CSEC Mathematics
SECTION 1 – Number Theory and Computation
Number Theory
NOTE: (i) (ii) (iii) (iv) (v) (ax)y = axy
Exercise
Simplify each of the following, without using calculator.
a. b. c. d. e. f. g. h. i. j.
k. l. m. n. o. p. q. r. s.
Number Systems
The Place Value Chart for the base 10 system
1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th
dec.pl. dec.pl. d.p. d.p. d.p.
Ten Million
Thousandth
Thousandth
Units/Ones
Thousands
Thousandth
Hundreds
Hundredth-
Hundred
Million
Hundred
Ten
Decimal
Tenth
point
10,000,000
1,000,000
100,000
1,000
100
The Binary System/Base Two System/Bicimal System
In the binary or bicimal system, we count in base two. We use the digits 0 and 1. Each digit in a number
has a place value in terms of powers of two. The largest digit in base two is 1, whereas the smallest digit is
0.
Consider 11101.01012
Face Value 1 1 1 0 1 . 0 1 0 1
Place Value 24 23 22 21 20=1 Decimal 2– 1 2– 2 2– 3 2– 4
point
Value 1 24 1 23 1 22 0 21 1 1 0 2–1
Adding Binary Numbers
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The following rules apply when adding binary numbers:
02 + 02 = 02; 1 2 + 02 = 1 2 ; 12 + 12 = 102; 102 + 12 = 112; 112 + 12 = 1002
Exercise
Add the following binary (base two) numbers.
a. 11012 + 1112 b. 101012 + 10112 c. 11112 + 11112 d. 100112 + 110112
e. 1012 + 1112 + 1102 f. 10102 + 10112 + 11012 g. 1011012 + 110112 + 110012 + 1112
Subtracting Binary Numbers
The following rules apply when subtracting binary numbers:
02 - 02 = 02; 12 - 02 = 12 ; 12 - 12 = 02; 102 – 12 = 12; 112 – 12 = 102; 1002 – 12 = 112
Exercise
Compute the following.
a. 110112 - 10102 b. 101002 -10102 c. 1010112 - 111112 d. 100102 - 11112
Express One Quantity as a Fraction of Another.
Note: We must ensure that both quantities have the same unit before we express one quantity as a fraction
of another.
Exercise
Express the first quantity as a fraction of the second quantity.
1. 20 cents, $3.00 (100 cents = $1)
2. 5 days, 4 weeks
3. 9 months, 5 years
4. 17 cm, 6 m (1 m = 100 cm)
5. 25 kg, 8 tonnes (1 tonne = 1000 kg)
Sequences of Numbers
A sequence of numbers is a set of numbers that follows a mathematical rule. Each number in the sequence
is called a term and is given a value according to its position.
Exercise
Identify the rule for each of the following sequence and fill in the blanks.
a. 3, 15, 75, ____ b. 1, 3, 2, 4, 3, ____ c. 7, 6, 8, 7, 9, ____ d. 1, 4, 9, ____, 25
e. 3, 12, 48, ___, ____, 3072 f. - 9, - 6, - 3, 0, 3, _____ g. - 8, - 4, - 2, - 1, ____
h. 5, 6, 9, 14, 21, ____ i. 8, 10, 14, ____, 28, ____ j. 0, 1, 1, 2, 3, ____, 8, 13, ____
k. 0, 1, 8, 27, ___, 125, ____
Commutative Law
The commutative law for an arithmetic operation deals with the order in which the operation is performed,
does not affect the result. Thus: 2 + 6 + 9 = 9 + 2 + 6 = 17 and
2 3 5 = 5 2 3 = 30.
Hence, addition of numbers and the multiplication of numbers are both commutative.
Now 7 – 2 2 – 7, that is, 5 – 5.
Also, 8 2 2 8, that is 4 . Hence, subtraction of numbers and division of numbers
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are both non-commutative.
Associative Law
The associative law for an arithmetic operation deals with grouping the numbers and the result remains
unchanged. Thus, 3 + 4 + 7 = (3 + 4) + 7 = 3 + (4 + 7) = 14 and 2 4 5 = (2 4) 5 = 2 (4 5) = 40.
Hence, the addition of numbers and the multiplication of numbers are both associative.
