Math Review

Content
1. Sets of Numbers
2. Numbers Arithmetic
3. Order of operations
4. Fractions Arithmetic
5. Percentages
6. Integer Exponents Rules
7. nth root of a real number
8. Rational Exponents and Radicals
9. Rationalization

2
Content (continued)
10. Polynomials
11. Factoring
12. Rational Expressions
13. Solving Linear Equations
14. Solving Quadratic Equations
15. Absolute values
16. The Summation Operator
17. The Binomial Formula
18. References

3
1. Sets of Numbers
• Natural numbers:
Counting numbers, also called positive integers

• Integers:
Natural numbers, their negatives and 0

• Rational Numbers: , , ∈ℤ,

Numbers that can be represented as a fraction 𝑎/𝑏
a and b are integers and 𝑏 ≠ 0
Decimal representations are repeating or terminating

ℚ = { … , −3, … , −2.25, … , , … 0, … , 2. 3333 … , 5.323232 … , 425, … }

4
1. Sets of Numbers
• Irrational numbers:
Numbers that cannot be written as a ratio of two integers
Examples: 2 = 1.414 … , 𝜋 = 3.1415 … , 7, 𝑒 = 2.71828182 …
They can be represented as nonrepeating and nonterminating decimal numbers

• Real numbers:

So IN a 21 C D CRI c Included in
or IR 7 S Z IN contains

5
Exercise
In the following, indicate true (T) or false (F)
All integers are natural numbers
All rational numbers are real numbers
All natural numbers are rational numbers
All real numbers are irrational

6
2. Numbers Arithmetic
• Addition is commutative:
• Addition is associative:
• 0 is the additive identity: That is
• That is
• Multiplication is commutative:
• Multiplication is associative:

7
2. Numbers Arithmetic
• Multiplicative identity: 1. 𝑎 = 𝑎 .1 = 𝑎
1 is the only identity for the multiplication of real numbers

• Inverse (also called reciprocal):

For 𝑎 ≠ 0, 1/a is the unique multiplicative inverse of 𝑎
That is a.(1/a) = (1/a).a = 1

• Distributivity: a.(b + c) = a.b + a.c and (a + b).c = a.c + b.c

• Zero properties:
o 𝑎. 0 = 0
o 𝑎. 𝑏 = 0 𝑖𝑓 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑜𝑛𝑙𝑦 𝑖𝑓 𝑎 = 0 𝑜𝑟 𝑏 = 0

8
2. Numbers Arithmetic
• Subtraction:
Note that 𝑎 − 𝑏 ≠ 𝑏 − 𝑎 Ca b b a b ta
• Division :
g
z ax
f 4 3
1
bla Ha
Note 𝑎 ÷ 𝑏 ≠ 𝑏 ÷ 𝑎
• Negative properties
o − −𝑎 = 𝑎
o −𝑎 𝑏 = 𝑎 −𝑏 = − 𝑎𝑏
o −𝑎 −𝑏 = 𝑎𝑏
In 372 36
o −1 𝑎 = −𝑎

9
3. Order of Operations
• Rules
o Remove parentheses ( ), then brackets [ ] and braces { } if present.
o Multiplication and Division precede Addition and subtraction
o Taking powers precedes Multiplication and Division

Proceed from left to right in a

sequence
of divisions and multiplications

10
Exercise
• Simplify the algebraic expression
3𝑡 − {2 + 3 𝑡 + 𝑡 4 + 𝑡 }

Calculate
5 3 2
5 3 2 a

5 3 2 a

5 3 2
12 2 3 619 5 2.67
6 2 4 11

6 2 4
5 3 6 1
342
5 3 2 8 2 16

12 2 6
2 3 619 5
12
243 619 T
12 6 1 874
243
2 2 1 45 12 6 90 78

6 2 4 3 4 12
T
6 678 34 0175
284 4
4. Fractions Arithmetic
•
•
•
•

12
4. Fractions Arithmetic




 be


13
Exercise
• Evaluate the expression

14
5. Percentages
• Fractions with denominator 100
• They are used so often that they have their own notation
• Examples:
o = 0.05 = 5%,

o = 0.26 = 26%,
.
o = 0.123 = 12.3%,

o = 1.25 = 125%

15
Exercise
1. Express as decimal numbers the following percentages
7%, 12.9%, 255%
2. Find the tax owed on a purchase of $240.56 if the tax rate is 15%. Round to the
nearest cent
3. If you paid $31.56 in tax on a purchase of $545.12, what was the sales tax rate?
Write a percentage rounded to one decimal place
4. If the price per gallon of gas jumped from $4.20 to $4.45, what was the
percentage increase? Round to one decimal place

