The Real and Complex

Number Systems
The Real Numbers

In arithmetic, we learned that any two counting numbers may be added or multiplied.

The sum of two counting numbers a and b is written as a + b.

The product of two counting numbers a and b may be written as:

𝒂 " 𝒃 ; 𝒂×𝒃 ; 𝒂 𝒃 ; 𝒂 𝒃 ; 𝒂 𝒃 ; 𝒂𝒃

Note that the sum and product of two counting numbers are defined. When three or more
counting numbers are added or multiplied, the result is obtained by adding or multiplying, two
counting numbers at a time.

𝟐+𝟑+𝟒= 𝟐+𝟑 +𝟒=𝟗

𝟐×𝟑×𝟒 = 𝟐×𝟑 ×𝟒 = 𝟐𝟒
The Real Numbers

When a and b are counting numbers with product ab, we say that a and b are factors of ab.

𝟑𝟐 = 𝟖×𝟒

A counting number greater than 1 is called a composite number if it has factors other that 1
and itself. Otherwise, the counting number is called a prime number.

The greatest common factor (GCF) of two counting numbers a and b is the largest counting
number which is a factor of both a and b.

The least common multiple (LCM) of two counting numbers a and b is the smallest counting
number for which a and b are both factors.
The Real Numbers

Counting numbers are also known as natural numbers or positive integers.

We define the negative integers as -1, -2, -3, …

The set of integers is defined to be the set consisting of the positive, negative integers, and
zero.

{… , −𝟑, −𝟐, −𝟏, 𝟎, 𝟏, 𝟐, 𝟑, … }

Adding, subtracting, multiplying two integers will result to another integer.

But dividing two integers will not always give an integer result.

The collection of numbers consisting of the positive and the negative integers, zero, and the
fractions is called the set of rational numbers.
The Real Numbers

𝟏 𝟏 𝟓
Examples: 𝟕 = 𝟕. 𝟐𝟎𝟎 … ; = 𝟎. 𝟐𝟓𝟎 … ; = 𝟏. 𝟔𝟔𝟔 …
𝟓 𝟒 𝟑

The examples above shows a repeating decimal, this property is shared by all rational
numbers.

When the repeating digit is 0, the repeating 0’s are dropped.

𝟏
Examples: 𝟐 = 𝟐. 𝟏𝟒𝟐𝟖𝟓𝟕 …
𝟕

𝟏
The example 𝟐 has nonrepeating and nonterminating decimals which makes it an
𝟕
irrational number.
The Real Numbers

Real Numbers

Irrational Numbers Rational Numbers

Integers Non-integers

Negative Zero Positive

Laws for Addition and Multiplication
1. Multiplication is commutative – the product of two numbers is the
same in whatever order they are multiplied
7×3 = 3×7 = 21
2. Multiplication is associative – the product of three or more
numbers is the same in whatever order they are multiplied
𝑎𝑏𝑐 = 𝑎𝑏 𝑐 = 𝑎𝑐 𝑏 = 𝑎(𝑏𝑐)
Laws for Addition and Multiplication
3. Addition is commutative – the sum of two numbers is the same in
whatever order they are added
5+3=3+5=8
4. Addition is associative – the sum of three or more numbers is the
same in whatever order they are grouped in adding
𝑎+𝑏+𝑐 =𝑎+ 𝑏+𝑐 =𝑎+ 𝑐+𝑏 =𝑎+𝑐+𝑏
5. Multiplication is distributive with respect to addition
𝑎 𝑏 + 𝑐 = 𝑎𝑏 + 𝑎𝑐
Signs of Grouping
Parenthesis (), Bracket [], Braces {} are used to enclose terms whose
sum is to act as a single number
Similar Terms
- Two terms with the same literal part are called similar terms
- The explicit number in a term 5abc is called the numerical coefficient
- To collect a sum of similar terms, add their numerical coefficients and
multiply the result by the common literal part
−9𝑎𝑏 + 4𝑎𝑏 = 𝑎𝑏 −9 + 4 = 𝑎𝑏 −5 = −5𝑎𝑏
Find the sum and difference of
3𝑎 − 5𝑦 − 8 and 3𝑦 − 2𝑎 − 6
Operations on Fractions
In arithmetic, if a, b, c, d are positive integers, the following equations
are specified to be true as definitions of equality, multiplication, and
addition, respectively, for a / b and c / d

8 :
= means that 𝑎𝑑 = 𝑏𝑐
9 ;
𝑎 𝑐 𝑎𝑐
× =
𝑏 𝑑 𝑏𝑑

𝑎 𝑐 𝑎𝑑 + 𝑏𝑐
+ =
𝑏 𝑑 𝑏𝑑
Operations on Fractions
The value of a fraction is not altered if both numerator and denominator
are multiplied, or divided, by the same number, not zero.

5 5×3 15
= =
7 7×3 21

36 36 ÷ 12 3
= =
84 84 ÷ 12 7
Operations on Fractions
To reduce the fraction to lowest terms, divide numerator and
denominator by all their common factors
<8:= <=
>8:?
= >? (Divide out ac)
To multiply one fraction by another, multiply the numerator for a new
numerator, and the denominators for a new denominator
3 6 18
× =
5 7 35
Operations on Fractions
To divide one fraction by another, invert the divisor and multiply the
dividend by this inverted divisor
@ A @ >
<
÷ >
= ×
< A
To multiply a fraction by a number, multiply the numerator by the
number. To divide a fraction by a number, multiply the denominator by
the number
5 4 6 24
4× = × =
6 1 5 5
Exercises
Express the result by use of a fraction in lowest terms without a minus
sign in numerator or denominator.
A B <
1. < >
× ×@
<C
2. !"#
$
A;
3. 5𝑑 ÷ :
Positive Integral Exponents
Index Laws
1. In multiplying two powers of the same base, add the exponents
𝑎D 𝑎E = 𝑎DFE
2. In obtaining a power of a power, multiply the exponents
𝑎D E = 𝑎DE
3. To obtain a power of a power of a product, raise each factor of the
product to the specified power and multiply
(𝑎𝑏𝑐)E = 𝑎E 𝑏 E 𝑐 E
Positive Integral Exponents
Index Laws
4. To obtain a power of a fraction, raise the numerator and denominator
to the specified power and divide
8 E 8%
=
9 9%
5. In dividing one power of a specified base by another power of the
base, subtract the exponents
8& DGE 8& H
=𝑎 𝑖𝑓 𝑚 > 𝑛; = 𝑖𝑓 𝑚 > 𝑛
8% 8% 8 %'&
Exercises
1. (𝑎B 𝑥)A
B
=(
2. ?)
B
B8 ( = )
3. I8 ) =