18 CHAPTER SUMMARY UNIT 1

CHAPTER SUMMARY: NUMBER 1

WORKING WITH FRACTIONS
4 2×2 2
Always simplify fractions to their lowest terms: = = ·
6 2×3 3
1 1 1 1 1
The word ‘of’ means the same as ‘multiplied by’: of 3
= × =
2 2 3 6
1 9
Convert mixed numbers into improper fractions: 2 4 = 4

5
Treat whole numbers as fractions, e.g. 5 =
1
1 1 1 2 2
To divide by a fraction, turn the fraction upside down and multiply: ÷ = × =
3 2 3 1 3

1 1 3 −2 1
To add or subtract fractions, put them over a common denominator: − = =
4 6 12 12

ORDER OF OPERATIONS (BIDMAS)

• First B Brackets
• Second I Indices
• Third DM Division and/or Multiplication, working from left to right
• Fourth AS Addition and/or Subtraction, working from left to right

The part of the expression being worked out at each step is highlighted in yellow.

5 + (2 + 1)2 × 4 = 5 + 32 × 4 Brackets
2
5+3 ×4=5+9×4 Indices
5 + 9 × 4 = 5 + 36 Division and/or Multiplication
5 + 36 = 41 Addition and/or Subtraction

Note that calculators use the correct order of operations.

SIGNIFICANT FIGURES AND DECIMAL PLACES

The first significant figure is the first non-zero digit in the number, counting from the left.
The first s.f. is highlighted in yellow.
a 3400 b 0.367 c 0.008 45

For decimal places, count after the decimal point (going from left to right).
The third d.p. is highlighted in yellow.
a 12.3456 b 0.000 73

For example, when rounding to 2 s.f., look at the third s.f. If this is greater than or equal to 5 then round the second
figure up. If rounding to 3 s.f., look at the fourth s.f. and so on.
2499 = 2000 (1 s.f.), 2499 = 2500 (2 s.f.), 0.2499 = 0.2 (1 d.p.), 0.2499 = 0.25 (2 d.p.)
112 CHAPTER SUMMARY UNIT 2

CHAPTER SUMMARY: NUMBER 2

STANDARD FORM PERCENTAGE CHANGE
Standard form is used to express large and small value of change
Percentage change =  × 100
numbers more efficiently. original value

A number in standard form looks like this: Per annum (p.a.) is frequently used and means
per year.
2.5 × 106

This part is written as a This part is written PERCENTAGE INCREASE AND DECREASE
number between 1 and 10. as a power of 10.
R
1 To increase a quantity by R%, multiply it by 1 +
For negative powers of 10: 10
n
= n 100
10
R
To decrease a quantity by R%, multiply it by 1 −
It is always written as a ×  10 , where 1 ≤ a < 10 and b
b 100
is an integer which can be positive or negative.
PERCENTAGE CHANGE MULTIPLYING FACTOR
3 –3
1000 = 1 × 10 , 0.001 = 1 × 10 are two numbers +5% 1.05
written in standard form. +95% 1.95
–5% 0.95
10m × 10n = 10m+n
10m ÷  10n = 10m-n –95% 0.05
(10m)n = 10mn

PERCENTAGES
x
To calculate x as a percentage of y:  ×  100
y

To calculate x percent of y:
y y ⎛ x ⎞
1% of y = so x% of y = x ×    =  y  × ⎜ ⎟
100 100 ⎝ 100 ⎠

x
The part of the last expression is the
100
multiplying factor.

5% of a quantity can be found by using a multiplying

factor of 0.05.

95% of a quantity can be found by using a multiplying

factor of 0.95 and so on.
1 10 1
1% = = 0.01 10% = =   = 0.1
100 100 10

50 1 75 3
50% = =   = 0.5 75% = =   = 0.75
100 2 100 4
184 EXAM PRACTICE
CHAPTER SUMMARY UNIT 3

CHAPTER SUMMARY: NUMBER 3

PRIME FACTORS RATIO

Prime factors are factors that are prime numbers. Add the ratios together to find each proportion.

Divide a number repeatedly by prime numbers Ratios stay the same if both sides are multiplied
to find the prime factors. or divided by the same number.

