Refresher Unit 1: Arithmetic Skills

1.1 Precedence rule When we work out any complicated arithmetic expression, we have to observe strict rules of priority. In particular multiplication and division must be carried out before addition and subtraction. For example 2 3 1 is worked out first multiplying 2 3 and then subtracting 1 from the result to give the answer 5. We can over-ride the rule by using brackets to show we want the calculation performed in a different way. For example 2 (3 1) is worked out first evaluating the term in the brackets and then multiplying by 2 to give the answer 4. Some reminders When we multiply the same number by itself many times we use the power notation. The term an , where a is a number and n is a positive whole number, is read a to the power of n and denotes a multiplied by itself n times. For example, 63 = 6 6 6 = 216 If two numbers are multiplied or divided then: (a) when only one of the numbers is negative, the answer is negative; (b) when both numbers are negative, the answer is positive. As examples: (2) (3) = 6 (4) (2) = 8 (4) (2) = 2 (10) (5) = 2 (2)3 = (2) (2) (2) = 8

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Glyn James and John Searl, Modern Engineering Mathematics, 4th Edition, Refresher Units in Mathematics

Summary When evaluating an arithmetic expression: the powers are calculated first then multiplications and/or divisions then additions and /or subtractions

When operations of equal precedence are adjacent, for example, 5 3 + 2, the left-hand operation is performed first so that 5 3 +2 = 4 These rules are over-ridden by using brackets so that 5 (3 +2) =0 Consequently quantities inside brackets must be calculated first, subject to the preceding rules. Practice Questions 1.1 Calculate the following arithmetic expressions (do not use a calculator) (a) 7 + 5 3 (d) (5) (7 + 8) (g) (6) (3) (5 +5) (7) (j) (3)5 (2)4 (m) (2 + 3 )2 1.2. Fractions: some definitions p , where p and q are whole numbers. The number p on q top of the dividing line is called the numerator and the number q on the bottom is called the 3 denominator. An example of a fraction is in which 3 is the numerator and 5 is the 5 denominator. A fraction is a number of the form Note: By whole numbers we mean the counting numbers 1, 2, 3, 4,.... , which are also referred to as the natural numbers. (b) 5 +6 2 (e) (8) 4 + 2 (h) 1 (4) + 3 (k) 2 +6 32 (c) 10 12 3 (f) 1 (2) (3 2 + 5) (i) (5) (7) + 8 (l) 22 + 42

(n) (3 4 2) + (9 3 5)

The value of a fraction remains unchanged if the numerator and denominator are multiplied or divided by the same number (which cannot be zero). For example 4 16 10 5 = and = 7 28 12 6
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If the numerator and denominator have common factors and we divide both by these factors until no further reduction is possible then the resulting fraction is said to be in its simplest (or lowest) form. For example 4 2 1 = = 16 8 4 so 1 4 is expressed in its lowest form. 4 16
p is less than 1 and is said to be a proper fraction. q

If p is less than q then the fraction

A fraction may have a value greater than 1. In such cases p is greater than q and the fraction is said to be an improper fraction. Such a fraction may be expressed as the sum of a whole number and a proper fraction. For example, 13 is an improper fraction. Dividing 13 by 3 gives 4 and a remainder of 1, so we 3 13 1 1 have that = 4 + , which we write as 4 (read as four and one third note the 3 3 3 use of the word and to mean +) A fraction expressed in the form 4 1 is called a mixed number. Clearly, by reversing the 3 above process, a mixed number can be expressed as an improper fraction.

1.3 Fractions: addition and subtraction

To add or subtract fractions we first find a number, which the denominators of all the fractions divide into. This is called a common denominator. Each fraction is then expressed in terms of this common denominator so they become like fractions, which can be readily added or subtracted. 3 1 + 4 5

Example 1.1

Determine
Answer

A common denominator for 4 and 5 is 20 so 3 1 15 4 15 + 4 19 + = + = = 4 5 20 20 20 20

Determine
Answer

2 1 2 + 3 4 5

A common denominator for 3, 4 and 5 is 60 giving 2 1 2 (2 20) + (1 15) (2 12) 40 + 15 24 31 + = = = 3 4 5 60 60 60

