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UNIT I. Real Numbers and Real Line

A. Sets and Notation
1. Relations on Sets
2. Operations on sets
3. Subsets of real numbers
B. The Real Number System
1. Operations on the real number system
2. Axioms of the real number system
3. Interval Notation
4. Integer Exponents

Introduction to Real Numbers and Real Line

A real numbers are simply the combination of rational and irrational numbers, in the number
system. In general, all the arithmetic operations can be performed on these numbers and they can be
represented in the number line, also.
A real number line, or simply number line, allows us to visually display real numbers by
associating them with unique points on a line. The real number associated with a point is called a
coordinate. A point on the real number line that is associated with a coordinate is called its graph.

LEARNING OBJECTIVES

At the end of this lesson, you will be able to:

1. Illustrate sets and sets operations of real numbers using Venn diagram and interval notation.
2. Classify a real number as a natural, whole, integer, rational, or irrational number.
3. Use the following properties of real numbers: commutative, associative, distributive, inverse, and
identity.
4. Discuss notations on intervals and absolute value of real numbers using the number line.

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PRESENTATION OF CONTENT
A. Sets and Notation

A set is a well-defined collection of distinct(distinguishable) objects called elements.

For example
D = {0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9}
In this notation, the braces { } are used to enclose the objects, or elements, in the set. This method of
denoting a set is called the roster method. A second way to denote a set is to use set-builder notation,
where the set D of digits above is written as

1. Relations on Sets
Relations and Their Properties

 Binary Relation
Let A, B be any sets. A binary relation R from A to B, written R: A x B, is a subset of the set A x B.

 Complementary Relation
Let R be the binary relation from A to B. Then the complement of R can be defined by R = {(a, b) |
(a, b) R} = (A x B) – R.

 Inverse Relation
Let R be the binary relation from A to B. Then the inverse of R can be defined by
R-1 = {(b, a) | (a, b) R}

Relations on a Set
A relation on a set A is a relation from A to A. In other words, a relation on a set A is a subset of A x A.

 Digraph
A directed graph, or digraph, consists of a set V of vertices (or nodes) together with a set E of
ordered pairs of element of V called edges (or arcs). The vertex a is called the initial vertex of
the edge (a, b), and the vertex b is called the terminal vertex of this edge.

Properties
 Reflexive: A relation R on a set A is called reflexive if (a, a) R for every element a A.
a Every vertex has a self-loop.

 Symmetric: A relation R on a set A is called symmetric if (b, a) R whenever (a, b) R, for all
a, b A.

a b

If there is an edge from one vertex to another, there is an edge in the opposite
direction.

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 Antisymmetric: A relation R on a set A such that for all a, b A, if (a, b) R and (b, a) R,
then a = b is called antisymmetric.

a b
There is at most one edge between distinct vertices.

 Transitive: A relation R on a set A is called transitive if whenever (a, b) R and (b, c) R,

then (a, c) R, for all a, b, c A.

a b

c
If there is a path from one vertex to another, there is an edge from the vertex to
another.

2. Operations on Sets

Set Operations
1) Complement
2) Union
3) Product
4) Intersection
5) Difference

1. Complement of the Set

The complement of a set A is the set of all elements in the universal set U, but not in A.

A’ or Ac
“The complement of A” or “A complement”

Example:
Let U = {1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6}, A = {1, 2, 3}. Find A’.

Solution:
A’ = {4, 5, 6}

DeMorgan’s Laws for Set mathematics:

For any sets S, T:

(S U T)’ = S’ ∩ T’ (S ∩ T)’ = S’ U T’

2. Union of Sets
The union of two sets is a set containing all elements that are in A or in B or in both A and B.

AUB
“A union B”

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Example:
Let A = {l, o, v, e}, B = {o, v, e, r}. Find A U B.
Solution:
A U B = {l, o, v, e, r}

3. Product of two sets

A Cartesian product of two sets A and B is the set containing ordered pairs from A and B.

