MATH 1115

Fundamental Mathematics for the General

Sciences

T. Lawrence
Chapter 2

Manipulating Numbers

2.1 Addition and Subtraction

Interesting Fact: Every real number 𝑎 has a negative
−𝑎 that satisfies

𝑎 + (−𝑎) = 0

To subtract a number, we simply add the negatives

of that number

𝑎 − 𝑏 = 𝑎 + (−𝑏)

1
Chapter 2. Manipulating Numbers 2

2.1.1 Properties of Negative Numbers

1. (-1)a = -a

2. (-a)(-1) = a

3. (-a)b= a(-b)= -(ab)

4. (-a)(-b) = ab

5. -(a+b) = -a - b

6. -( a -b )= b - a

Worked Examples

1. 2- 3 = -1

2. -2+3 =1

3. -2 -3 = -5

4. 2-(-3) = 2 + 3 = 5
Chapter 2. Manipulating Numbers 3

5. -(5-8) = -5 +8 = 8 -5 = 3

In summary, if both numbers have the same sign, then

add the numbers and take the sign present.
If both numbers have different signs then subtract the
numbers (obtain the difference) and use the sign of the
number with the larger vale.

2.1.2 Multiplication and Division

Interesting Fact: Every non zero real number 𝑎 has

1
an inverse 𝑎 that satisfies
1
𝑎× =1
𝑎
Chapter 2. Manipulating Numbers 4

To divide by a number, we multiply by the inverse

of that number. (Also stated as multiplying by its
reciprocal).
1
𝑎÷𝑏 = 𝑎 ∗
𝑏

Examples,

1. (−2) × (−3) = 6

2. 2 × (−3) = −6

3. -(-5) = 5
−2 2
4. −3 = 3

−2
5. 3 = − 32

In summary, when multiplying or dividing numbers

that have the same sign, the answer is positive.
Chapter 2. Manipulating Numbers 5

Also when multiplying or dividing numbers, that have

a different sign, the answer is negative.

2.2 The Absolute Value Function

Definition: Absolute Value
If 𝑎 is a real number then the absolute value
of 𝑎 is


if 𝑎 ≥ 0

𝑎


| 𝑎 |=
 −𝑎 if 𝑎 ≤ 0




Note that |𝑎| ≥ 0, that is, the absolute value of a

number is always positive .
Chapter 2. Manipulating Numbers 6

2.2.1 Properties of absolute value

1. |𝑎| ≥ 0 ; |−3| = 3 ≥ 0
√
2. |𝑎| = |−𝑎| = 𝑎 2 ; |5| = |−5|

A number and its negative value have the same

absolute value.

3. |𝑎𝑏| = |𝑎| |𝑏| ; Example, |−2 · 5| = |−10| =

10 while |−2 · 5| = |−2||5| = 10

The absolute value of a product is the product of

the absolute values.
|𝑎| 5 |5|
4. 𝑎
𝑏 = |𝑏| ; −7 = − 57 while 5
−7 = |−7|

The absolute value of a quotient is the quotient of

the absolute values.

5. |𝑎 + 𝑏| ≤ |𝑎| + |𝑏|; |−3 + 5| ≤ |−3| + |5|

(This property is known as the Triangle Inequality.)

Chapter 2. Manipulating Numbers 7

Exercise,
Simplify or express the following without the absolute
value.

1. 24 − |19 − 3(6 − 2)|

2. −|−(6)|
−4
3.
16
4. −2 − |2 − |−2||

5. |𝜋 − 3|

6. |3 − 𝜋|
8 − 13
7.
13 − 8
8. ||−2| − |−5||

9. |𝑦|

10. |𝑥 − 𝑦|
Chapter 2. Manipulating Numbers 8

2.3 Operations with Fractions

Fractions are of the form

𝑚
𝑛
where 𝑚 is called the the numerator and 𝑛 is called
the denominator, 𝑚, 𝑛 ∈ Z, n ≠ 0.

2.3.1 Types of fraction

• Proper Fraction These include fractions where

|𝑚| ≤ |𝑛|.

Examples include, 21 , − 13 , 38 .

• Improper Fractions These include fraction where

|𝑚| ≥ |𝑛|.
128 29 4
Examples include, ,
5 15 , − 3.

• Mixed Fraction
Chapter 2. Manipulating Numbers 9

A mixed fraction includes both a whole number and

a proper fraction.

2 12 , −4 13 , 3 38 .

2.3.2 Converting a mixed fraction to an improper fraction.

When converting a mixed fraction to an improper frac-

tion, multiply the whole number by the denominator
and add the numerator.

1 42 + 1 43
7 = =
6 6 6

2.3.3 Adding fractions

To add mixed numbers, convert the mixed number to an

improper fraction, find the LCM, then simplify.
Chapter 2. Manipulating Numbers 10

2 1 8 9
1 +2 = +
6 4 6 6
(8 × 4) + (9 × 4)
=
24
32 + 54 86 43 7
= = = =3
24 24 12 12
2.3.4 Dividing by a fraction

Dividing by a fraction is the same as multiplying by the

reciprocal. That is, we invert the number on the right of
the division sign, then multiply.

3 5
÷
4 1
3 1
= ×
4 5
3
=
20
Chapter 2. Manipulating Numbers 11

2.4 Converting Decimals to Fractions

We often need to rewrite decimals as fractions or mixed

numbers. We convert decimals to fractions by iden-
tifying the place value of the farthest right digit. For
example ,

1. In the decimal 0.05, the 5 is in the hundredths place,

so 100 is the denominator of the fraction equivalent
to 0.05.