Glyn James and John Searl, Modern Engineering Mathematics, 4th Edition, Refresher Units in Mathematics

1.4 Fractions: multiplication

To multiply fractions simply multiply the numerator terms and multiply the denominator terms. For example: 2 4 2 4 8 = = 3 5 3 5 15

In the case of multiplication factors common to both numerator terms and denominator terms can be cancelled before doing the multiplication. This should be done as it makes the calculation easier

Example 1.3

Calculate
Answer

2 5 7 3 6 15

Here 2 is a common factor of both 2 and 6 and 5 is a common factor of both 5 and 15. Cancelling we have: 1 1 7 7 = 3 3 3 27

1.5 Fractions: division

The problem of dividing one fraction by another can be turned into a multiplication. To divide one fraction by another invert (turn upside-down) the divisor (the fraction after the sign) and multiply. For example, 2 5 2 7 14 = = 3 7 3 5 15

Practice Questions 1.2

Express as fractions in their simplest form (Do not use a calculator) 1. (a) 5 3 + 12 8 2 1 1 + 7 6 3 2 5 3 3 6 4 (b) 3 11 4 12 (c) 1 1 1 + 2 3

(d)

3 1 (e) 1 + 2 8 6 (h) 7 3 8 4

7 1 1 (f) 1 + 1 2 8 4 2 (i) 2 2 1 1 +( ) 3 5 3 3

(g)

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3 1 (j) 3 1 4 5 3 3 1 (m) 1 1 1 4 4 4

1 1 + (k) 2 3 1 5 2 (n) 1 4 3

1 5 1 (l) ( ) 2 2 4 1 7 3 (o) 2 3 1 2 8 4

2. The line segment AC as a fraction of the line segment AB in Figure 1.1

Figure 1.1 Fraction of line 3. The shaded area as a fraction of the rectangle ABCD in Figure 1.2

Figure 1.2 Fraction of rectangle 4. The sector OAB as a fraction of the area of the circle in Figure 1.3

Figure 1.3 Fraction of circle

1.6 Powers and laws of indices

We have already introduced the power notation a n (read as a to the power n) to denote a multiplied by itself n times. Here n is called the index or exponent. Operations with powering obey simple rules, which we remind you of in this section Multiplication: When multiplying powers of the same quantity we add the indices giving
ana m = a n+m

so, for example

a 6 a 4 = a 6+4 = a 10
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Division: When dividing powers of the same quantity we subtract the indices, giving an an a m = m = a nm a so, for example a8 = a 8 3 = a 5 3 a Raising to a power: When raising the power of a quantity to a power we multiply the indices, giving (a n )m = a n m so, for example (a2 )3 = a 6

Negative powers: We define a -n to be the reciprocal of a n, giving an = so, for example a 3 = 1 a3 1 provided a is not zero an

Zero power: Any quantity to the power of zero is equal to 1, giving a0 = 1 so, for example 50 = 1

Fractional powers: (1)

is defined as the nth root of a, giving

an =
1

so, for example

square root with a positive cube root with a unrestricted

( Note: a > 0, whilst a > 0 if a > 0 and a < 0 if a < 0 )

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m

(2) a n is defined as the nth root of a m, giving

a n = n am

so, for example

a 2 = a3

Practice Questions 1.3

1. Simplify the following: (a) 23 24 (b) 56 54

(c) 33 33
1 5

(d) (53 ) 2 2. Evaluate the following: (a) 2

(e) 32

(f)

32 35 36 36 34
1 2

(b) 25
3

1 2

(c) 16
3 2

(d) 16 4 3. Find the values of:

(e) 25
2

(f) 814
2

(a) 27 3 (e) (2)

(b) (8) 3
1 8

(c) (8) 3
2 3

(d) 16

3 2

(f) ( )

(g) 9

1 2

In practice, especially when using a calculator or computer, decimals are used as an alternative to fractions. To convert a fraction into a decimal we simply carry out the division. For example, 2 = 2 5 = 0.4 5 the dot in this case is referred to as a decimal point. Digits to the right of the decimal point denote the number of tenths, hundreds, thousandths, etc., respectively. Thus decimals are readily converted into fractions as illustrated by the following examples; 0.4 = 4 2 = 10 5

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0.45 =

4 5 40 + 5 45 9 + = = = 10 100 100 100 20 4 5 6 400 + 50 + 6 456 57 + + = = = 10 100 1000 1000 1000 125

0.456 =

When doing calculations by hand care must be taken with placement of the decimal point. It is easy to make copying errors so always take care to write the leading zero before the decimal point (0.1 rather than .1) as this practice reduces the risk! When adding or subtracting decimals we line up the decimal point and add or subtract as usual.