Now 9 – 5 – 2 = (9 – 5) – 2 9 – (5 – 2), that is 2 = 2 6 and
8 4 2= (8 4) 2 8 (4 2), that is 1 4. Hence, the subtraction of numbers and the division
of numbers are both non-associative.
Distributive Law
The distributive law for an arithmetic operation deals with the multiplication of numbers in brackets.
3 (4 + 7) = 3 4 + 43 7 = 12 + 21 = 33 and 4 (8 – 3) = 4 8 – 4 3 = 32 – 12 = 20. Hence,
multiplication is distributive with respect to addition of numbers and the subtraction of numbers.
Activity
Answer the following.
1. 5×6 + 5×3 is the same as:
A. 5×6
B. 6+3
C. 5×9
D. 5+9
2. 7×5 – 7×2 is the same as:
A. 7×3
B. 5 – 2
C. 7 – 3
D. 5×7
3. 12×8 – 12×3 is the same as:
A. 12×3
B. 12×5
C. 8 – 3
D. 12 – 5
Identity Element for Addition
The identity for an operation leaves the original number unchanged under the operation. If zero is added to
any number, then the sum is the original number. Thus:
i. 4 + 0 = 4 ii. 0 + 3 = 3 iii. – 4 + 0 = – 4 iv. 0 + (– 3) = – 3
Zero is the identity element for the addition of numbers.
Identity Element for Multiplication
If any number is multiplied by 1, then the product is the original number. Thus:
i. 8 1=8 ii. 1 9=9 iii. – 8 1=–8 iv. 1 (– 9) = – 9
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One is the identity element for the multiplication of numbers.
Inverse for Numbers under Addition
The inverse of a number for a given operation combines with the number under the operation to give the
identity. Thus:
The inverse of 5 under addition is – 5, since 5 + ( – 5) = 0 (identity).
The inverse of – 3 under addition is 3, since – 3 + 3 = 0 (identity).
Inverse for Numbers under Multiplication
The definition for the inverse was stated above. Thus: The inverse of 6 under multiplication is , since 6
= 1 (identity)The inverse of – 7 under multiplication is , since – 7 = 1 (identity)
Multiplication by Zero
If any number is multiplied by zero, the product is always zero. Thus:
i. 8 0=0 ii. 0 7=0 iii. – 3 0=0 iv. 0 ( – 1) = 0
Division by Zero
If any number is divided by zero, the result is infinity. Thus:
i. = ii.
The following table gives the Divisibility Rules for 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11 and 12.
Divisibilty Rules
A number is divisible by
2 If last digit is zero or even
3 If the sum of the digits is a multiple of 3
4 If the last two digits is a multiple of 4
5 If the last digit is 0 or 5
6 If the number is a multiple of 2 and 3
7 Cross off last digit, double it and subtract. Repeat if you want. If new number is a multiple of 7, the
original number is a multiple of 7
8 If the last 3 digits is a multiple of 8
9 If the sum of the digits is a multiple of 9
10 If the last digit is 0
11 Subtract the last digit from the number formed by the remaining digits. If new number is a multiple of
11, the original number is a multiple of 11
12 If the number is divisible by 3 and 4
Highest Common Factor (H.C.F.)
The H.C.F. of a set of numbers is the highest number which can divide each of the set of numbers without
leaving a remainder.
Exercise
Find the H.C.F. for the following set of numbers.
1. 56, 28, 40 2. 30, 45, 60 3. 65, 70, 80 4. 54, 192, 96 5. 240, 160, 340
Lowest Common Multiple (L.C.M.)
The L.C.M. of a set of numbers is the lowest number for which each of the set of numbers can go into
without leaving a remainder.
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Exercise
Find the L.C.M. for the following set of numbers.
1. 2, 5, 6 2. 4, 8, 12 3. 5, 9, 6 4. 7, 8, 14 5. 3, 7, 9
Arranging Fractions in Ascending or Descending order
Note: Express each set of fractions with a common denominator. Then compare for the order of size.
OR
Express each fraction as a percentage. Then compare for the order of size.
Exercise
Arrange the following fractions in ascending order (smallest to the largest).
1. 2. 3. 4. 5.
Arrange the following fractions in descending order.
1. 2. 3. 4. 5.
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