GE 104:

Mathematics
in
the
Modern World

MODULE 2
 Set of Real Numbers
Natural Numbers (N )
1, 2, 3, 4, 5 …….+ numbers R I
Whole Numbers (W )
0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 …….+ numbers
Integers (Z ) Z
- numbers -2, -1, 0, 1, 2, …….+ numbers
W
Rational Numbers (R )
[ 0.33.., 1.25, -4, 0, 5.2727..
Irrational Numbers (I )
N

 
√ 2 , 𝜋 , 1.4142 …
 Addition and Multiplication of Real Numbers

Addition: Example:
 

+  
+

Multiplications: Example:
   
• •
Subtraction and Division of Real Numbers

Subtraction:

a – b = a + (-b)

Division:

a÷b=a •
 
THEOREM 1: Properties of Negatives
THEOREM 2: Zero Properties
THEOREM 3: Fraction Properties
Exponents
and
Radicals
 Integer Exponents

Exponents
 
6
𝑎 ¿𝑎.𝑎.𝑎.𝑎.𝑎.𝑎
 

Base
Relationship Exponents and Radicals

 
𝑚/ 𝑛 𝑛 𝑚
𝑎 =√𝑎
Examples:
 
1 /2 2
6 =√ 6
 
− 5/ 3 3 −5
14 = √ (14)
 , n an Integer and a a Real Number
Example: Using the Definition of Integer Exponents
Write parts (A) and (B) in decimal form and parts (C) and (D) using
positive exponents. Assume all variables represent nonzero real
numbers.
Solution:
THEOREM 1: Properties of Integer Exponent
Example: Using Exponent Properties.
Simplify using exponent properties, and express answers using positive exponents only
Solution:
 Radical Expression
Index

3
 

√𝑥−4
Radical Symbol
Radicand
Roots of Real Numbers
Example: Principal nth Roots
Solution:
Rational Exponents and Radicals
THEOREM 3: Rational Exponent/Radical Property
Example: Using Rational Exponents and Radicals
Simplify and express answers using positive exponents only. All letters represent positive real
numbers.
Solution:
 THEOREM 4: Properties of Radicals

• For n a natural number greater than 1, and x and y positive real

numbers:
 Simplified (Radical) Form

1. No radicand (the expression within the radical sign) contains a

factor to a power greater than or equal to the index of the
radical.
2. No power of the radicand and the index of the radical have a
common factor other than 1.
3. No radical appears in a denominator.
4. No fraction appears within a radical.
Example: Finding Simplified Form
Solution:
5 2 5 2 1 /2
√ 12 𝑥
 
𝑦 =(12 𝑥 𝑦 )
  1 1
5( ) 2( )
1 /2 2 2
¿(12 𝑥 𝑦 )
1/ 2 5/ 2 1 1
 
¿ 12 𝑥 𝑦  
𝑥2 ∙ 𝑥 = 𝑥
2
2+
2
= 𝑥 5 /2
 ¿(3 • 4)1/ 2 𝑥 2 ∙ 𝑥 1/ 2 𝑦
12=3 𝑥 4
 

  1 1
¿ 2 2
¿(3 ¿ 1 /2 ∙ 4 ) 𝑥 ∙ 𝑥 𝑦 ¿ 2

  1
2 2
¿(3¿¿ 1 /2 ∙ 2) 𝑥 ∙ 𝑥 𝑦 ¿
2
 
¿ √ 3∙ 2 𝑥 √ 𝑥 𝑦
2
 
¿ 2 𝑥 𝑦 √ 3 𝑥 𝑎𝑛𝑠𝑤𝑒𝑟
   1
4( )
4 1 1 /3 3
 
8𝑥 3 8 𝑥
¿( ) ¿( 1/ 3
)
𝑦 𝑦
  4
3
2𝑥
¿( 1/ 3 ) 1 1 4
𝑦  
3
1+
3 3
  1
3 2 /3
𝑥 · 𝑥 =𝑥 =𝑥
2𝑥 ·𝑥 · 𝑦 2 /3
¿( )  
𝑦 1 1
𝑦 = 2
= 1/ 3
3
𝑦 1−
3 𝑦
 
2 𝑥 √𝑥 𝑦
2 𝑦
¿ 𝑎𝑛𝑠𝑤𝑒𝑟
𝑦
•Eliminating
  a radical from a denominator in is called
rationalizing the denominator. To rationalize the
denominator, we multiply the numerator and denominator
by a suitable factor that will leave the denominator free of
radicals. This factor is called a rationalizing factor. If the
denominator is of the form then is a rationalizing factor
because

Similarly, if the denominator is of the form , then is a

rationalizing factor.
Example: Rationalizing Denominators
Rationalize the denominator and write the answer in simplified
radical form
Solution:
The End !!!
See you
next
meeting