Chapter 1

Real Numbers
and Variables
 Absolute Value
• The absolute value of a number is the
distance between that number and zero on a
number line.
|5| = 5
| – 4| = 4
Symbol for
absolute Distance of 4 Distance of 5
value

–5 –4 –3 –2 –1 0 1 2 3 4 5
 Addition Rule for Two Numbers with the
Different Signs
• 1. Find the difference between the larger
absolute value and the smaller one.

• 2. Give the answer the sign of the number

having the larger absolute value.
 Example
• Add 5 + (–9).
Subtract the absolute values of the
numbers 5 and 9.

• 5 – 9 = –4
A negative sign is used because the sign of the
larger number is negative.
 Addition Rule for Two Numbers with the
Same Sign
• To add two numbers with the same sign, add
the absolute values of the numbers and use the
common sign in the answer.
 Example
• Add (–3) + (–11).

Add the absolute values of

• 3 + 11 = 14 the numbers 3 and 11.

• (–3) + (–11) = –14

A negative sign is used
because we added two
negative numbers.
 Subtraction of Real Numbers
• To subtract real numbers, add the opposite of
the second number (the number you are
subtracting) to the first.
 Example
• Subtract. –6 – 14
The opposite of 14 is 14.

• –6 – (14)

• = –6 + (–14)
Change the subtraction to
addition.
• = –20
Perform the addition of the two
negative numbers.
 Example
• Subtract. –21 – (–13)

The opposite of –13 is 13.

•
• –21 + (13)
Change the subtraction to addition.

•
• = –8
Perform the addition.
 Multiplication of Real Numbers

• To multiply two real numbers with the same

sign, multiply the absolute values.
• The sign of the result is positive.

• To multiply two real numbers with different

signs, multiply the absolute values.
• The sign of the result is negative.
 Example
• Multiply.

• a. –6(4) = –24 When multiplying two numbers

with different signs, the result is a
negative number.

• b. 12(–9) = –108
 Example
• Multiply.
• –75 × (–3) = 225 When multiplying two numbers
with the same sign, the result is a
positive number.

1
 5  2   5  2  5
    
      
•  12  3   12  3  18
6
 Division of Real Numbers
• To divide two real numbers with the same
sign, divide the absolute values.
• The sign of the result is positive.

• To divide two real numbers with different

signs, divide the absolute values.
• The sign of the result is negative.
 Example
• Divide.

• –75 ÷ (–3) = 25 When dividing two numbers with

the same sign, the result is a
positive number.
1
 5   3   5  2  5
  
   
      
• 12   2   12  3  18
6
 Example
• Divide.

• a. –6 ÷ 2 = –3 When dividing two numbers with

different signs, the result is a
negative number.

• b. 120 ÷ (–10) = –12

 Exponents
• An exponent is a “shorthand” number that saves
writing the multiplication of the same numbers.
4
3 3 3 3  3

exponent
3 4

base

• This is read “three to the fourth power.”

 Sign Rule for Exponents
• Suppose a number is written in exponent form
and the base is negative. The result is positive
if the exponent is even. The result is negative
if the exponent is odd.
 Example
• Evaluate.
• (3)3  (3)(3)(3)  27 Odd exponent: Negative result

(4)6  4096 Even exponent: Positive result

(54 )  625 The negative sign is outside the

parentheses.
 Order of Operations for Numbers
Do first
1. Do all operations inside parentheses.
2. Raise numbers to a power.
3. Multiply and divide numbers from left to
right.
Do last
4. Add and subtract numbers from left to right.
 Example
Evaluate. 62  6  2 + 1
Identify: The highest priority is exponents.
62  6 × 2 + 1 = 36  6  2 + 1 Calculate: 6 · 6 = 36. Replace: 62 with 36.

Identify: The highest priority is division.

Calculate: 36  6 = 6. Replace: 36  6 with 6.
=62+1
Identify: The highest priority is multiplication.
Calculate: 6 × 2 = 12. Replace: 6 × 2 = 12.
= 12 + 1
Identify: The highest priority is addition.
Calculate: 12 + 1. Replace: 12 + 1 = 13
= 13
 Section 1.6
• Using the Distributive
Property to Simplify
Algebraic Expressions
 Distributive Property
• For all real numbers a, b, and c,
• a(b + c) = ab + ac.
 Example
• Multiply. 7(a + b)

• 7(a + b) = 7 a  7b
 Example
• Multiply. (a  2b)

• (a  2b)  1(a )  (1)( 2b)

  a  2b
 Like Terms
• Like terms have identical variables and
identical exponents.
• 20x + 5y + 2y + (3)
Like terms

• To combine like terms, you add or subtract

the like terms.
• 20x + 5y + 2y + (3) = 20x + 7y + (3)
Like terms combined.
 Chapter 2

Equations,
Inequalities, and
Applications
 Example
5 + 7x  19 = 8x  6 + 3x
• Solve for x.
7x  14 = 11x  6 Add like terms on both
sides of the equation.

7x  14 + 14 = 11x  6 + 14 Add 14 to both sides

of the equation.
7x = 11x + 8
Add (11x) to both
7x  11x = 11x + 8  11x sides of the equation.

 4x = 8 Divide both sides of

4 x 8 the equation by 4.

4 4
Be sure to check your answer!
x  2
 Example
5d  6(d + 1) = 2d  6
• Solve for d.
5d  6d  6 = 2d  6 Distribute to remove the parentheses.
 d  6 = 2d  6 Add like terms.
 d  6 + 6 = 2d  6 + 6 Add 6 to both sides of the equation.
 d = 2d Simplify.

 d  2d = 2d  2d Add (2d) to both sides of the equation.

 3d = 0 Simplify.

d=0 Be sure to check your answer!