1 7 Y 0.07 12.94 0.129 2557 2.5

2 240.56 0.15 36.0 84 I 36.08
3 31.56 100 5.7897 5.87
16

12 0 05789 100
sus
4
4.25447 1005 9.957 67
6. Integer Exponents Rules
• For a positive integer n and a real number b,
𝑏 = 𝑏. 𝑏. 𝑏. … … … . 𝑏 𝑛 𝑓𝑎𝑐𝑡𝑜𝑟𝑠 𝑜𝑓 𝑏 34 3 3 3 3
• For n=0, 30 1 1000 I
• For a negative integer n, 2
3 132
(if n is negative, then – n is positive.

• For all integers n,

17
6. Integer Exponents Rules
• For all m, n integers and a, b reals,
4 27
o𝑎 𝑎 =𝑎
o (𝑎 ) = 𝑎
23 24 23
4 212
o 𝑎𝑏 = 𝑎 𝑏 2374 23
o( ) = , 𝑏≠0
o =𝑏 = , 𝑏≠0 2 374 24 34

4 3
3 254 2213 25 22
18
6. Integer Exponents Rules
• Scientific Notation
Any real number in finite decimal form can be expressed in the scientific notation as:
𝑎 × 10 , 1 ≤ 𝑎 < 10, 𝑎 𝑖𝑛 𝑑𝑒𝑐𝑖𝑚𝑎𝑙 𝑓𝑜𝑟𝑚, 𝑛 𝑎𝑛 𝑖𝑛𝑡𝑒𝑔𝑒𝑟.

19
Exercise
• Express using positive exponents only,
o (3𝑥 )(5𝑥 )
o (3𝑥) (5𝑥)
o𝑥 𝑥
o

20
Exercise (Continued)
• Express using positive exponents only
2 2
28 4
o (𝑥 𝑦 ) a x 423
o( )
n lo G
y 34
o ELI ng at

21
Exercise (Continued)
• Express in scientific notation the following decimal forms
3; 3 100
32;
320;
32,000;
32,400,000;
3.24 107 3.24 E 7
0.3;
0.32;
0.0032; 3.2 10 3
0.000 032;
0.000 000 325

22
7. nth Root of a real number
• For a natural number n, r is an nth root of b if rn = b
o 3 and -3 are two second (or square) roots of 9
o -3 is a third (or cubic) root of -27
• Any positive number has two real square roots, 2 real 4th roots and 2 real nth
roots for any even n
• Negative numbers have no real nth root if n is even.
• Any real number has exactly one cubic root, one 5th root and one nth root for any
odd n.

23
7. nth root of a real number
• The nth root of b is denoted in two different ways,
• represents the radical form of the nth root of b
⁄
• represents the exponent form of the nth root of b
• rather than
⁄
• If there are 2 nth roots,
• Note
•
•

24
Exercise
• Evaluate the following
⁄
o
⁄
o
⁄
o
⁄
o

25
Exercise (continued)
• Evaluate the following
⁄
o
⁄
o
o

26
8. Rational Exponents and Radicals
• For m and n natural numbers, b real number and b is nonnegative if n is even,

⁄ ⁄
• 𝑏 = (𝑏 ) = ( 𝑏)
⁄ ⁄
• Also 𝑏 = 𝑏 = 𝑏
⁄
• And 𝑏 = ⁄ , 𝑏≠0

27
Exercise
• Simplify and express using positive integers only,
⁄ ⁄
o
5
o ⁄
8 3 1 27 25 32
⁄ ⁄
o

28
8. Rational Exponents and Radicals
• Properties of radicals
o 𝑥 =𝑥
o 𝑥𝑦 = 𝑥 𝑦

o =

29
Exercise
• Simplify:
o
o

30
9. Rationalization
• Elimination of a square root either in the numerator or in the denominator

31
Exercise
Rationalize each denominator
o
o

EE
o
EE
On
FEET F
n
z
4
2 Fz
A B A B AZ B2
32
Exercise (continued)
Rationalize each numerator
o

o
3 375 EIFF Er
x 9

33
10. Polynomials
• A polynomial of degree n is a function of the form

Where n is a positive integer and

• The constants are called the coefficients.
• A quadratic function is a polynomial of degree 2.
• A linear function is a polynomial of degree 1.