The product of the prime factors is written in Compare ratios by writing them as unit ratios in
index form. the form 1 : n or n : 1.

There is only one way of expressing a number • Divide $50 in the ratio 3 : 7.
as a product of prime factors.
3 + 7 = 10
84 = 2 × 42 = 2 × 2 × 21 = 2 × 2 × 3 × 7 = 22 × 3 × 7 3
First part is × 50 = 15
10
or
7
Second part is × 50 = 35
2
84 = 12 × 7 = 4 × 3 × 7 = 2 × 3 × 7 10

⇒ $15 and $35

• Which is larger, 3 : 2 or 13 : 9?
HCF AND LCM
Divide the first ratio by 2 and the second ratio by 9
The HCF is the highest (largest) factor common to give 1.5 : 1 and 1.4 : 1
to a set of numbers.
Therefore 3 : 2 is the larger ratio.
The LCM is the lowest (smallest) multiple common to
a set of numbers.

To find the HCF or LCM, express the numbers

in prime factor form in a Venn diagram

Find the HCF and LCM of 84 and 70.

84 = 22 × 3 × 7

70 = 2 × 5 × 7

84 70
2 2 5
3 7

HCF is the intersection = 2 × 7 = 14

LCM is the union = 22 × 3 × 7 × 5 = 420
246 CHAPTER SUMMARY UNIT 4

CHAPTER SUMMARY: NUMBER 4

COMPOUND PERCENTAGES

‘Per annum’ (p.a.) is frequently used and means ‘per year’.

‘Appreciation’ (inflation: prices increase) means a gain in value while ‘depreciation’ (deflation: prices decrease)
means a loss in value over a period of time.
n
⎛ R ⎞
To increase a quantity by R% p.a. for n years, multiply it by ⎜1+ ⎟
⎝ 100 ⎠

n
⎛ R ⎞
To decrease a quantity by R% p.a. for n years, multiply it by ⎜1− ⎟
⎝ 100 ⎠

PERCENTAGE CHANGE p.a. n YEARS MULTIPLYING FACTOR

+5% (appreciation) 3 (1.05)3

–5% (depreciation) 7 (0.95)7

INVERSE PERCENTAGES

To calculate the original amount, divide by the multiplying factor.

• A sun-hat is sold at a discount of 25% for €15.

Find the original price of the sun-hat.
15
Let €p be the original price. p × 0.75 = 15 p= 0.75
= 20
Original price = €20

• A drone is sold for €1750 making a profit of 25%.

Find the original price of the drone.
1750
Let €p be the original price. p × 1.25 = 1750 p= = 1400
1.25
Original price = €1400
310 CHAPTER SUMMARY UNIT 5

CHAPTER SUMMARY: NUMBER 5

CALCULATORS ROUNDING, UPPER AND LOWER BOUNDS

Use the word BIDMAS to Measurements rounded to the nearest unit can be up
help you remember the to half a unit smaller or larger than the rounded value.
order of calculations. Longer
calculations will require If x = 10 (nearest integer), the exact value lies in the
brackets. Be familiar with region 9.5 ≤ x < 10.5 .
your calculator and use the
If y = 10.5 (1 d.p.), the exact value lies in the region
instruction booklet provided
10.45 ≤ y < 10.55 .
when you bought it.
The upper bound is half a unit larger than the rounded
measurement.
ESTIMATING
The lower bound is half a unit smaller than the
To estimate the answer to a calculation, including rounded measurement.
calculations involving powers, round numbers to 1 s.f.
and then perform the calculation. If z = 50 (nearest 10), the exact value lies in the region:
(lower bound) 45 ≤ z < 55 (upper bound)
For very large or very small numbers, it is often easier
If p = a × b (where a and b are rounded values) and
to estimate a calculation if the numbers are written in
pmin and pmax are the lower and upper bounds
standard form.
for p then

pmin = amin × bmin and pmax = amax × bmax

a
If q =   (where a and b are rounded values) and qmin
b
and qmax are the lower and upper bounds for q then
amin amax
qmin = and qmax =
bmax bmin