Unit 1: Real Numbers. Mathematics 4th E.S.O. Teacher: Miguel Angel Hernández Lorenzo.

UNIT 1: REAL NUMBERS.

Sets of Numbers:

Natural Numbers: ℕ={0,1,2 ,3 , 4,5, 6,...}

In English books of Maths, the set of natural numbers is {1,2 ,3 ,4 ,...} , while the set of whole
numbers is {0,1,2 ,3 ,4 , ...} , so there is a tiny difference between both sets, including or not the
number zero.

Integers: ℤ={... ,−3,−2,−1,0 ,1 ,2,3 ,...}

The set of integers is formed by the natural numbers including zero and the negatives, the opposites
of the natural numbers.

Rational Numbers: ℚ= { ab , where a , b∈ℤ , b≠0}

Rational numbers the fractions. All number that can be written as a fraction is a rational number.
Every fraction, that is, every rational number, has a decimal expression (we can get it dividing the
numerator by the denominator). The different types of the decimal expression of the rational
numbers are:

– An exact or terminating number is one which does not go on forever, so you can write
2
down all its digits. For example: =0,4
5
– A recurring, periodic or repeating decimal is a decimal number which does go on forever,
but where some of the digits are repeated over and over again. For example:
0,125252525...=0,1 25 
We can distinguish:
- Decimals that the repeating part or period starts just after the decimal point (pure periodic
2
or recurring decimal). For example: =0,6666...=0, 6
3
- Decimals that the repeating part or period does not start just after the decimal point (mixed
1
periodic or recurring decimal). For example: =0,16666...=0,1 6
6

Irrational Numbers: I . Irrational numbers have decimal expressions that neither terminate nor
become periodic.

Examples: 2 , 3 , 5 …
π=3,141592 …
1,030030003...
2,010011000111...

1
Unit 1: Real Numbers. Mathematics 4th E.S.O. Teacher: Miguel Angel Hernández Lorenzo.

Real Numbers: ℝ=ℚ∪I

The real numbers include both rational numbers,

such as 24 or −43/127 , and irrational numbers
such as π or  7 .

Your Turn

Classify the following numbers into the corresponding set:

7 -6 21 3,7373... 20  13 0,04343... 1,131331333... − 3 -8765

5 5 4
Natural
Numbers
ℕ
Integers
ℤ
Rational
Numbers
ℚ
Irrational
Numbers
I
Real
Numbers
ℝ

2
Unit 1: Real Numbers. Mathematics 4th E.S.O. Teacher: Miguel Angel Hernández Lorenzo.

Rational Numbers:

As we know, the set of rational numbers is formed by all numbers that can be written as a fraction
a
, where a and b are integers and b is not 0.
b

Converting a fraction into a decimal:

To calculate the decimal expression of a fraction, we divide numerator by denominator. We can

obtain an integer (if the numerator is a multiple of the denominator) or a decimal number of the
following types:

An exact or terminating decimal, if after the simplification of the fraction the denominator only
has as prime factors either 2 or 5.

A pure periodic decimal, if after the simplification of the fraction, 2 and 5 are not factors of the
denominator.

A mixed periodic decimal, if after the simplification of the fraction, 2 and/or 5 are prime factors of
the denominator, and it has other prime factors.

Your Turn

Without doing the division, try to say what kind of decimal the following fractions generate:

3 7 9
a) b) c)
20 3 2

5 3 16
d) e) f)
12 15 30

4 3 5
g) h) i)
25 75 21

3
Unit 1: Real Numbers. Mathematics 4th E.S.O. Teacher: Miguel Angel Hernández Lorenzo.

Converting decimal numbres into fractions:

• Exact or terminating decimals: Write on the numerator the number without decimal point
and on the denominator the unit followed by as many “zeroes” as decimal digits the number
has.

17 246 123
Examples: 0,017= 2,46= =
1000 100 50

• Pure periodic decimals: Write on the numerator the number without decimal point and
subtract the whole part of the number. Then, write on the denominator as many “nines” as
decimal digits the “repeating part” of the numbers has.

