REAL

NUMBERS
{1, 2, 3, 4, . . . }
If you were asked to count, the numbers youd
say are called counting numbers. These
numbers can be expressed using set notation.
These are also called
the natural numbers.
{0, 1, 2, 3, 4, . . . }
If we include 0 we have
the set of whole numbers.
{ , -3, -2, -1, 0,1, 2, 3, . . . }
Include the opposites of the whole numbers and
you have the set of integers.
rational numbers
Whole numbers are a subset of integers and
counting numbers are a subset of whole
numbers.
integers
whole numbers
counting
numbers
If we express a new set of numbers as the quotient of
two integers, we have the set of rational numbers
This means to
divide one integer
by another or
make a fraction
rational numbers
There are numbers that cannot be expressed as
the quotient of two integers. These are called
irrational numbers.
integers
whole numbers
counting
numbers
2

irrational
numbers
The rational numbers combined with the irrational
numbers make up the set of real numbers.
REAL NUMBERS
Translating English to Math
sum of two numbers
difference between two numbers
The product of two numbers
the quotient of two numbers

is =
ab
a - b
a + b
b
a
ORDER OF OPERATIONS
When there is more than one symbol of operation in an
expression, it is agreed to complete the operations in a certain
order. A mnemonic to help you remember this order is below.
P E M D A S
Do any simplifying possible inside of parenthesis
starting with innermost parenthesis and working out
Apply exponents

Complete multiplication and division from left to right

Complete addition and subtraction from left to right

4 2 3 5 3 2
2

PEMDAS PEMDAS
parenthesis combine these first
4 2 3 2 2
2

PEMDAS
exponents apply the exponent now



4 2 3 4 2
PEMDAS
complete multiplication and division, left to right



4 6 8
PEMDAS
complete addition and subtraction, left to right



10
4 2 3 5 3 2
2

COMMUTATIVE PROPERTY
The operations of both addition and multiplication are commutative
a b b a
3 2 2 3
When adding, you can commute or trade the terms places
a b b a 3 2 2 3
When multiplying, you can commute or trade the factors places
ASSOCIATIVE PROPERTY
c b a c b a
3 2 1 3 2 1
When adding, you can associate and add any terms first and
then add the other term.
c b a c b a
4 3 2 4 3 2
When multiplying, you can associate and multiply any factors
first and then multiply the other factor.
The operations of both addition and multiplication are associative
DISTRIBUTIVE PROPERTY
The operation of multiplication distributes over addition
ac ab c b a
4 3 2 3 4 2 3
The distributive property also holds for a factor that is multiplied
on the left.
a c a b a c b
2 4 2 3 2 4 3
ab b a
A positive
times a
negative is
NEGATIVE
ab b a
A negative
times a
positive is
NEGATIVE
a a
The negative
of a negative
POSITIVE
CAUTION: Remember that the value for a
and/or b could also be positive or negative.
b
a
b
a
b
a

A positive
divided by a
negative or
A negative
divided by a
positive is
NEGATIVE
b
a
b
a

A negative
divided by a
negative is
POSITIVE