AxB
“A cross B”
Example:
Let A = {1, 2, 3}, B = {c, d}. Find A x B.
Solution:
A x B = {(1c), (1d), (2c), (2d), (3c), (3d)}

4. Intersection of Sets
The intersection of two sets A and B is the set that contains all elements of A that also belong to B.
A∩B
“A intersection B”

Example 1:
Let A = {d, a, n, g, e, r}, B = {s, t, r, a, n, g, e}. Find A ∩ B.
Solution:
A ∩ B = {a, n, g, e, r}

Example 2:
Let A = {1, 3, 5}, B = {2, 4}. Find A ∩ B.
Solution:
A∩B={} No element in common (Disjoint sets)

5. Difference of Sets
The difference of two sets is the set of all elements of A that are not elements of B.

A–B
“A minus B”
Example:
Let A = {f, a, t, e}, B = {f, a, t}. Find A – B.
Solution:
A – B = {e}

Venn diagram represent sets as circles enclosed in a rectangle, which represents the Universal set.

Note: The bar symbol at the top of Ā is another symbol for complement. Remember from the previous
topic about sets that the symbol for complement is either ’ or c.

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3. Subsets of Real Numbers

The subsets of the real numbers can be represented in a flow chart as follows:

The table below describes important subsets of the real numbers.

Real Numbers Any number that can be expressed as a Examples: 8, 4.67, −13, π
decimal. Symbol: ℝ
Rational Numbers Any number that can be written as a fraction, p / q, Examples: −5/9, 1/8, 1.3,
where p and q are integers. In decimal form, these 16/4, 0.124
are terminating decimals, and non-terminating,
repeating decimals. Symbol: Q
3
Irrational Numbers When written as a decimal, these numbers do not Examples: e, π, −√2, √5
terminate or repeat. Symbol: I (although this is not
universally used to represent the irrational
numbers)
Integers All counting numbers, their negatives, and zero. Examples: -65, 0, 192
The set {..., -3, -2, -1, 0, 1, 2, 3, ...}. Symbol: ℤ
Whole Numbers All positive counting numbers and zero. The set {0, Examples: 0, 5, 12, 78
1, 2, 3, ...}. Symbol: W
Natural Numbers All positive counting numbers. The set {1, 2, 3, Examples: 11, 59
...}. Symbol: N

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 Properties of Real Numbers

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 Absolute Value

Absolute value refers to the distance of a point from zero or origin on the number line, regardless
of the direction. The absolute value of a number is always positive.
Absolute value of a number is denoted by two vertical lines enclosing the number or expression.
For example, the absolute value of number 5 is written as, |5| = 5. This mean that, distance from 0 is 5 units:
Similarly, the absolute value of a negative 5 is denoted as, |-5| = 5. This means that, distance from 0 is 5
units:
An easy way of representing expression with inequalities is by following the following rules.
 For |x| < 5, -5 < x < 5
 For |x| = 5, -5 = x = 5
 For |x + 6| < 5, -5 < x + 6 < 5

 Properties of Absolute Value

Absolute value has the following fundamental properties:

Property Mathematical representation

Non-negativity |a| ≥ 0
Positive-definiteness |a| = 0, a = 0
Multiplicativity |ab| = |a| |b|
Subadditivity |a + b| ≤ |a| + |b|
Idempotence ||a|| = |a|
Symmetry |−a| = |a|
Identity of indiscernible |a − b| = 0 ⇔ a = b
Triangle inequality |a − b| ≤ |a − c| + |c − b|
Preservation of division |a/b|=|a|/|b| if b ≠ 0

Example 1
Solve the following problems:
a) Solve | –9|
Solution:
| –9| = 9
b) Simplify | 0 – 8 |.
Solution:
| 0 – 8 | = | –8 | = 8
c) Solve | 9 – 3 |.
Solution:
| 9 – 3 | = | 6| = 6
d) Simplify | 3 – 7 |.
Solution:
| 3 – 7 | = | –4 | = 4
e) Workout | 0 (–12) |.
Solution:
| 0(–12) | = | 0 | = 0
f) Simplify | 6 + 2 (–2) |.
Solution:
| 6 + 2(–2) | = | 6 – 4 | = | 2| = 2
g) Solve – | – 6 |.
Solution:
– | – 6| = – (6) = – 6

