Unit 1 Functions and Relations: 1-1 Number Theory
Unit 1 Functions and Relations: 1-1 Number Theory
Unit 1 Functions and Relations: 1-1 Number Theory
1. 2 5 12 3
4 9 8 7 2
3
2.
8 4 6 12
3.
4 3
Order of Operations
Work the following examples without using your calculator.
1. 2 5 12 3 1. –6
4 9 8 7 2
3
2. 2. –60
8 4 6 12 6
3. 3.
4 3 7
Absolute Value
The absolute value of a real number a, denoted by |a|, is
the distance from 0 to a on the number line. This
distance is always taken to be nonnegative.
x if x 0
x
x if x 0
Absolute Value Properties
For all real numbers a and b:
1. a 0
2. a a
3. a b ab
a a
4. (b 0)
b b
5. ab a b
Absolute Value
Example: Rewrite each expression without absolute
value bars.
1. 3 1
2. 2
x
3. , if x 0
x
Absolute Value
Example: Rewrite each expression without absolute
value bars.
1. 3 1 1. 3 1
2. 2 2. – 2
x
3. , if x 0 3. –1
x
Rational Numbers
The Greeks, specifically Pythagoras of Samos, originally
believed that the lengths of all segments in geometric
objects could be expressed as ratios of positive integers.
A number is a rational number () if and only if it can be
expressed as the ratio (or quotient) of two integers.
Rational numbers include decimals as well as fractions.
The definition does not require that a rational number
must be written as a quotient of two integers, only that it
can be.
Examples
Example: Prove that the following numbers are
rational numbers by expressing them as ratios of
integers.
0.9
1. 2-4 4.
6.3
2. 64-½ 5. 20.3
4
3. 6. –5.4322986
Examples
Example: Prove that the following numbers are
rational numbers by expressing them as ratios of
integers.
1 0.9 1
1. 2-4 4.
16 6.3 7
1 1 61
2. 64-½ 5. 20.3 20
8 3 3
4 54322986
3. 4 6. –5.4322986
10000000
Irrational Numbers
Unfortunately, the Pythagoreans themselves later
discovered that the side of a square and its diagonal
could not be expressed as a ratio of integers.
Prove 2 is irrational.
Proof (by contradiction): Assume 2 is rational. This
means that there exist relatively prime integers a and b
such that
a a2
2 2 2
b b
2b2 a2 , therefore, a is even
Irrational Numbers
This means there is an integer j such that 2j=a.
2b 2 j
2 2
2b2 4 j 2
b2 2 j 2 b is even
If a and b are both even, then they are not relatively
prime. This is a contradiction. Therefore, 2 is
irrational.
-2 -1 1 2 x
2
-1
Real Numbers
In this way, if an irrational number can be identified
with a length, we can find a point on the number line
corresponding to it.
What this emphasizes is that the number line is
continuous—there are no gaps.
Intervals
Name of Inequality
Notation Number Line Representation
Interval Description
a b
finite, open
(a, b) a<x<b a b
a b
finite, closed
[a, b] axb
a b
a bb
finite, half-
open
(a, b] a<xb a b
[a, b) ax<b
a b
a b
infinite, open
(a, ) a < x <
a
(-, b) - < x < b
b
a b
infinite,
closed
[a, ) a x <
a
[-, b] -< x b
b
Finite and Repeating Decimals
If a nonnegative real number x can be expressed as a
finite sum of of the form
d1 d2 dt
x D 2 ... t
10 10 10
where D and each dn are nonnegative integers and
0 dn 9 for n = 1, 2, …, t, then D.d1d2…dt is the finite
decimal representing x.
Finite and Repeating Decimals
If the decimal representation of a rational number does
not terminate, then the decimal is periodic (or
repeating). The repeating string of numbers is called the
period of the decimal.
a
It turns out that for a rational number where b > 0,
the period is at most b – 1. b
Finite and Repeating Decimals
462
35.538461
13
3 1 9 1 153846 2
0.3 0.09 0.153846
9 3 99 11 999999 13
integer d1d2d3…dp.
Decimal Representation
For delayed-periodic decimals, the process is a little
more complicated. Consider the following:
1
What is the decimal representation of ? 0.083
12
1 1 1
is the product of what two fractions?
12 4 3
d1d2d3…dtdt+1dt+2dt+3…dt+p – d1d2d3…dt .
Decimal Representation
Example: Convert the decimal 0.467988654 to a
fraction.
Decimal Representation
Example: Convert the decimal 0.467988654 to a
fraction.
467988654 467 467988187
0.467988654
3 6
10 10 1
999999000
It’s possible this might reduce, but we can see that there
are no obvious common factors (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, or 10),
so it’s okay to leave it like this.