 # 2 # 2 = 23.
9 780321 394767

1
Key Words and Symbols Integers (continued) Fr
The following words and symbols are used for the
operations listed. MULTIPLYING AND DIVIDING WITH NEGATIVES Equ
Addition -a # b = - ab and
-a # -b = ab
pre
Sum, total, increase, plus
-a a
addend # addend = sum =
-b b
Subtraction a
Difference, decrease, minus -a , b = - MU
b
minuend ! subtrahend = difference Some examples: Wh
-3 # 5 =
den
Multiplication - 15 of t
Product, of, times 1 - 721 -62 = 42
a * b, a # b, 1a21b2, ab 1- 242>1 - 82 = 3
factor $ factor = product !18 !36
or " ! 18 To
Division 2!!36 2 mu
Quotient, per, divided by
a
a%b" " a>b " b! a
b Fractions Som
dividend % divisor = quotient LEAST COMMON MULTIPLE
The LCM of a set of numbers is the smallest number that is a
multiple of all the given numbers.
Order of Operations For example, the LCM of 5 and 6 is 30, since 5 and 6 have no
1st: Parentheses factors in common.
Simplify any expressions inside parentheses. RED
GREATEST COMMON FACTOR To
2nd: Exponents
The GCF of a set of numbers is the largest number that can ina
Work out any exponents.
be evenly divided into each of the given numbers.
3rd: Multiplication and Division
For example, the GCF of 24 and 27 is 3, since both 24 and
Solve all multiplication and division, working from 27 are divisible by 3, but they are not both divisible by any
left to right. numbers larger than 3.
4th: Addition and Subtraction MIX
These are done last, from left to right. FRACTIONS Am
For example, Fractions are another way to express division. The top num- frac
15 - 2 # 3 + 130 - 32 , 32 ber of a fraction is called the numerator, and the bottom rea
number is called the denominator.
= 15 - 2 # 3 + 27 , 9
= 15 - 6 + 3 ADDING AND SUBTRACTING FRACTIONS wh
= 12. Fractions must have the same denominator before they can
be added or subtracted.
a b a + b
+ = , with d Z 0. Sim
Integers d d d num
a b a - b
ADDING AND SUBTRACTING WITH NEGATIVES - = , with d Z 0.
d d d
-a - b = 1-a2 + 1 -b2 If the fractions have different denominators, rewrite them as
-a + b = b - a sinc
equivalent fractions with a common denominator. Then add
a - 1 -b2 = a + b or subtract the numerators, keeping the denominators the
same. For example,
Some examples:
2 1 8 3 11
-3 - 17 = 1 -32 + 1 - 172 = - 20 + = + = .
-19 + 4 = 4 - 19 = - 15 3 4 12 12 12
more➤ more➤

2
 Fractions (continued) Rates, Ratios, Proportions,
and Percents
Equivalent fractions are found by multiplying the numerator
and denominator of the fraction by the same number. In the RATES AND RATIOS
previous example,
A rate is a comparison of two quantities with different units.
2 2#4 8 1 1#3 3 For example, a car that travels 110 miles in 2 hours is mov-
= # = and = # = .
3 3 4 12 4 4 3 12 ing at a rate of 110 miles/2 hours or 55 mph.
A ratio is a comparison of two quantities with the same
MULTIPLYING AND DIVIDING FRACTIONS units. For example, a class with 23 students has a
When multiplying and dividing fractions, a common student–teacher ratio of 23:1 or 23
1.
denominator is not needed. To multiply, take the product
of the numerators and the product of the denominators: PROPORTIONS
a#c a#c ac A proportion is a statement in which two ratios or rates are
= # = equal.
b d b d bd
An example of a proportion is the following statement:
To divide fractions, invert the second fraction and then
multiply the numerators and denominators: 30 dollars is to 5 hours as 60 dollars is to 10 hours.
This is written
= # =
a c a d ad
, $30 $60
b d b c bc = .
5 hr 10 hr
Some examples:
A typical proportion problem will have one unknown
3#2 6 quantity, such as
=
5 7 35 1 mile x miles
sa
= .
5 1 5 #2 10 5 20 min 60 min
, = = =
o 12 2 12 1 12 6 We can solve this equation by cross multiplying as shown:

REDUCING FRACTIONS 20x = 60 # 1

To reduce a fraction, divide both the numerator and denom- 60
n inator by common factors. In the last example, x = = 3.
20
10 10 , 2 5
d = = . So, it takes 60 minutes to walk 3 miles.
12 12 , 2 6
ny
PERCENTS
MIXED NUMBERS A percent is the number of parts out of 100. To write a per-
cent as a fraction, divide by 100 and drop the percent sign.
A mixed number has two parts: a whole number part and a
fractional part. An example of a mixed number is 5 38. This For example,
m-
really represents 57
3 57% = .
5 + , 100
8
To write a fraction as a percent, first check to see if the
which can be written as denominator is 100. If it is not, write the fraction as an
n 40 3 43 equivalent fraction with 100 in the denominator. Then the
+ = .
8 8 8 numerator becomes the percent. For example,
Similarly, an improper fraction can be written as a mixed 4 80
= = 80%.
number. For example, 5 100
20 To find a percent of a quantity, multiply the percent by the
can be written as 6 23,
3 quantity.
as For example, 30% of 5 is
since 20 divided by 3 equals 6 with a remainder of 2.
dd
30 # 150 3
5 = = .
100 100 2

3
NEWCOLORs_basic_math_rev 3/31/08 3:52 PM Page 2

Basic Math Review

Decimal Numbers Percents to Decimals and Sc
Decimals to Percents
The numbers after the decimal point represent fractions with MU
denominators that are powers of 10. The decimal point sep- To change a number from a percent to a decimal, divide by
100 and drop the percent sign: To
arates the whole number part from the fractional part. cha
9 58% = 58/100 = 0.58. firs
For example, 0.9 represents 10 .
To change a number from a decimal to a percent, multiply
Place Value Chart by 100 and add the percent sign:
0.73 = .73 * 100 = 73%.

nth dths
tho usan nds
s

mi housa ths
mi llion

hu sand s

hun thou dths

d
hun milli ons

ten usan ths

tho usa

n
d
s

s
ten s
dre ons

dre san
re ns

red

hu ths
ten d mi

ten d tho

tho dred
lli

ten s
s
o

llio
nd
hu billi

on
u

dt Simple Interest St
n
nd

93 276049 85 3 268 94 Given the principal (amount of money to be borrowed or The

invested), interest rate, and length of time, the amount of Me
Whole numbers Decimals interest can be found using the formula the
I = p#r#t Me
ADDING AND SUBTRACTING DECIMAL NUMBERS equ
where I = interest 1dollar amount2 sm
To add or subtract decimal numbers, line up the numbers so p = principal the
that the decimal points are aligned. Then add or subtract as is t
usual, keeping the decimal point in the same place. r = percentage rate of interest
t = time period. Mo
For example, 23 - 0.37 = 23.00 que
# 0.37 For example, find the amount of simple interest on a $3800
For
loan at an annual rate of 5.5% for 5 years:
! 22.63
p = $3800
MULTIPLYING AND DIVIDING DECIMAL NUMBERS r = 5.5% = 0.055 To
To multiply decimal numbers, multiply them as though they t = 5 years
were whole numbers. The number of decimal places in the I = 13800210.0552152 = 1045. The
product is the sum of the number of decimal places in the
factors. For example, 3.72 * 4.5 is The amount of interest is $1045.
2 decimal places
3.72 The
1 decimal place
" 4.5 Scientific Notation To
16.740 Scientific notation is a convenient way to express very large
3 decimal places or very small numbers. A number in this form is written as Sin
a * 10n, where 1 … ƒ a ƒ 6 10 and n is an integer. For of 8
To divide decimal numbers, first make sure the divisor is a example, 3.62 * 105 and - 1.2 * 10-4 are expressed
whole number. If it is not, move the decimal place to the right in scientific notation.
(multiply by 10, 100, and so on) to make it a whole number. To change a number from scientific notation to a number
Then move the decimal point the same number of places in without exponents, look at the power of ten. If that number is The
the dividend. positive, move the decimal point to the right. If it is negative, The
For example, move the decimal point to the left. The number tells you how of t
many places to move the decimal point.
0.42 , 1.2 = 4.2 , 12
For example,
0.35
! 12! 4.20 . 3.97 * 103 = 3970. Di
To change a number to scientific notation, move the deci- Giv
The decimal point in the answer is placed directly above the tim
mal point so it is to the right of the first nonzero digit. If the
new decimal point in the dividend. usi
decimal point is moved n places to the left and this makes
the number smaller, n is positive; otherwise, n is negative. If
the decimal point is not moved, n is 0. wh
For example, 0.0000216 = 2.16 * 10-5.
more➤

