# Unit 1: Essential Skills ## Simple Arithmetics ### Addition / Subtraction | Expression | Equivalent| |:----------:|:---------:| | a + b | a + b | | (-a) + b | b - a | | a + (-b) | a - b | | (-a) + (-b) | -(a + b) | | a - b | a - b| | a - (-b) | a + b | | (-a) -(-b) | (-a) + b| ### Multiplication / Division | Signs | Outcome | |:-----:|:-------:| | a * b | Positive | | (-a) * b | Negative | | a * (-b) | Negative | | (-a) * (-b) | Positive | ### BEDMAS / PEMDAS - Follow ```BEDMAS``` for order of operations if there are more than one operation | Letter | Meaning | |:------:|:-------:| | B / P | Bracket / Parentheses | | E | Exponent | | D | Divison | | M | Multiplication | | A | Addition | | S | Subtraction | - ## Interval Notation - A notation that represents an interval as a pair of numbers. - The numbers in the interval represent the endpoint. E.g. **[x > 3, x ∈ R]** - ```|``` means ```such that``` - ```E``` or ∈ means ```element of``` - ```N``` represents **Natural Numbers** $`N = \{x | x \gt 0, x \isin \mathbb{Z} \}`$ - ```W``` represents **Whole Numbers** $`W = \{x | x \ge 0, x \isin \mathbb{Z}\}`$ - ```Z``` represents **Integers** $`Z = \{x| -\infin \le x \le \infin, x \isin \mathbb{Z}\}`$ - ```Q``` represents **Rational Numbers** $`Q = \{ \frac{a}{b} |a, b \isin \mathbb{Z}, b \neq 0 \}`$ | Symbol | Meaning | |:------:|:-------:| | (a, b) | Between but not including ```a``` or ```b```, you also use this for ```∞``` | | [a, b] | Inclusive | | a ∪ b | Union (or) | | a ∩ b | Intersection (and) | ## Pythgorean Theorem - a and b are the two legs of the triangle or two sides that form a 90 degree angle of the triangle, c is the hypotenuse - $`a^2+b^2=c^2`$ - ## Operations with Rationals - $`Q = \{ \frac{a}{b} |a, b \isin \mathbb{Z}, b \neq 0 \}`$ - Any operations with rationals, there are 2 sets of rules 1. ```Rules for operations with integers``` 2. ```Rules for operations with fractions``` - To Add / subtract rationals, find common denominator and then add / subtract numerator - To Multiply rationals, first reduce the fraction to their lowest terms, then multiply numerators and denominators - To Divide rationals, multiply them by the reciprocal ### Example Simplify Fully: - $` \frac{3}{4} \div \frac{2}{14} `$ Reduce to lowest terms - $` \frac{3}{4} \div \frac{1}{7} `$ Multiple by reciprocal - $` \frac{3}{4} \times 7 `$ - $` = \frac{21}{4}`$ Leave as improper fraction ### Shortcut for multiplying fractions - cross divide to keep your numbers small - Example: - $` \frac{3}{4} \times \frac{2}{12} `$ - $` \frac{1}{2} \times \frac{1}{4} `$ - $` = \frac{1}{8} `$ ## Exponent Laws | Rule | Description| Example | |:----:|:----------:|:-------:| |Product|am × an = an+m|23 × 22 = 25| |Quotient|am ÷ an = an-m|34 ÷ 32 = 32| |Power of a Power|(am)n = amn|(23)2 = 26| |Power of a Quotient| = | = | |Zero as Exponents|a0 = 1|210 = 1| |Negative Exponents|a-m = |1-10 = | |Rational Exponents|an/m = | = | **Note:** - Exponential Form --> Expanded Form - 64 = 6 × 6 × 6 × 6 ## Scientific Notation - They convey accuracy and precision. It can either be written as its original number or in scientific notation: - 555 (**Exact**) or $`5.55 \times 10^2`$ (**3 significant figures**). - In scientific notation, values are written in the form $`a(10^n)`$, where $`a`$ is a number within 1 and 10 and $`n`$ is any integer. - Some examples include the following: $`5.4 \times 10^3, 3.0 \times 10^2`$, and $`4.56 \times 10^{-4}`$. - When the number is smaller than 1, a negative exponent is used, when the number is bigger than 10, a positve exponent is used - - **Remember**: For scientific notation, round to ```3 significant``` digits ## Rates, Ratio and Percent - ```Ratio```: A comparison of quantities with the same unit. These are to be reduced to lowest terms. - Examples: ```a:b, a:b:c, a/b, a to b ``` - ```Rates```: A comparison of quantities expressed in different units. - Example: ```10km/hour``` - ```Percent```: A fraction or ratio in which the denominator is 100 - Examples: ```50%, 240/100``` ## Number Lines - a line that goes from a point to another point, a way to visualize set notations and the like - - A solid filled dot is used for ```[]``` and a empty dot is used for ```()``` ## Tips - Watch out for the ```+/-``` signs - Make sure to review your knowledge of the exponent laws - For scientific notation, watch out for the decimal point - Use shortcut when multiplying fractions