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B. The Real Number System

1. Operations on the real number system

Real numbers can be combined by using the familiar operations of addition, subtraction,
multiplication, and division. When evaluating arithmetic expressions that contain several of these
operations, we use the following conventions to determine the order in which the operations are
performed:
1. Perform operations inside parentheses first, beginning with the innermost pair. In dividing two
expressions, the numerator and denominator of the quotient are treated as if they are within
parentheses.
2. Perform all multiplications and divisions, working from left to right.
3. Perform all additions and subtractions, working from left to right.
2. Axioms of the real number system

An Axiom is a mathematical statement that is assumed to be true. There are five basic axioms of algebra.
The axioms are the reflexive axiom, symmetric axiom, transitive axiom, additive axiom and multiplicative
axiom.

1. Reflexive Axiom: A number is equal to itself. (e.g. a = a). This is the first axiom of equality.

2. Symmetric Axiom: Numbers are symmetric around the equals sign. If a = b then b = a. This is the
second axiom of equality.

3. Transitive Axiom: If a = b and b = c then a = c. This is the third axiom of equality. This is directly
related Euclid's Common Notion One: "Things equal to the same thing are equal to each other."

4. Additive Axiom: If a = b then a + c = b + c. If two quantities are equal and an equal amount is
added to each, they are still equal. This is sometimes called "the addition property of equality."

5. Multiplicative Axiom: If a = b then ac = bc. Since multiplication is just repeated addition, the
multiplicative axiom follows from the additive axiom. It is sometimes called "the multiplication
property of equality."

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3. Interval Notation

Notation is a series or system of written symbols used to represent numbers, amounts, or elements in
mathematics.
Interval notation is a way of writing subsets of the real number line.

A closed interval is one that includes its endpoints: for example, the set {x | −3 ≤ x ≤ 1}.

To write this interval in interval notation, we use closed brackets [ ]: [−3, 1]

An open interval is one that does not include its endpoints, for example, {x | −3 < x < 1}.

To write this interval in interval notation, use parentheses: (−3, 1)

You can also have intervals which are half-open and half-closed: [−2, 4)

You can also use interval notation together with the set union operator to write subsets of the number line
made up of more than one interval:

[−4, −2] ∪ (−1, 1) ∪ (1, 2] ∪ {4}

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4. Integer Exponents

Integer Exponents and Rules of Exponents

Formula:
1
x -1 =
x

1
x -n =
xn

Examples:

1
1. 3 -1 =
3

1 1
2. 2 -3 = =
23 8

Formula:

x0 = 1 for all nonzero x.

Exponent
Rule 1

Addition Rule
xn xm = xn+ m
Examples:
1. 23 25 = 23 + 5 = 28
2. w2 w3 = w5
3. xy2 x3y3x4y4 = x8y9
Rule 2

The Power Rule

(xn)m = xnm
Examples:
1. (24)2 = 28
2. (x2)3 = x6
3. 42 23 8 = (22)2 23 23 = 24 23 23 = 210

Rule 3

The Distributive Rule

(xy)n = xnyn
Examples:
1. (6)4 = (2)4(3)4
2. (3x2)3 = 33 (x2)3 = 27 x6
3. (-x3)4 = (-1)4 (x3)4 = (1) (x12) = x12

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Rule 4

The Quotient to Difference Rule

For x not equal to 0,

xn
= xn-m
m
x

Examples
1. x3
= x3-2 = x1 = x
2
x

2. x4 1
= x4 - 8 = x-4 =
x8 x4

APPLICATION
I. Plot the two real numbers on the real number line. Then place the appropriate inequality symbol (< or
>) between them.

1. -4, -8
2. 3/2, 7
3. 5/6, 2/3

FEEDBACK

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REFERENCES:

Larson, R. & Falvo D. (2011). Algebra and Trigonometry. 8th Edition, Brooks/Cole, Cengage Learning,
United States of America.

Sullivan, M. (2012). Algebra and Trigonometry. 9th Edition, Prentice Hall, Pearson Education, Inc.

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