4
 Scientific Notation (continued) Measurements Ge
U.S. Measurement Units The
MULTIPLYING AND DIVIDING IN SCIENTIFIC NOTATION or th
To multiply or divide numbers in scientific notation, we can in. = inch oz = ounce
The
change the order and grouping, so that we multiply or divide ft = foot c = cup time
first the decimal parts and then the powers of 10. For example, min = minute mi = mile
13.7 * 10-32 # 12.5 * 1082 sec = second hr = hour
= 13.7 * 2.52 # 110-3 * 1082 gal = gallon lb = pound
= 9.25 * 105. yd = yard qt = quart
pt = pint T = ton
Statistics Metric Units The
There are several ways to study a list of data. mm = millimeter
Mean, or average, is the sum of all the data values divided by cm = centimeter
the number of values.
km = kilometer
Median is the number that separates the list of data into two
equal parts. To find the median, list the data in order from m = meter
smallest to largest. If the number of data is odd, the median is mL = milliliter
the middle number. If the number of data is even, the median cL = centiliter Are
is the average of the two middle numbers. dim
L = liter
Mode is the number in the list that occurs the most fre- The
kL = kiloliter
quently. There can be more than one mode.
0 mg = milligram
For example, consider the following list of test scores:
cg = centigram The
{87, 56, 69, 87, 93, 82}
g = gram
To find the mean, first add:
kg = kilogram The
87 + 56 + 69 + 87 + 93 + 82 = 474. and
Then divide by 6: U.S. AND METRIC CONVERSIONS
474 U.S.
= 79.
6 12 in. = 1 ft 3 ft = 1 yd
The mean score is 79. 1760 yd = 1 mi 5280 ft = 1 mi
To find the median, first list the data in order: 2 c = 1 pt 1 c = 8 oz
e 56, 69, 82, 87, 87, 93. 4 qt = 1 gal 2 pt = 1 qt
Since there is an even number of data, we take the average 2000 lb = 1 T 16 oz = 1 lb
of 82 and 87:
Metric The
82 + 87 169
= = 84.5. 180
2 2 1000 mm = 1 m 100 cm = 1 m
The median score is 84.5. 1000 m = 1 km 100 cL = 1 L
is
e, The mode is 87, since this number appears twice and each 1000 mL = 1 L 100 cg = 1 g
w of the other numbers appears only once. 1000 mg = 1 g 1000 g = 1 kg
0.001 m = 1 mm 0.01 m = 1 cm
0.001 g = 1 mg 0.01 g = 1 cg
Distance Formula 0.001 L = 1 mL 0.01 L = 1 cL
A rig
hyp
Given the rate at which you are traveling and the length of ang
e time you will be traveling, the distance can be found by
s using the formula
If d = r#t
where d = distance
r = rate
➤
t = time

5
Geometry Geometry (continued)
The perimeter of a geometric figure is the distance around it
or the sum of the lengths of its sides. PYTHAGOREAN THEOREM
The perimeter of a rectangle is 2 times the length plus 2 In any right triangle, if a and b are the lengths of the legs
times the width: and c is the length of the hypotenuse, then
a2 + b2 = c2.
L
W
c
a
P = 2L + 2W
The perimeter of a square is 4 times the length of a side: b

s CIRCLES
s Area: A = p # r2
Circumference: C = p # d = 2 # p # r
P = 4s where d is the diameter, r is the radius, or half the diameter,
and p is approximately 3.14 or 22 7.
Area is always expressed in square units, since it is two-
dimensional.
The formula for area of a rectangle is
A = L # W. d

The formula for area of a square is

r
A = s # s or A = s2.
The area of a triangle is one-half the product of the height
and base: A circle has an angle of 360 degrees.
A straight line has an angle of 180 degrees.

h
Algebraic Terms
b Variable: A variable is a letter that represents a number
because the number is unknown or because it can change.
1 #
A = b h For example, the number of days until your vacation
2 changes every day, so it could be represented by a
variable, x.
The sum of all three angles in any triangle always equals
180 degrees. Constant: A constant is a term that does not change. For
example, the number of days in the week, 7, does not
change, so it is a constant.
x
z Expression: An algebraic expression consists of constants,
y variables, numerals and at least one operation. For example,
x + 7 is an expression.
x° + y° + z° = 180° Equation: An equation is basically a mathematical sentence
A right triangle is a triangle with a 90° (right) angle. The indicating that two expressions are equal. For example,
hypotenuse of a right triangle is the side opposite the right x + 7 = 18 is an equation.
angle. Solution: A number that makes an equation true is a
solution to that equation. For example, in using the above
equation, x + 7 = 18, we know that the statement is true
if x = 11.
hypotenuse

90°

more➤