Plat n 2x 1 degree 2
PG 3 320 O
34

PCH Ya S
11. Factoring
• Common factors: The first step of any factoring procedure of an algebraic
expression is to factor out all factors common to all terms
• Special factoring formulas
o𝑎 + 2𝑎𝑏 + 𝑏 = (𝑎 + 𝑏)
o𝑎 − 2𝑎𝑏 + 𝑏 = (𝑎 − 𝑏)
o𝑎 −𝑏 = 𝑎−𝑏 𝑎+𝑏
o𝑎 − 𝑏 = 𝑎 − 𝑏 𝑎 + 𝑎𝑏 + 𝑏
o𝑎
type
+ 𝑏 = 𝑎 − 𝑏 𝑎 − 𝑎𝑏 + 𝑏
Q

35
Exercise
• Factor the following expressions
o
o
o
o

36
Exercise (continued)
• Factor the following
o m2 un m un m 4n
o
o

248 8
o

3
2 23
2t t 2 E 2 4
37
12. Rational Expressions
Quotient of 2 Polynomials
• Examples

• Reduction formula:

38
12. Rational Expressions
• Multiplication and Division
o

39
12. Rational Expressions
• Addition and Subtraction
o

40
Exercise
• Reduce the following expressions

13 at 3
o
3
o

41
Exercise (continued)
• Perform and simplify the following

42
Exercise (continued)
• Perform and simplify the following
o 4 542 2n 3n 2042622
I 15m42
o
3h Syl
y WEIL ZE

43
13. Linear Equations
• Rules
o
o
o
o

44
Exercise
• Solve for x: ax tb O
N

2 6 4 10 32 3
255 32 7
2 7 Zn Zn
9 2
45
14. Quadratic Equations
• Definition:
Any equation that can be written in the standard form

22 3 1 0
Where x is an unknown variable and a, b, c, are known constants
• Square root property:

46
Exercise
• Solve the following
o
o

47
Exercise (continued)
• Use the square root property to solve the equations
o
o
o
o

48
14. Quadratic Equations
• The Quadratic Formula
o Given the equation 𝑎𝑥 + 𝑏𝑥 + 𝑐 = 0
o Compute the discriminant Δ = 𝑏 − 4𝑎𝑐
o 𝐼𝑓 Δ < 0, 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑒𝑞𝑢𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛 ℎ𝑎𝑠 𝑛𝑜 𝑟𝑒𝑎𝑙 𝑠𝑜𝑙𝑢𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛

o 𝐼𝑓 Δ = 0, 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑒𝑞𝑢𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛 ℎ𝑎𝑠 𝑎 𝑠𝑖𝑛𝑔𝑙𝑒 𝑠𝑜𝑙𝑢𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛 𝑠 = −

o 𝐼𝑓 Δ > 0, 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑒𝑞𝑢𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛 ℎ𝑎𝑠 𝑡𝑤𝑜 𝑠𝑜𝑙𝑢𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛𝑠 :

o 𝑠 = and 𝑠 =

49
Exercise
• Solve using the quadratic formula
n n n na O
D b2 4acz 272 4 1 C 2
I 4 8 1270
2 rats ng
bff 2
21
2 5211 22
50
14. Quadratic Equations
Factor Theorem
𝐼𝑓 𝑠 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑠 𝑎𝑟𝑒 𝑡𝑤𝑜 𝑠𝑜𝑙𝑢𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛𝑠 𝑡𝑜 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑒𝑞𝑢𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛 𝑎𝑥 + 𝑏𝑥 + 𝑐 = 0
Then,
𝑎𝑥 + 𝑏𝑥 + 𝑐 = 𝑎(𝑥 − 𝑠 )(𝑥 − 𝑠 )

51
Exercise
• Factor the quadratic function,

52
15. Absolute Values
• The absolute value of a real number x is defined as:

think of |x| as the distance from the real number x to the origin 0.
For example, |−2|=2 and |2|=2 since −2 and 2 are both two units away from the
origin.

53
15. Absolute Values
• Solving Absolute Value Equations
Examples
Solve for x
o
o
3 462,7 2
12m 31 4 322
OR
1
2n 3 4 ME 2

54
15. Absolute Values
• Solving Absolute value inequalities
Four rules to remember,
𝐼𝑓 𝑥 ≤ 𝑐, 𝑡ℎ𝑒𝑛 − 𝑐 ≤ 𝑥 ≤ 𝑐 and x is at most c units away from the origin
𝐼𝑓 𝑥 < 𝑐, 𝑡ℎ𝑒𝑛 − 𝑐 < 𝑥 < 𝑐 and x is less than c units away from the origin
𝐼𝑓 𝑥 ≥ 𝑐, 𝑡ℎ𝑒𝑛 𝑥 ≤ −𝑐 𝑜𝑟 𝑥 ≥ 𝑐 and x is at least c units away from the origin
𝐼𝑓 𝑥 > 𝑐, 𝑡ℎ𝑒𝑛 𝑥 < −𝑐 𝑜𝑟 𝑥 > 𝑐 and x is more than c units away from the origin

In a 2
If
12172 1 6 I 55
 lutze
Exercise
• Solve for x:
o
o
o
o

56
16. The Summation Operator
Given a sequence of numbers,

The sum

is called a series.

