Operations on
Real Numbers
Operations on Real Numbers
Real Numbers can be combined using the familiar operations:
Addition
Subtraction
Multiplication
Division
Order of Operations on Real Numbers
When evaluation arithmetic expressions that contain
several of these operations, we use the following
convention to determine the order in which
operations are performed.
Order of Operations on Real Numbers
1.
Perform operations inside parenthesis 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.
Order of Operations on Real Numbers
2.
Perform all multiplication and division
Working from left to right.
3.
Perform all addition and subtraction
Working from left to right.
Evaluating an Arithmetic Expression
Find the value of the expression
Evaluating an Arithmetic Expression
First we evaluate the numerator and denominator of the quotient
Recall, these are treated as if they are inside parentheses
Properties of
Real Numbers
Commutative Property
a+b=b+a
ab = ba
when we add or multiply two numbers, the order
of addition or multiplication doesnt matter.
Associative Property
(a + b) + c = a + (b + c)
(ab)c = a(bc)
when we add or multiply three numbers, it doesnt
matter which two we add or multiply first.
Distributive Property
Whenever we multiply
a number by a sum.
2 (3 + 5)
2x3
2x5
Using the properties
Example (a)
2 + (3 + 7)
= 2 + (7 + 3)
(Commutative Property of Addition)
= (2 + 7) + 3
(Associative Property of Addition)
Using the properties
Example (b)
2(x + 3)
= 2(x) + 2(3)
= 2x + 6
(Distributive Property)
(Simplify)
Using the properties
Example (c)
(a + b)(x + y)
= x(a + b) + y(a + b)
(Distributive Property)
= (ax + bx) + (ay + by)
(Distributive Property)
= ax + bx + ay + by
(Associative Property)
Addition and
Subtraction
Additive Identity
The number 0 is special for addition.
It is called the ADDITIVE IDENTITY.
Subtraction
Every real number a has a negative,
-a, that satisfies a + (-a) = 0.
Subtraction undoes addition.