5
0.05 =
100
2. When we consider money say $6.03, we can write
the decimal as 6.03 as a mixed number

3
6.03 = 6
100
Chapter 2. Manipulating Numbers 12

Note that when the number to the left of the decimal is

zero, we get a proper fraction. When the number to the
left of the decimal is not zero, we get a mixed number.
Also for the following rational numbers we get,

4
= 0.444... = 0.4̄
9
1
= 0.5000... = 0.50̄
2
9
= 1.285714285714... = 1.285714
7
157
= 0.3171717... = 0.317
495
The bar indicates that the sequence of digits is repeat-
ing.

2.5 Factorials

The product of all whole numbers (natural numbers

including 0) from any positive integer 𝑛 down to 1 is
Chapter 2. Manipulating Numbers 13

called 𝑛 factorial and is written as 𝑛!.


0! = 1 when 𝑛 = 0










 1! = 1 when 𝑛 = 1




𝑛! = 2! = 2 × 1 when 𝑛 = 2






 .. ..




 𝑛! = 𝑛 × (𝑛 − 1) × (𝑛 − 2) × . . . 3 × 2 × 1 when 𝑛 = N



For example,

10! = 10 × 9 × 8 × 7 × 6 × 5 × 4 × 3 × 2 × 1
5! = 5 × 4 × 3 × 2 × 1
For solving questions involving factorials we can also
use 𝑛! = 𝑛(𝑛 − 1)! = 𝑛(𝑛 − 1) (𝑛 − 2)!. For example,
10! can also be expressed as 10 × 9 × 8!
Chapter 2. Manipulating Numbers 14

Solve

8!
=
6!
8 × 7 × 6!
=
6!
= 8 × 7 = 56

6!
=
5!
6 × 5!
=
5!
=6

2.6 Ratios

A ratio compares two quantities that are measured in

the same units. If we compare a and b, a ratio can be
written as 𝑎 to 𝑏

𝑎
or 𝑎 : 𝑏
𝑏
Chapter 2. Manipulating Numbers 15

Applications of Ratios
One real-world application of ratios involves measur-
ing cholesterol in blood. The ratio of total cholesterol to
HDL (High-density lipoprotein) cholesterol is one way
doctors assess a person’s overall health. A ratio of less
than 5 to 1 is considered good.

Examples

1. Tom’s cholesterol level is 249 mg/dl and his HDL

cholesterol is 39 mg/dl. (a) Find the ratio of his total
cholesterol to his HDL cholesterol.(b) Assuming
that a ratio less than 5 to 1 is considered good, what
would you suggest to Tom?

Solution
Chapter 2. Manipulating Numbers 16

Expressing the ratio in words we get

total cholesterol
=
HDL cholesterol
249
=
39
83 6.4
= ≈
13 1

Therefore, Tom’s cholesterol ratio is high and he

should either lower his total cholesterol or raise his
HDL cholesterol level.

2. A recipe says that to make 6 cupcakes you need 1

cup of butter. If you want to make 4 cupcakes how
much butter do you need to add to the mixture?

Solution So, the ratio of butter to cupcakes:

Chapter 2. Manipulating Numbers 17

1butter butter?
=
6cupcakes 4cupcakes
.

therefore

1 𝑥
=
6 4
2
Therefore 𝑥 = 3 so we need 2/3 cups of butter to
make 4 cupcakes.

3. In a solution, 2 parts of glucose water needs to be

mixed in 3 parts of regular water. If you have 450ml
of regular water, how much glucose water would
you mix?
Chapter 2. Manipulating Numbers 18

Solution
2glucose water 𝑥
=
3regular water 450
2 × 450
𝑥=
3
𝑥 = 300

the mixture should have 300 mls of glucose water.

4. While making rice pudding, Jackie’s mum puts 4

tablespoons of sugar in 1 L milk. Jackie is following
her mum’s recipe to make rice pudding with 3𝐿 of
milk. She has already put 5 tablespoons of sugar in
the milk. How much more does she need to put in
it?

Solution
Chapter 2. Manipulating Numbers 19

2.7 Proportion

A proportion is a statement stating two ratios are equal.

Consider the following proportion
𝑎 𝑐
=
𝑏 𝑑
2 6
Example, 3 = 9
Direct variation or direct proportion occurs when
an increase (decrease) in one quantity results in an
𝑥
increase (decrease) in the other, that is 𝑦 = 𝑘 where 𝑘 is
the constant of proportionality.
If 𝑦 = 𝑥𝑘 , we say y is inversely proportional to 𝑥 or 𝑦
varies inversely as 𝑥.

2.8 Percentages

A percent is a ratio whose denominator is 100. We use

the percent symbol %, to show percent.
 Chapter 2. Manipulating Numbers 20

Example,

1. A car that was purchased for $50000 gets in an

accident, and is now worth 20% of the original
value. How much is it now worth?

Solution
20
20% of $50000 is 100 ×$50000 = $10000.

2. An unethical salesman purchases costume jewellery for

$40, selling it as "real" for 3000 % of the cost price.
How much does he sell the jewellery for?

3. A zoo has 15 Mountain zebras. The Mountain zebras

make up 30% of all zebras in the zoo. How many zebras
live at the zoo?

Solution
Chapter 2. Manipulating Numbers 21

30
× 𝑥 = 15
100
0.3 × 𝑥 = 15
15
𝑥=
0.3
= 50
There are 50 zebras living at the zoo.