Operations with Whole

Numbers and Decimals 1

DIAGNOSTIC TEST
Directions: Work out each problem. Circle the letter that appears before
your answer.

Answers are at the end of the chapter.

1. Find the sum of 683, 72, and 5429. 6. Subtract 81.763 from 145.1.
(A) 5184 (A) 64.347
(B) 6184 (B) 64.463
(C) 6183 (C) 63.463
(D) 6193 (D) 63.337
(E) 6284 (E) 63.347
2. Subtract 417 from 804. 7. Multiply 3.47 by 2.3.
(A) 287 (A) 79.81
(B) 388 (B) 7.981
(C) 397 (C) 6.981
(D) 387 (D) 7.273
(E) 288 (E) 7.984
3. Find the product of 307 and 46. 8. Divide 2.163 by .03.
(A) 3070 (A) 7210
(B) 14,082 (B) 721
(C) 13,922 (C) 72.1
(D) 13,882 (D) 7.21
(E) 14,122 (E) 0.721
4. Divide 38,304 by 48. 9. Find 3 - 16 ÷ 8 + 4 × 2.
(A) 787 (A) 9
(B) 798 1
(B) 2
(C) 824 3
(D) 1098 (C) 10
(E) 1253 (D) 18
5. Add 6.43 + 46.3 + .346. 2
(E)
(A) 14.52 3
8317×91
(B) 53.779 10. Which of the following is closest to 217×.8
?
(C) 53.392 (A) 4
(D) 53.076 (B) 40
(E) 1452 (C) 400
(D) 4000
(E) 40,000

1
2 Chapter 1

In preparing for the mathematics section of your college entrance examination, it is most important to overcome
any fear of mathematics. The level of this examination extends no further than relatively simple geometry. Most
problems can be solved using only arithmetic. By reading this chapter carefully, following the sample problems,
and then working on the practice problems in each section, you can review important concepts and vocabulary, as
well as familiarize yourself with various types of questions. Since arithmetic is basic to any further work in
mathematics, this chapter is extremely important and should not be treated lightly. By doing these problems
carefully and reading the worked-out solutions, you can build the confidence needed to do well.

1. ADDITION OF WHOLE NUMBERS

In the process of addition, the numbers to be added are called addends. The answer is called the sum. In writing
an addition problem, put one number underneath the other, being careful to keep columns straight with the units’
digits one below the other. If you find a sum by adding from top to bottom, you can check it by adding from
bottom to top.

Example:
Find the sum of 403, 37, 8314, and 5.

Solution:
403
37
8314
+ 5
8759

Exercise 1
1. Find the sum of 360, 4352, 87, and 205. 4. Add 99 + 88 + 77 + 66 + 55.
(A) 5013 (A) 384
(B) 5004 (B) 485
(C) 5003 (C) 385
(D) 6004 (D) 375
(E) 6013 (E) 376
2. Find the sum of 4321, 2143, 1234, and 3412. 5. Add 1212 + 2323 + 3434 + 4545 + 5656.
(A) 12,110 (A) 17,171
(B) 11,011 (B) 17,170
(C) 11,101 (C) 17,160
(D) 11,111 (D) 17,280
(E) 11,110 (E) 17,270
3. Add 56 + 321 + 8 + 42.
(A) 427
(B) 437
(C) 517
(D) 417
(E) 527

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 Operations with Whole Numbers and Decimals 3

2. SUBTRACTION OF WHOLE NUMBERS

The number from which we subtract is called the minuend. The number which we take away is called the subtra-
hend. The answer in subtraction is called the difference.
If 5 is subtracted from 11, the minuend is 11, the subtrahend is 5, and the difference is 6.
Since we cannot subtract a larger number from a smaller one, we often must borrow in performing a subtrac-
tion. Remember that when we borrow, because of our base 10 number system, we reduce the digit to the left by
1, but increase the right-hand digit by 10.
Example:
54
– 38