Example 1.4

Evaluate 3.125 + 0.32 + 0.056

Line up the numbers beneath each other with the decimal points vertically underneath each other. 3.125 0.32 + 0.056 3.501 Adding as usual gives the answer 3.501 When multiplying two decimals we first multiply ignoring the decimal points. We count the total number of digits after the decimal point in both. The decimal point in the answer is then placed so that there is the same number of digits after the decimal point.

Example 1.5

Evaluate 6.32 0.6

First calculate 632 6 632 6 3792 The total number of digits after the decimal point in the two numbers is 2+1=3, so there will be three digits after the decimal point in the answer. This gives the answer as 3.792 When dividing two decimals by hand the first step is to ensure that the divisor (the number we are dividing by) is a whole number. To do this we must multiply both numbers by an appropriate power of 10. We then divide in the usual way.

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Example 1.6

Evaluate 19.11 1.5

To convert the divisor 1.5 to a whole number we must first multiply by 10. We must do the same to the number being divided, so 19.11 1.5 is the same as 191.1 15 Dividing in the usual way: 12.74 15 191.10 gives the answer as 12.74
Practice Questions 1.4

(Do not use a calculator except to check your answers) 1. Express 5 as a decimal. 8 2. Express 0.15 as a proper fraction in its simplest form. 3. Evaluate the following: (a) 0.375 + 0.625 (d) 18.231 7.25 (g) (0.2) 2 (j) 2.015 1.45 (m) 90.03 14.04 + 0.03 0.002 (b) 10.24 + 2.341 +0.027 (e) 6.71 0.0325 (h) (0.02) 2 (k) 19.24 2.6 (n) 0.0025 (c) 0.156 0.045 (f) 4.201 +1.82 3.516 (i) 3.65 3.502 (l) 21.03 0.03 (o) 0.16 (p) 1.21

1.8 Decimals: rounding off

10 , have decimal representations which do not end. In practical 3 problems these numbers are rounded to a sensible number of decimal places, using the closest decimal number. For example Some numbers, such as 150 = 1.485 148 514 851 485 101
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= 1 to 0 decimal places (0dp) = 1.5 to 1 decimal place (1dp) = 1.49 to 2 decimal places (2dp) = 1.485 to 3 decimal places (3dp) = 1.4851 to 4 decimal places (4dp)
Practice Questions 1.5

(Do not use a calculator) 1. Round off the number 0.05651 to 3 decimal places. 2. Round off the number 0.05649 to 3 decimal places. 3. Round off the number 0.0035 to 2 decimal places. 2 as a decimal number correct to 3 decimal places. 4. Express 23 5. Evaluate 2.8 5.2 5.21 correct to 1 decimal place. 6. Express = 3.1415927 correct to 3 decimal places.
1.9 Decimals: significant figures

Rounded values and experimental data are approximations to the true value. The figures (digits) given are significant (or meaningful) within the context in which they are used. The number of such significant figures is a measure of its relative accuracy. Thus 3.142 which has 4 significant figures (sf) is ten times more accurate as an approximation to than 3.14 which has 3 significant figures (3sf). Notice that the leading zeros after the decimal point of decimal fractions do not give information about relative accuracy, so that the correctly rounded numbers 2.031 and 0.00005291 are both correct to 4 significant figures.

