GE 4

Lecture 1

The Real Number System

The real number system consists of a set of elements called real numbers. A real
number may be positive, negative, or zero and can be classified as either rational or irrational
number.

A rational number is any number that can be expressed as the ratio of two integers ,i.e.
a number of the form a/b where a and b are integers and b not equal to 0.

Decimals are classified as fractions and may either be terminating or nonterminating

The following are the symbols used for certain classes of numbers.

R= set of reals Z= set of integers

Q= set of rationals Z - =set of negative integers

Q’= set of irrationals N = set of natural numbers

F= set of fractions W = set of whole numbers

Fundamental Operations with Real Numbers

The concept of the absolute value of a real number is important to signed numbers.
Signed numbers are numbers which are preceded by plus or minus sign. However, a number
that has no sign is understood to be positive.

The absolute value of a real number x denoted by |x| is defined as

X, if x>0

|x| = -x , if x <0

0, if x = 0

Rules Governing the Operations on Signed Numbers

Rule 1. To add two real numbers with like signs, add their absolute values and prefix the
common sign.
Rule 2. To add two real numbers with unlike signs, subtract the smaller absolute value from the
bigger absolute value, and prefix the sign as that of the bigger absolute value.

Rule 3. To subtract two real numbers, change the sign of the subtrahend and proceed to
algebraic addition(Rules 1 and 2).

Rule 4. To multiply ( or divide) two numbers having like signs, multiply ( or divide) their
absolute values and prefix a plus sign.

Rule 5. To multiply ( or divide) two numbers having unlike signs, multiply ( or divide) their
absolute values and prefix a minus sign.

Properties of Real Numbers

Equality, denoted by “ = “ is used to imply a relation of identity between two quantities.

1. Reflexive : a = a

2. Symmetric : if a=b, then b = a.

3. Transitive : if a = b, and b = c, then a = c.

4. Addition Property of Equality (APE). If a = b, then a + c=b + c.

5.Multiplication Property of Equality(MPE). If a=b, then ac=bc.

6. Substitution: If a = b, then a can be replaced by b in any mathematical statement without

Properties of Real Numbers

1. Closure. The set of real numbers R is said to be closed under a given operation if upon
performing any two elements in R, the result also belong to R.

2. Commutative. The order in which the numbers are taken does not affect the sum and
product. a + b = b + a , ab = ba.

3. Associative. The grouping in which the numbers are taken does not affect the sum and
product. a + ( b + c ) = ( a + b ) + c, a(bc) = (ab)c
4. identity. Performing an operation between any number and identity results to the number
itself. a + o = a, a . 1 = a.

5. Inverse. A number operated on its inverse equals the identity element. a + ( -a ) = o , a . ( 1/a)
= 1.

6. Left and Right-Hand Distributive of Multiplication over Addition.

a( b + c) = ab +ac , ( a + b)c = ac + bc.

POLYNOMIALS
Definitions of Basic Terms in Polynomials.

1. A Constant is a symbol that assumes one specific value.

2. A variable is a symbol that assumes many values.

3. An Algebraic expression is a collection of constants and variables involving at least one of the
basic operations in mathematics.

4. A term is an expression preceded by plus or minus sign.

5. A monomial is a term involving only the product of a real number which may have
coefficients of variables with nonnegative integral exponents.

6. A polynomial is a sum of finite number of monomials. anxn +…….. + a1x + a0 , an not = 0.

7. The degree of polynomial in x is the greatest exponent occurring in the variable x.

8. If a monomial is expressed as a product of two or more symbols, each of the symbols is called
the coefficient of the rest of the product.

Only similar terms can be added or subtracted.

Addition of Expressions and Polynomials.

1. -8x + 15x = (-8+15)x =7x

2. 8ab -20abc – 17ab – 13abc = -9ab – 33abc

4. 8x2 – 7x – 2y

5x2 – 6x – 15y

-4x2 + 11x – 9y

= 9x2 – 2x –26y

Symbols of Grouping Expressions

Addition of algebraic expressions frequently involves the symbols of grouping such as

Rule: To remove a grouping symbol preceded by a

i) minus sign, change the sign of each of the terms;

ii) plus sign, no further change is done;

iii) factor, use the distributive law.

Example. Perform the indicated operations

1. –(2x-y+10) + (4x-3y)-2(3x-4y+6)

= -2x+y-10+4x-3y-6x+8y-12

= -4x+6y-22

2. 4x-2y-5-2(8x-7y)-(3x-4y-1)

= 4x-2y-5-16x+14y-3x+4y+1

= -15x+16y-4

3. – {-2x-y-[3x-(4x+y-3)-y]-7}

= - {-2x-y-[3x-4x-y+3-y]-7}

= - {-2x-y-3x+4x+y-3+y-7}

= - {-x+y-10} = x-y+10

Value of Polynomial
 The value of the polynomial or expression in x is obtained by substituting a certain
given value for x.

Example 1. Find the value of 2x3 -4x2 –x – 5 at x= -1.

= 2(-1)3 – 4(-1)2 –(-1) -5

= 2(-1) -4(1) +1 -5

= -2-4+1-5

=-10

Example 2. Find the value of –x2-4x-1 |2-1

= [-(2)2-4(2)-1] – [-(-1)2-4(-1)-1]

= [-4-8-1]-[-1+4-1]

= [-13]-[2]

= -15

Powers with Positive Integral Exponents

A compact notation for the product of n factors each of which is a is given in the
following definition.

The power an is defined as follows:

an = a . a . a . a…………a, n is a positive integer

Examples. a. 43 =4.4.4 =64

b. -24 = -2.2.2.2 = - 16

c. (-2)4 = -2.-2.-2.-2 = 16

Laws of exponents

1. The Product of Powers

am . a n = am+n

2. The Quotient of Powers

am = 1 if m=n

an 1/an-m if m<n

3. The Power of a Power

( am)n = amn

4. The Power of a Product

( ab)m = am bm

5. The Power of a Quotient

(a/b)m = am / bm

Product of Polynomials