Since we cannot subtract 8 from 4, we borrow 1 from 5 and change the 4 to 14. We are really borrowing 1 from
the tens column and, therefore, add 10 to the ones column. Then we can subtract.
Solution:
4 14
– 3 8
1 6
Sometimes we must borrow across several columns.
Example:
503
– 267

We cannot subtract 7 from 3 and cannot borrow from 0. Therefore we reduce the 5 by one and make the 0 into a
10. Then we can borrow 1 from the 10, making it a 9. This makes the 3 into 13.
Solution:
4 10 3 4 9 13
– 2 67 – 26 7
23 6

Exercise 2
1. Subtract 803 from 952. 4. Find the difference between 732 and 237.
(A) 248 (A) 496
(B) 148 (B) 495
(C) 249 (C) 486
(D) 149 (D) 405
(E) 147 (E) 497
2. From the sum of 837 and 415, subtract 1035. 5. By how much does the sum of 612 and 315
(A) 217 exceed the sum of 451 and 283?
(B) 216 (A) 294
(C) 326 (B) 1661
(D) 227 (C) 293
(E) 226 (D) 197
3. From 1872 subtract the sum of 76 and 43. (E) 193
(A) 1754
(B) 1838
(C) 1753
(D) 1839
(E) 1905

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4 Chapter 1

3. MULTIPLICATION OF WHOLE NUMBERS

The answer to a multiplication problem is called the product. The numbers being multiplied are called factors of
the product.
When multiplying by a number containing two or more digits, place value is extremely important when
writing partial products. When we multiply 537 by 72, for example, we multiply first by 2 and then by 7. How-
ever, when we multiply by 7, we are really multiplying by 70 and therefore leave a 0 at the extreme right before
we proceed with the multiplication.

Example:
537
× 72
1074
+ 37590
38664
If we multiply by a three-digit number, we leave one zero on the right when multiplying by the tens digit and two
zeros on the right when multiplying by the hundreds digit.

Example:
372
× 461
372
22320
+ 148800
171492

Exercise 3
Find the following products. 4. 437 multiplied by 607
1. 526 multiplied by 317 (A) 265,259
(B) 265,219
(A) 156,742
(C) 265,359
(B) 165,742
(D) 265,059
(C) 166,742
(E) 262,059
(D) 166,748
(E) 166,708 5. 798 multiplied by 450
2. 8347 multiplied by 62 (A) 358,600
(B) 359,100
(A) 517,514
(C) 71,820
(B) 517,414
(D) 358,100
(C) 517,504
(E) 360,820
(D) 517,114
(E) 617,114
3. 705 multiplied by 89
(A) 11,985
(B) 52,745
(C) 62,705
(D) 62,745
(E) 15,121

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 Operations with Whole Numbers and Decimals 5

4. DIVISION OF WHOLE NUMBERS

The number being divided is called the dividend. The number we are dividing by is called the divisor. The answer
to the division is called the quotient. When we divide 18 by 6, 18 is the dividend, 6 is the divisor, and 3 is the
quotient. If the quotient is not an integer, we have a remainder. The remainder when 20 is divided by 6 is 2,
2
because 6 will divide 18 evenly, leaving a remainder of 2. The quotient in this case is 6 6 . Remember that in
writing the fractional part of a quotient involving a remainder, the remainder becomes the numerator and the
divisor the denominator.
When dividing by a single-digit divisor, no long division procedures are needed. Simply carry the remainder
of each step over to the next digit and continue.

Example:

9 7 2 4
)
6 5 84 31 4 2 4

Exercise 4
1. Divide 391 by 23. 3. Find the remainder when 4832 is divided by 15.
(A) 170 (A) 1
(B) 16 (B) 2
(C) 17 (C) 3
(D) 18 (D) 4
(E) 180 (E) 5
2. Divide 49,523,436 by 9. 4. Divide 42,098 by 7.
(A) 5,502,605 (A) 6014
(B) 5,502,514 (B) 6015
(C) 5,502,604 (C) 6019
(D) 5,502,614 (D) 6011
(E) 5,502,603 (E) 6010
5. Which of the following is the quotient of
333,180 and 617?
(A) 541
(B) 542
(C) 549
(D) 540
(E) 545

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6 Chapter 1

5. ADDITION OR SUBTRACTION OF DECIMALS

The most important thing to watch for in adding or subtracting decimals is to keep all decimal points underneath
one another. The proper placement of the decimal point in the answer will be in line with all the decimal points
above.