Practice Questions 1.6

How many decimal places (dp) and how many significant figures (sf) do the following correctly rounded numbers have? (a) 13.0567 (b) 0.345 (c) 0.0034 (d) 251

1.10 Decimals: scientific notation

Scientific notation represent numbers in the form a 10n , where a is a number between 1 and 1 and n is an integer. For example: and 931.5671 = 9.315671 102 0.00213 = 2.13 10-3

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Practice Questions 1.7

(Do not use a calculator) Express in scientific notation: (a) 0.345 (b) 0.0035 (c) 251 (d) 532.21 (g) (1.5 105) (2 102)

(e) 1.5 105 + 2 102

(f) (1.5 105) (2 102)

The term per cent (which is denoted by the symbol %) means per one hundred. For example, 20% means 20 per hundred and we write 20 100 so that 20% is simply another representation of the fraction 20% = 20 1 = 100 5 p In general any fraction may be represented as a percentage r by expressing it in the q r equivalent form . Thus, for example 100 1 25 = 4 100 1 giving 25% as the percentage representation of . 4 Since
p r = we have that q 100 p r = 100 q so to find the percentage representation of a fraction we multiply by 100. For example the 7 is percentage representation of the fraction 20 7 100 = 35% 20 Conversely to express a percentage as a fraction we divide by 100, so for example 35 7 35% = = 100 100

In the same way we can express percentages as decimals and decimals as percentages. To express a percentage as a decimal we simply divide by 100 and to express a decimal as a percentage we multiply by 100. The following examples illustrate

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0.6 expressed as a percentage is 0.6 100 = 60% 6 = 0.06 6% expressed as a decimal is 100 To obtain a percentage r of a given quantity Q we first express r as a fraction (or decimal) and then multiply by the quantity Q. Thus
r% of Q =
Example 1.7

r Q 100

What is 25% of 50 ?
Answer

25% of 50 =
Example 1.8

25 50 = 12.50 100

23% of a consignment of bananas is bad. There is 34.5kg of bad bananas. How many kilograms of bananas are there in the consignment?
Answer

23% of bananas weighed 34.5kg, so 100% (total consignment) weighed 34.5 100 = 150kg. 23

Practice Questions 1.8

1. Express the following fractions as percentages 3 4 9 (b) (c) (a) 20 5 25 2. Express the following decimals as percentages (a) 0.52 (b) 0.03 (c) 0.455 3. Express the following percentages as decimals and as proper fractions (a) 17.5% (b) 40% (c) 3.25% 4. Express 16 as a percentage of 320. 5. There are 22 defective bulbs in a batch of 550. What percentage of the bulbs is defective?

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6. What percentage of the rectangle ABCD, of Figure 1.4, is shaded

Figure 1.4 Percentage of rectangle 7. Calculate the profit as a percentage of the cost price of a refrigerator bought for 275 and sold for 330. 8. Calculate the selling price of a refrigerator, which is sold with a 20% discount, if its list price is 330. 9. After winning a cash prize Sally gave 25% of the prize to her brother Dick. If the amount of money she gave to Dick was 120 what was the value of her cash prize? 10. Paul scored 27 marks out of a possible 45 marks in a science test. What percentage was this?
1.12 Ratios and proportional parts

A ratio is a representation of the relationship of one quantity p to a second quantity q by p means of the fraction . For example, in Figure 1.5 q

Figure 1.5 Ratio of line segments the ratio of the line segment AB to the line segment BC is symbol as AB:BC = 3:7 The line segment AB expressed as a fraction of the full line AC is AB AB 3 3 = = = AC AB + BC 3 + 7 10
Example 1.9

3 . This is often written using the : 7

Regulations for taking a party of school children on a trip abroad requires that the ratio of accompanied teachers to children travelling must be 1:6. If 54 children sign up for the trip how any teachers must travel with the party?