57
 16. The Summation Operator
A series is said to be either finite, if the sequence is finite, or infinite if the
sequence is infinite.
The finite series is written in a compact form as

The infinite series

Is written in a compact form as

where k is the summing index

É
2
n 12 22 32 42 1 4 9 16 30
58

EI Intl 12 22 32 42 30
Exercise
• Write the sum without summation notation. Do not calculate the
sum
• Write the sum using summation notation with:

al oo summing index k starting at 1

b summing index j starting at 0

Ez 1 1 2 3 tf k so index
angst
Ay
4 I
33 1
02
315 5
3 1
59

2,42 1 az
2 3272 13
4 as É GI
b I C y
1 2
j 0
j
16. The Summation Operator
• Properties of the summation operator
Let m and n two nonnegative integers with m<n, then:
A constant c can be factored out of a summation operator

𝑐𝑎 = 𝑐 𝑎

A summation operator can be broken out across a sum or a difference

𝑎 ±𝑏 = 𝑎 ± 𝑏

É 3 n 3 En
na
60

E 2 kt KY
É t
É
16. The Summation Operator
• Note that products and quotients cannot be broken out of the summation
operator, so that:

É E E
ECK D
61
16. The Summation Operator
• Somme useful formulas:
o 3 5 3
( )
o
o
( )( ) É k a
Stf IS

o
( )
Ek 5 all as s
8
2
k3 152
f 221

62
Exercise
• Evaluate the sum

É 4 12k 9k
ke I
4 fi 2k
kaI
Jak
621
SON 12 1
9 Songdo l
63
 2 2 1 2
17. The Binomial Formula 3 3 2 1 6
3 2
• Factorial
For a nonnegative integer n, n factorial, denoted n!, is defined as:
1 1
o 𝑛! = 𝑛. 𝑛 − 1 . 𝑛 − 2 . … .2.1
o 1! = 1
o 0! = 1
• Recursive Formula
o 𝑛! = 𝑛. 𝑛 − 1 !, 𝑛 ≥ 1,
Define
!
o ∁ = ! !
𝑓𝑜𝑟 0 ≤ 𝑘 ≤ 𝑛

64
 ABC etter
How many orderings
ABC ACB BA BLA CAB CBA 6 31

CE YI HII 6
ninth
Set 5 3 A B ie D
Howmany subsets are there of 2 element
ofs
A B A C SAID B C BID CD
6
CE
subsetsof only a
single dentofs
3 A
333 303 3D
4
4 sunsets 4
61 II 1
431

Sal set of 3 element

A B C A C B B C D
JAB DI
4 43 34 4
4 311
sores of Helmet of S
A B C D 1

Y 4

III
I
4 4 4
17. The Binomial Formula
• Binominal Formula

(𝑎 + 𝑏) = ∁ 𝑎 𝑏( )

• Applications: Special Polynomial powers,

o 𝑥+𝑏 = 𝑥 + 2𝑏𝑥 + 𝑏
o 𝑥+𝑏 = 𝑥 + 3𝑥 𝑏 + 3𝑥𝑏 + 𝑏
o 𝑥+𝑏 = 𝑥 + 4𝑥 𝑏 + 6𝑥 𝑏 + 4𝑥𝑏 + 𝑏

É
k
Cat b C ak.bz
2
C a b
Galba c a2b2 65

atb TE Fb I
C 1 of empty set
ftp.o 112
Cho 1 for all n

C
IIe.pt 2

Ch i
n
 Exercise
• Use the Binomial Formula to expand the polynomial
CÉakzb k
1 2 3 4 g g
2015 6 1
Ck 1 6 15
I I n n p at us at
36 4 72924381 27 9 3 4
6 630
u 13 182036 092135 4234 42333 4 432196344
115 81420 276 15,924 6,325426
66
729 6524 n
References
• Textbook:
o Finite Mathematics for Business, Economics, Life Sciences, and Social
Sciences, 14th Edition, by Barnett, Ziegler, Byleen & Stocker, Pearson
Education, Inc.
• URL’s:
o https://www.math-exercises.com/
o https://tutorial.math.lamar.edu/Problems/Alg/Alg.aspx

Io http://www.wallace.ccfaculty.org/book/

67