Example:
Find the sum of 8.4, .37, and 2.641

Solution:
8.4
.37
+ 2.641
11.411

Example:
From 48.3 subtract 27.56

Solution:
7 12 1
48.30
– 27.56
20.74
In subtraction, the upper decimal must have as many decimal places as the lower, so we must fill in zeros where
needed.

Exercise 5
1. From the sum of .65, 4.2, 17.63, and 8, subtract 4. From 53.72 subtract the sum of 4.81 and 17.5.
12.7. (A) 31.86
(A) 9.78 (B) 31.41
(B) 17.68 (C) 41.03
(C) 17.78 (D) 66.41
(D) 17.79 (E) 41.86
(E) 18.78
5. Find the difference between 100 and 52.18.
2. Find the sum of .837, .12, 52.3, and .354. (A) 37.82
(A) 53.503 (B) 47.18
(B) 53.611 (C) 47.92
(C) 53.601 (D) 47.82
(D) 54.601 (E) 37.92
(E) 54.611
3. From 561.8 subtract 34.75.
(A) 537.05
(B) 537.15
(C) 527.15
(D) 527.04
(E) 527.05

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 Operations with Whole Numbers and Decimals 7

6. MULTIPLICATION OF DECIMALS
In multiplying decimals, we proceed as we do with integers, using the decimal points only as an indication of
where to place a decimal point in the product. The number of decimal places in the product is equal to the sum of
the number of decimal places in the numbers being multiplied.

Example:
Multiply .375 by .42

Solution:
.375
× .42
750
+ 15000
.15750
Since the first number being multiplied contains three decimal places and the second number contains two deci-
mal places, the product will contain five decimal places.
To multiply a decimal by 10, 100, 1000, etc., we need only to move the decimal point to the right the proper
number of places. In multiplying by 10, move one place to the right (10 has one zero), by 100 move two places to
the right (100 has two zeros), by 1000 move three places to the right (1000 has three zeros), and so forth.

Example:
The product of .837 and 100 is 83.7

Exercise 6
Find the following products. 4. .7314 × 100 =
1. 437 × .24 = (A) .007314
(B) .07314
(A) 1.0488
(C) 7.314
(B) 10.488
(D) 73.14
(C) 104.88
(E) 731.4
(D) 1048.8
(E) 10,488 5. .0008 × 4.3 =
2. 5.06 × .7 = (A) .000344
(B) .00344
(A) .3542
(C) .0344
(B) .392
(D) 0.344
(C) 3.92
(E) 3.44
(D) 3.542
(E) 35.42
3. 83 × 1.5 =
(A) 12.45
(B) 49.8
(C) 498
(D) 124.5
(E) 1.245

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8 Chapter 1

7. DIVISION OF DECIMALS
When dividing by a decimal, always change the decimal to a whole number by moving the decimal point to the
end of the divisor. Count the number of places you have moved the decimal point and move the dividend’s
decimal point the same number of places. The decimal point in the quotient will be directly above the one in the
dividend.

Example:
Divide 2.592 by .06
Solution:
43.2
)
.06 2.592

To divide a decimal by 10, 100, 1000, etc., we move the decimal point the proper number of places to the left. The
number of places to be moved is always equal to the number of zeros in the divisor.

Example:
Divide 43.7 by 1000
Solution:
The decimal point must be moved three places (there are three zeros in 1000) to the left. Therefore,
our quotient is .0437
Sometimes division can be done in fraction form. Always remember to move the decimal point to the end of the
divisor (denominator) and then the same number of places in the dividend (numerator).