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Answer

number of teachers 1 = number of children 6 so number of teachers =

1 54 = 9 6

The ratio of males to females in a class is 7:5. If there are 60 children in the class how many are females?
Answer

Fraction of children females = number of females =

5 60 = 25 12

5 5 = , so 7 + 5 12

If a fixed amount Q is divided between two parties A and B in the ratio a:b then a A will receive Q , and a+b b B will receive Q a+b

This can be extended to sharing a fixed amount in proportional parts between more than two parties. For example, if Q is divided between three parties A,B and C in the ratio a:b:c then a A will receive Q a+b+c b B will receive Q , and a+b+c c C will receive Q a+b+c
Example 1.11

A prize of 7500 is to be divided between John, Jane and Mary in the ratios 3:4:8. How much will each receive?
Answer

3 3 7500 = 7500 = 1500 3+ 4+8 15 4 4 7500 = 7500 = 2000 Jane will receive 3+ 4+8 15 8 8 7500 = 7500 = 4000 Mary will receive 3+ 4+8 15 John will receive

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Practice Questions 1.9

1. In Figure 1.6 what is the ratio AB:AC ?

Figure 1.6 Ratio of line to segment 2. Mark on Figure 1.6 the point D which is such that AD:DC = 2:5 3. A mortar mixture contains cement and sand in the ratio 2:3. The total weight is 10kg. What weights of cement and sand does it contain? 4. The ratio of the sides of two squares is 2:3. What is the ratio of their areas? 5. In a small town the ratio of the number of males to the number of females is 80:81. If there are 9680 males in the town how many females are there in the town? 6. An Ordinance Survey road atlas of Great Britain adopts the scale 1cm to 2.5 km. Express this as a ratio. 7. Two neighbouring villages A and B have populations of 336 and 240 respectively. The two villages are to share a grant of 10,728 in proportion to their populations. How much will each village receive? 8. An aircraft carries 2880 litres of fuel contained in three tanks A, B and C in the ratios 3:5:4. What is the quantity of fuel in each tank?

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Answers to Practice Questions Unit 1 Practice Questions 1.1

(a) 9 (f) 1 (k) 1

(b) 17 (g) 2 (l) 20

(c) 6 (h) 8 (m) 25

(d) 5 (i) 43 (n) 7

(e) 0 (j) 259

Practice Questions 1.2

1. (a)

19 24 13 24

(b) (f) 5 8

1 6

(c) (g)

5 6 5 12 25 1 =4 6 6 35 4 =1 31 31

(d) (h)

5 42 7 1 =1 6 6

(e) 3

(i)

16 1 =1 15 15 49 9 =2 20 20 3. 1 3

(j)

9 1 =4 2 2 20 2 =6 3 3 4. 1 6

(k)

(l) 5

(m) 3 10

(n)

(o)

2.

Practice Questions 1.3

1. (a)

1 2

(b) 25

(c) 9

(d) 56

(e)

1 2 1 125 1 4

(f) 27

2. (a) 16 3. (a) 3

(b) 5 (b) 4

(c)

1 4

(d) 8 (d) 1 64

(e)

(f) 3 (f) 1 3

(c) 4

(e)

Practice Questions 1.4

1. 0.625 3. (a) 1 (e) 6.6775 (i) 12.7823 (m) 10021

2.

3 20 (b) 12.608 (f) 2.505 (j) 2.92175 (n) 0.05 (c) 0.111 (g) 0.04 (k) 7.4 (o) 0.4 (d) 10.981 (h) 0.0004 (l) 701 (p) 1.1

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Practice Questions 1.5

1. 0.057 4. 0.087

2. 0.056 5. 4.7

3. 0.00 6. 3.142

Practice Questions 1.6

(a) 4dp, 6sf

(b) 3dp, 3sf

(c) 4dp, 2sf

(d) 0dp, 3sf

(a) 3.45 101 (e) 1.502 105

(b) 3.5 103 (f) 3.0 107

(c) 2.51 102 (g) 7.5 102

(d) 5.3221 102

1. (a) 15% 2. (a) 52% 3. (a) 4. 5% 5. 4% 6. 31.25% 7. 20% 8. 264 9. 480 10. 60%
Practice Questions 1.9

(b) 80% (b) 3% (b) 2 , 0.4 5

(c) 36% (c) 45.5% (c) 13 , 0.0325 400

9 , 0.175 40

1. 3 : 10 2.
A C

(AD = 2.86 AC) 3. 4kg, 6kg

Glyn James and John Searl, Modern Engineering Mathematics, 4th Edition, Refresher Units in Mathematics

4. 4 : 9 5. 9801 6. 1 : 250,000 7. 6258, 4470 8. A 720 litres, B 1200 litres, C 960 litres

End of Refresher Unit 1

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