IMPORTANT THINGS TO KEEP IN MIND

1. Fractions:

A number representing parts of a whole number, can be written as a common (vulgar) fraction in
the form of , where a is called its numerator and b≠0 is called its denominator.

2. Equivalent Fractions:

(i) If both the numerator and the denominator are multiplied or divided by the same number, the
new fraction still represents the same amount of the whole as the original fraction. The new fraction
is known as an equivalent fraction.

(ii) The fraction is now expressed in its simplest form (sometimes called the lowest terms). So,
simplifying a fraction means expressing it using the lowest possible terms.

3. Operations on Fractions:

(i) Multiplication of fractions: When multiplying two or more fractions together, multiply the
numerators and then multiply the denominators.

(ii) Addition and subtraction of fractions: To add or subtract fractions which are the same type i.e.,
they have same denominator (this is called a common denominator), add or subtract the numerator
keeping the denominator same. If the fractions have different denominators, use equivalent
fractions to make the fractions of common denominators.

(iii) Reciprocal of fractions: The reciprocal of any fraction can be obtained by swapping the
numerator and the denominator.

(iv) Division of fractions: To divide a fraction by another fraction, multiply the first fraction by the
reciprocal of the second fraction.

(v) Egyptian fractions: An Egyptian fraction is the sum of any number of different fractions
(different denominators) each with numerator one.

(vi) Fractions with decimals: When the numerator or the denominator, or even both of a fraction are
not whole numbers, then to express these fractions in their simplest forms,

(a) make sure both the numerator and denominator are converted to an integer by finding an
equivalent fraction.

(b) check that the equivalent fraction has been simplified.

4. Percentages:

(i) A percentage is a fraction with a denominator of 100. The symbol used to represent percentage
is %.
 (ii) A percentage can be converted into a decimal by dividing by 100 (the digits move two places to
the right).

(iii) A decimal can be converted to a percentage by multiplying by 100 (the digits move two places
to the left).

(iv) A fraction can be converted to a percentage by multiplying by 100.

(v) Finding one number as a percentage of another: To write one number as a percentage of another
number, write the first number as a fraction of the second number then multiply by 100.

5. Percentage Increase and Decrease:

(i) First work out the difference (increase) between the two numbers.

(ii) Then divide the increase by the original number and multiply the answer by 100.

% increase= .

(iii) If the answer is a negative number, then this is a percentage decrease.

(iv) Whenever increases or decreases are stated as percentages, they are stated as percentages of the
original value.

6. Increasing and Decreasing by a Given Percentage:

To find the actual increase or decrease, when the percentage of increase or decrease is given, find

To know the new value, either add the increase to or subtract the decrease from the original value.

7. Standard form:

Standard form is used to express very small and very large numbers in a compact and efficient way.
In standard form, numbers are written as a number between 1 and 10 and multiplied by 10 raised to
a given power.

8. Estimations:

(i) Estimations can be made by rounding the numbers in a calculation to one significant figure.

(ii) To estimate the numbers which are used in the calculation have to be rounded before doing the
calculations.