Example:
.0175 1.75
Divide: = = .35
.05 5

Exercise 7
2
1. Divide 4.3 by 100. 4. Find .12 ÷ .5
.
(A) .0043 (A) 4.8
(B) 0.043 (B) 48
(C) 0.43 (C) .03
(D) 43 (D) 0.3
(E) 430 (E) 3
10.2 1.7
2. Find the quotient when 4.371 is divided by .3. 5. Find .03
÷ .1
.
(A) 0.1457 (A) .02
(B) 1.457 (B) 0.2
(C) 14.57 (C) 2
(D) 145.7 (D) 20
(E) 1457 (E) 200
3. Divide .64 by .4.
(A) .0016
(B) 0.016
(C) 0.16
(D) 1.6
(E) 16

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 Operations with Whole Numbers and Decimals 9

8. THE LAWS OF ARITHMETIC

Addition and multiplication are commutative operations, as the order in which we add or multiply does not
change an answer.

Example:
4+7=7+4
5•3=3•5
Subtraction and division are not commutative, as changing the order does change the answer.
Example:
5–3≠3–5
20 ÷ 5 ≠ 5 ÷ 20
Addition and multiplication are associative, as we may group in any manner and arrive at the same answer.
Example:
(3 + 4) + 5 = 3 + (4 + 5)
(3 • 4) • 5 = 3 • (4 • 5)
Subtraction and division are not associative, as regrouping changes an answer.
Example:
(5 – 4) – 3 ≠ 5 – (4 – 3)
(100 ÷ 20) ÷ 5 ≠ 100 ÷ (20 ÷ 5)
Multiplication is distributive over addition. If a sum is to be multiplied by a number, we may multiply each
addend by the given number and add the results. This will give the same answer as if we had added first and then
multiplied.
Example:
3(5 + 2 + 4) is either 15 + 6 + 12 or 3(11).
The identity for addition is 0 since any number plus 0, or 0 plus any number, is equal to the given number.
The identity for multiplication is 1 since any number times 1, or 1 times any number, is equal to the given
number.
There are no identity elements for subtraction or division. Although 5 – 0 = 5, 0 – 5 ≠ 5. Although 8 ÷ 1 = 8,
1 ÷ 8 ≠ 8.
When several operations are involved in a single problem, parentheses are usually included to make the order of
operations clear. If there are no parentheses, multiplication and division are always performed prior to addition and
subtraction.

Example:
Find 5 • 4 + 6 ÷ 2 – 16 ÷ 4

Solution:
The + and – signs indicate where groupings should begin and end. If we were to insert parentheses
to clarify operations, we would have (5 · 4) + (6 ÷ 2) – (16 ÷ 4), giving 20 + 3 – 4 = 19.

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10 Chapter 1

Exercise 8
1. Find 8 + 4 ÷ 2 + 6 · 3 - 1. 2. 16 ÷ 4 + 2 · 3 + 2 - 8 ÷ 2.
(A) 35 (A) 6
(B) 47 (B) 8
(C) 43 (C) 2
(D) 27 (D) 4
(E) 88 (E) 10

3. Match each illustration in the left-hand column with the law it illustrates from the right-hand column.
a. 475 · 1 = 475 u. Identity for Addition
b. 75 + 12 = 12 + 75 v. Associative Law of Addition
c. 32(12 + 8) = 32(12) + 32(8) w. Associative Law of Multiplication
d. 378 + 0 = 378 x. Identity for Multiplication
e. (7 · 5) · 2 = 7 · (5 · 2) y. Distributive Law of Multiplication
over Addition
z. Commutative Law of Addition

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 Operations with Whole Numbers and Decimals 11