12−1 11 32−0 32
Examples: 1,2222...=1, 2 = = 0,323232...=0, 32= =
9 9 99 99

• Mixed periodic decimals: Write on the numerator the number without decimal point and
subtract the whole part of the number followed by the “non repeating part”. Then, write on
the denominator as many “nines” as decimal digits the “repeating part” of the number has,
followed by as many zeroes as decimal digits the “non repeating part” has.

1023−10 1013
Examples: 1,0232323...=1,0 
23= =
990 990

123−12 111 37
0,123333...=0,12 3= = =
900 900 300

Your Turn

Convert into fractions the following decimal numbers:

a) 1,2 b) 0, 7 c) 0,66

d) 1,1 6 e) 1, 
72 f) 0,45

g) 0,1 
56 h) 2, 
795 i) 0,00 3

Be careful with the numbers whose repeating part is 9:

2, 9 10, 9

4
Unit 1: Real Numbers. Mathematics 4th E.S.O. Teacher: Miguel Angel Hernández Lorenzo.

Irrational numbers: A number is irrational if it cannot be expressed as a fraction. Its decimal

expression has an infinite number of digits that are not regularly repeated.

Example: Calculate the diagonal of a square whose side is 1 cm long.

d 1 cm

1 cm

Example: Which of the following numbers are either rational or irrational?

a) 1,232323... b) 1,232232223... c) 1,2232323...

d) 1,232233... e) 1,11213213... f) 0,122333...

Real Numbers: The set of real numbers ℝ is formed by the set of rational numbers ℚ and
the set of irrational numbers I.

ℝ=ℚ∪I

Real numbers ℝ
{ Racional numbers ℚ
{ {
Integers ℤ Natural Numbersℕ
Negative Integers
Terminating and Periodic decimals
Irrational Numbers I

Order in ℝ :

Given two different real numbers, a and b:

• a is less than b, and we write ab , when b−a is positive.

• a is greater than b, and we write ab , when b−a is negative.

5
Unit 1: Real Numbers. Mathematics 4th E.S.O. Teacher: Miguel Angel Hernández Lorenzo.

Properties of real numbers:

Properties Addiction Multiplication

Associative abc=abc a · b· c=a ·b · c 
Identity element a0=0a=a a ·1=1 · a=a
Opposite/Inverse element a−a=0
a·  1
a
=1

Commutative ab=ba a ·b=b · a

Distributive a ·bc=a · ba · c

Extracting common factor:

Using the distributivity of real numbers: a ·ba · c=a · bc , we can extract common factor to
do easily some operations:

Examples: Extract common factor and operate these expressions:

a) 63+27

2 3 2 1 3 2
b) · − ·  ·
5 4 5 5 10 5

1 3 1 1 5
c) − · − ·
2 5 2 2 7

Your Turn

1. Order each set of decimals from lowest to highest:

a) 1,552 1,255 1,522 1,525 1,225 1,252

b) 0,03 1 
0,0 31 0, 
031 0,031

c) 7,33 5 7,3 5 7, 5 7,5 3 7, 3 7,3 ̂

35

6
Unit 1: Real Numbers. Mathematics 4th E.S.O. Teacher: Miguel Angel Hernández Lorenzo.

2. Order each set of decimals from greatest to least:

a) 3,475 3,447 3,744 3,444 3,457

b) 0,92 0,9 2 
0, 92 0, 2 0, 
922

c) 5,9 ̂
17 5,9 
71 5,97 1 5,91 7 5, 
917

3. Extract common factor and operate these expressions:

a) 102030405060708090

2 5 2
b) · 3− · 25·
7 7 7

1 3
c) · 7−7 · 27 ·
4 2

1 1 5 1 1 1 4
d) ·  · −  ·
3 2 6 3 3 3 3

Real Line:

The real numbers may be thought of as points on an infinitely long number line. Each point of the
real line corresponds to a real number, and each real number corresponds to a point of the real line.

Representing rational numbers on the real line:

Examples:

3 5
7 3
−3 14
8 3
−5 −8
2 5

7
Unit 1: Real Numbers. Mathematics 4th E.S.O. Teacher: Miguel Angel Hernández Lorenzo.

Representing irrational numbers on the real line:

Examples:

2 5

 10 3

 13 6

Approximations: An approximation of a number is a representation of this number that is not

exact, but still close enough to be useful.

Approximation Methods:

Truncation: We only consider the digits until an order.