9. ESTIMATING ANSWERS
On a competitive examination, where time is an important factor, it is essential that you be able to estimate an answer.
Simply round off all answers to the nearest multiples of 10 or 100 and estimate with the results. On multiple-choice
tests, this should enable you to pick the correct answer without any time-consuming computation.
Example:
The product of 498 and 103 is approximately
(A) 5000
(B) 500,000
(C) 50,000
(D) 500
(E) 5,000,000
Solution:
498 is about 500. 103 is about 100. Therefore the product is about (500) (100) or 50,000 (just move the
decimal point two places to the right when multiplying by 100). Therefore, the correct answer is (C).
Example:
710
Which of the following is closest to the value of 4831 • 2314
?
(A) 83
(B) 425
(C) 1600
(D) 3140
(E) 6372
Solution:
 ( 5000 )( 700 )  5( 700 )
Estimating, we have  2000  . Dividing numerator and denominator by 1000, we have 2
or
3500
2
, which is about 1750. Therefore, we choose answer (C).

Exercise 9
Choose the answer closest to the exact value of each of the following problems. Use estimation in your solutions.
No written computation should be needed. Circle the letter before your answer.
483+1875 783+ 491
1. 119
3. 1532−879
(A) 2 (A) .02
(B) 10 (B) .2
(C) 20 (C) 2
(D) 50 (D) 20
(E) 100 (E) 200
6017 i 312
2. 364 +618
(A) 18
(B) 180
(C) 1800
(D) 18,000
(E) 180,000

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12 Chapter 1

RETEST
1. Find the sum of 86, 4861, and 205. 6. Subtract 23.17 from 50.9.
(A) 5142 (A) 26.92
(B) 5132 (B) 27.79
(C) 5152 (C) 27.73
(D) 5052 (D) 37.73
(E) 4152 (E) 37.79
2. From 803 subtract 459. 7. Multiply 8.35 by .43.
(A) 454 (A) 3.5805
(B) 444 (B) 3.5905
(C) 354 (C) 3.5915
(D) 344 (D) 35.905
(E) 346 (E) .35905
3. Find the product of 65 and 908. 8. Divide 2.937 by .11.
(A) 59,020 (A) .267
(B) 9988 (B) 2.67
(C) 58,920 (C) 26.7
(D) 58,020 (D) 267
(E) 59,920 (E) 2670
4. Divide 66,456 by 72. 9. Find 8 + 10 ÷ 2 + 4 · 2 - 21 ÷ 7.
(A) 903 (A) 17
(B) 923 (B) 23
(C) 911 (C) 18
(D) 921 (D) 14
(E) 925 5
(E)
5. Find the sum of .361 + 8.7 + 43.17. 7 2875+932

(A) 52.078 10. Which of the following is closest to 5817 ?

29
(B) 51.538 (A) .02
(C) 51.385 (B) .2
(D) 52.161 (C) 2
(E) 52.231 (D) 20
(E) 200

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 Operations with Whole Numbers and Decimals 13

SOLUTIONS TO PRACTICE EXERCISES

Diagnostic Test
683 6.43
72 46.3
1. (B) + 5429 5. (D) + .346
6184 53.076

7 9
4 10 9
8 0 14 14 5 . 1 0 1 0
2. (D) – 4 1 7 6. (D) – 81 . 7 6 3
38 7 63. 3 3 7

307 3.47
× 46 × 2.3
3. (E) 1842 1041
12280 7. (B)
6940
14, 122 7.981
798 72.1
)
48 38304 8. (C) .03 )



163
2.


336
4. (B) 470 9. (A) 3 – (16 ÷ 8) + (4 × 2) = 3 – 2 + 8 = 9
432
8000 ⋅ 100
384 10. (D) Estimate = 4000
200 ⋅ 1
384

Exercise 1
360 99
4352 88
87 77
1. (B)
+ 205 4. (C) 66
5004 + 55
385
4321
2143 1212
1234 2323
2. (E)
+ 3412 3434
11, 110 5. (B) 4545
+ 5656
56 17, 170
321
3. (A) 8
+ 42
427

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14 Chapter 1

Exercise 2 Exercise 3

4
526
9 5 12
1. (D) 1. (C) × 317
–8 0 3
3682
14 9
5260
157800
83 7
166, 742
2. (A) + 4 1 5
4
1 2 5 12
8347
–1 0 3 5
2. (A) × 62
2 17
16694
500820
76 517, 514

3. (C) + 43
119 705
3. (D) × 89
6
18 7 2 1 6345
– 11 9 56400
17 5 3 62, 745

6 12 437
7 3 12
4. (B) 4. (A) × 607
–2 3 7 3059
49 5 262200
265, 259

612
5. (E) + 315 798
927 5. (B) × 450
451 39900
+ 283 319200
734 359, 100
8
9 1 27
– 7 34
1 93

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 Operations with Whole Numbers and Decimals 15

Exercise 4 Exercise 5

17 .65
1. )
(C) 23 391
4.2
23
17.63
161 1. (C) + 8.
161
30.48

5, 502, 604 2 9
3 0 .1 48
2.
)
(C) 9 49, 523, 436
–1 2 .70
1 7 .78
322
3. )
(B) 15 4832 Remainder 2
45 .837
33 .12
30 52.3
2. (B)
32 + .354
30 53.611
2
5 8
56 11 7 1 0
6014 3. (E) – 3 4. 7 5
4. )
(A) 7 42098 5 2 7. 0 5

5. (D) Since the quotient, when multiplied by 617,

4.81 53.72
must give 333,180 as an answer, the quotient
must end in a number which, when multiplied 4. (B) +17 .5 –22.31
by 617, will end in 0. This can only be (D), 22.31 31.41
since 617 times (A) would end in 7, (B) would
end in 4, (C) in 3, and (E) in 5.
9 1
9 1
9
10 0 . 0 1 0
5. (D) –5 2 . 1 8
4 7 .8 2

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16 Chapter 1

Exercise 6 Exercise 7
1. (B) Just move decimal point two places to left,
437 giving .043 as the answer.
× .24
1748 14.57
1. (C)
8740
2. )
(C) . 3
4. 371


104.88 1.6
3. )
(D) .4
.64


5.06
2. (D) × .7 2.0

4. (C) .12 ÷ = .12 ÷ 4 = .03
. 5

3.542
10.20


÷ 1.7
= 340 ÷ 17 = 20
5. (D)
83 .03


.1

3. (D) × 1.5
415 Exercise 8
830
1. (D) 8 + (4 ÷ 2) + (6 • 3) – 1 =
124.5
8 + 2 + 18 – 1 = 27
.7314 2. (B) (16 ÷ 4) + (2 • 3) + 2 – (8 ÷ 2) =
4. (D) Just move the decimal point two
× 100 places to the right. 4+6+2–4=8
73.14
3. (a, x)(b, z)(c, y)(d, u)(e, w)

.0008
5. (B) × 4.3
Exercise 9
24
500 + 2000 2500
320 1. (C) Estimate = = 25, closest to 20
100 100
.00344
6000 ⋅ 300 1, 800, 000
2. (C) Estimate = = 1800
400 + 600 1000

800 + 500 1300

3. (C) Estimate = = about 2
1500 - 900 600

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 Operations with Whole Numbers and Decimals 17

Retest
1. (C) 86 7. (B) 8.35
4861 × .43
+ 205 2505
5152 33400
7 9 3.5905
8 0 13
2. (D) – 4 5 9
26.7
34 4
8. . 1 1)
(C)

937
2 .


22
73
908 66
3. (A) × 65 77
4540 77
54480
59, 020 9. (C) 8 + (10 ÷ 2) + (4 • 2) – (21 ÷ 7) =
8 + 5 + 8 – 3 = 18
923
4. )
(B) 72 66456
648 3000 + 1000
165 6000 4000
10. (A) Estimate = = .0 2, which is
144 30 180, 000
216 closest to .02.
216

5. (E) .361
8.7
+ 43.17
52.231

4 8
5 1 0. 9 1 0
6. (C) – 2 3. 1 7
2 7. 7 3

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