Examples: Approximate by truncation to the hundredths the following numbers:

1,2345 0,03968 1, 
382 
0,0 53

Rounding: The figures are deleted from a considered order, and the last figure is increased by one
unit if the following digit is greater than or equal to 5.

Examples: Rounding off to the nearest thousandths the following numbers:

1,2345 0,03968 1, 
382 
0,0 53

Absolute Error and Relative Error: The approximation error in some data is the discrepancy
between an exact value and some approximation to it; an approximation error can occur because

1. The measurement of the data is not precise (due to the instruments), or

2. approximations are used instead of the real data (3,14 instead of π).

One commonly distinguishes between the absolute error and the relative error. The absolute error
is the magnitude of the difference between the exact value and the approximation. The relative error
is the absolute error divided by the magnitude of the exact value.

Absolute Error: E a =∣V Exact −V Approx.∣ Relative Error: Er=

∣ ∣
Ea
V Exact

8
Unit 1: Real Numbers. Mathematics 4th E.S.O. Teacher: Miguel Angel Hernández Lorenzo.

Examples:

a) The height of a house is 4,7 m. If we say the height of the house is 5 m, calculate the absolute
error and the relative error of this approximation.

b) The height of a skyscraper is 115,3 m. If we say the height of the skyscraper is 115 m, calculate
the absolute error and the relative error of this approximation.

Your Turn

1. Skeeter, the dog, weighs exactly 36,5 pounds. When weighed on a defective scale, he
weighed 38 pounds.
a) What is the absolute error and the relative error in measurement of the defective scale?
b) If Millie, the cat , weighs 14 pounds on the same defective scale, what is Millie's actual
weight?

2. The actual length of this field is 500 feet. A measurement instrument shows the length to be
508 feet. Find:
a) The absolute error in the measured length of the field.
b) The relative error in the measured length of the field.
250 feet
c) The percentage error on the measured length of the field.

500 feet

3. Find the absolute and relative error of the approximation 3,14 to the value π.

9
Unit 1: Real Numbers. Mathematics 4th E.S.O. Teacher: Miguel Angel Hernández Lorenzo.

Intervals:

A real interval is a subset of real numbers that corresponds to the points of a segment or a half-line
on the real line.

INTERVAL NOTATION SET NOTATION GEOMETRIC CLASSIFICATION

PICTURE
a , b {x∈ℝ :a xb} Finite; open
a b
[a , b] {x∈ℝ : axb} Finite; closed
a b
 a ,b] {x∈ℝ : axb} Finite; half-open
a b
[ a , b {x∈ℝ : axb} Finite; half-open
a b
a ,∞ {x∈ℝ : ax } Infinite; open
a
[ a ,∞  {x∈ℝ : ax } Infinite; closed
a
−∞ , b {x∈ℝ : x b} Infinite, open
b
 −∞ ,b ] {x∈ℝ : x b} Infinite; closed
b
−∞ ,∞ ℝ Infinite; open and
closed

Examples: Write as intervals and represent on the real line the following set of numbers:

a) Greater than -3 and less than 1

b) Greater or equal than 4.

c) Less than 0.

d) Less or equal than -1.

e) Greater than -1.

f) Greater or equal than -2 and less than 3.

10
Unit 1: Real Numbers. Mathematics 4th E.S.O. Teacher: Miguel Angel Hernández Lorenzo.

Your Turn

1. Represent on the real line and write as intervals the following set:

a) {x∈ℝ : x −2} b) {x∈ℝ : x 6}

c) {x∈ℝ :3x5} d) {x∈ℝ :0x3}

2. Write as intervals and represent on the real line:

a) ∣x∣2 b) ∣x∣2 c) ∣x∣2

Union and intersection of intervals: Given two intervals, the relations between them are called
union and intersection.
• The union of two intervals, A and B, is the set of elements that belong to either A or B. We
write A∪B .
• The intersection of two intervals, A and B, is th set of elements that belong to A and B. We
write A∩B .

Examples: Calculate the union and intersection of the following pair of sets:

a) A=[-5,1], B=(-3,3] b) I=[-2,6], J=(-2,+∞)

c) M=(-∞,-5], N=[-5,1) d) C=(-∞, 3], D=(3,5]

11
Unit 1: Real Numbers. Mathematics 4th E.S.O. Teacher: Miguel Angel Hernández Lorenzo.

Percentages: A percentage is a ratio to 100. The percentage a of a quantity C is calculated

dividing by 100 and multiplying by a:

a
a% of C = ·C
100

Percentage increase-decrease: It can be done in two steps:

1. Calculate the % of the quantity.

2. Add or subtract the percentage to the original quantity.

Examples:

1. A pair of socks went from $5 to $6. What is the percentage change?

2. There were 150 balls in a box yesterday, but now there are 116. What is the percentage change?

3. In January Dylan worked a total of 35 hours, in February he worked 45,5 hours. By what
percentage did Dylan’s working hours incease in February?

4. In March Dylan worked 35 hours again, the same as he did in January. What is the percentage
difference between Dylan’s February hours (45,5) and his March hours (35)?

Simple and Compound Interest:

SIMPLE INTEREST COMPOUND INTEREST

t
r
I=
C·r·t (
C F =C I 1+
100 )
100
C F = Ending Balance
I=interest C I = Principal
C=investent (principal) r=interest rate
r=interest rate t=time (years)
t=time (rate) I =C F −C I

12
Unit 1: Real Numbers. Mathematics 4th E.S.O. Teacher: Miguel Angel Hernández Lorenzo.

Examples:

1. Find the simple interest earned on $ 2800 deposited in a bank at 2% annual interest after 5 years.

2. Find the balance on a deposit of $ 18, earned 4% interest compound annually for 4 years.

3. Marissa deposited $ 900 in her saving account. The rate of simple interest is 5% per year. Find
the balance at the end of 4 years.

4. A credit card company charges compond interest annually on any unpaid debts at 8%. Mr. Brian
now has outstanding debt of $ 4200. What will be his outstanding debt 3 years from now?

Keywords:

addition / sum = adición, suma subtraction / difference = resta, diferencia

multiplication / product = multiplicación, producto
division / quotient = división, cociente set of numbers = conjunto numérico
Natural numbers = Números Naturales Integers = Números Enteros
Rational Numbers = Números Racionales fraction = fración
exact or terminating decimal = decimal exacto
pure periodic decimal= decimal periódico puro
mixed periodic decimal= decimal periódico mixto
Irrational numbers = Números Irracionales Real numbers = Números Reales
to be included = estar incluido factor / divisor = factor, divisor
multiple = múltiplo
Highest Common Factor (UK) / Greatest Common Factor (USA) = Máximo Común
Divisor
Lowest Common Multiple (UK) / Least Common Factor (USA) = Mínimo Común
Múltiplo
diagonal = diagonal square = cuadrado height = altura
weight = peso to weigh = pesar measurement = medida
to measure = medir rectangle = rectángulo triangle = triángulo

13
Unit 1: Real Numbers. Mathematics 4th E.S.O. Teacher: Miguel Angel Hernández Lorenzo.

a is less than b ab = a es menor que b

a is less or equal than b ab = a es menor o igual que b
a is greatest than b ab = a es mayor que b
a is less or equal than b ab = a es mayor o igual que b
to order from lowest to highest (UK) = ordenar de menor a mayor
to order from least to greatest(USA) = ordenar de menor a mayor
Associative property = Propiedad asociativa
Commutative property = Propiedad conmutativa
Distributive property = Propiedad distributiva
Identity element = elemento neutro
Opposite element = elemento opuesto
Inverse element = elemento inverso
common factor = factor común Real line = Recta real
Pythagoras' Theorem = Teorema de Pitágoras Square root = Raiz cuadrada
Interval = intervalo segment = segmento half-line = semirrecta
Open interval = intervalo abierto Closed interval = intervalo cerrado
Half-open interval = intervalo semiabierto
Half-closed interval = intervalo semicerrado
Infinite = infinito Absolute value = valor absoluto
approximation = aproximación Truncation = truncamiento
to round off = redondear absolute error = error absoluto
relative error = error relativo percentage = porcentaje
place value of a digit / figure = valor posicional de una cifra
ones or units = unidades
tens = decenas
hundreds = centenas
thousands = millares, unidades de mil
ten thousands = decenas de mil
...
tenths = décimas
hundredths= centésimas
thousandths = milésimas
ten thousandths = diezmilésimas
...

14