Hint: The green

highlighted phrases THE REAL NUMBER SYSTEM

correspond with the Real Numbers: Irrational or Rational
lesson titles in the
unit. Classifying Numbers
Rational Numbers
Terminating or Repeating Decimals
Irrational Numbers Fractions

Never terminate. Integers

{…-3, -2, -1, 0, 1, 2, 3…}
No repeating
pattern.
Whole Numbers
{0, 1, 2, 3,…}

Natural
(Counting)
On the diagram, a circle inside another circle Numbers
shows that the smaller circle is a part of the larger {1, 2, 3,…}
circle. So, all natural numbers are also whole
numbers and integers. And all whole numbers are
also integers. It doesn't work the other way around
though. Not all integers are whole numbers
or natural numbers (like −1), and not all The decimal
Examples Type
whole numbers are natural numbers number is:
(the number 0). terminating 0.25, 13.3457 rational
repeating rational
NOT terminating or
713.6925419927... irrational
repeating

Terms are separated by + or – signs

but the sign is part of the term!
2
5x Monomial (1 term polynomial)
3x + 14 Binomial (2 term polynomial)
2–
5x 6x + 23 Trinomial (3 term polynomial)
“poly”nomial “many” terms (2+)
Polynomials are written in descending order of
exponents which are also in alphabetical order.
The 5 is also called a coefficient because it (If you have two variables, the second variable
is with a variable. will usually be in ascending order.)
When a constant and a variable are
“close”, it means multiply….five times n.
The degree of a polynomial is the same as the highest degree of one of its terms, when the
polynomial is expressed in a linear equation.

Property of South Central Kansas Education Service Center. This material was written to
supplement and expound upon the Odysseyware curriculum as an aid to our students.
The degree of a term is the sum of the exponents of the variables that appear in it. For example, the
polynomial 7x2y3 + 4x – 9 has three terms. (Notice, this polynomial can also be expressed as 7x2y3
+ 4x1 – 9x0.) The first term has a degree of 5 (the sum of the powers 2 and 3), the second term has a
degree of 1, and the last term has a degree of 0. Therefore, the polynomial has a degree of 5 which is
the highest degree of any one term.

BASES, EXPONENTS, and POWERS

Exponents are used in math as a "quicker" way to express repeated multiplication. The base is the
factor that is being repeated. The exponent tells how many times the factor is repeated.
Examples:
CAUTION!!!
43 = 4 · 4 · 4 = 64 (-3)3 = -3 . -3 . -3 = -27 (a neg base will be in parentheses.)
2 5 = 2 · 2 · 2 · 2 · 2 = 32 -32 = “the opposite of 32” = -(3 . 3) = -9
(0.3) 2 = (0.3)(0.3) = 0.09
Hint: If your base is negative….
An even exponent will result in a positive #
An odd exponent will result in a negative #

THE ORDER OF OPERATIONS

In problems that have more than one operation, perform the operations in the following order.
1. Do operations in grouping symbols.
Examples of grouping symbols are parentheses ( ), brackets [ ], PEMDAS stands for:
braces { }, and even the fraction bar, absolute value, Parentheses (grouping)
or square root symbols. If the grouping symbol is preceded by Exponents (and roots)
a plus sign, simply drop the symbols. If the symbol is preceded Multiply
by a negative sign, distribute the -1 as you remove the grouping Divide
symbols. ALWAYS work from the innermost out!!! Add
2. Do exponents and roots. Subtract
Examples of exponents and roots are 5 2 and .
3. Do multiplication and division from left to right. Some students say "Please
CAUTION! Notice that this step says to go from left to right. Excuse My Dear Aunt Sally"
4. Do addition and subtraction from left to right. instead of PEMDAS.
CAUTION! Again, in this step you must go from left to right.
“Evaluate” “Simplify” “Find the Value” (all mean SOLVE)
Substitute and solve!
USE PARENTHESES WHEN SUBSTITUTING!!!!!
Example: “Evaluate” A2+ 2AB for A = 3 and B = 2.
 original expression
A2 + 2AB
 Substitution: replace A with 3 and B with 2.
= (3)2 + 2(3)(2)
 Simplify the exponents.
= 9 + 2(3)(2)
 Multiply left to right.
= 9 + (6)(2)
 Multiply.
= 9 + 12
 Add.
= 21
Property of South Central Kansas Education Service Center. This material was written to
supplement and expound upon the Odysseyware curriculum as an aid to our students.
 THE NUMBER LINE

The number line, shown below, is a graph that lets us represent the real numbers.

Numbers increase in value as you

move to the right on a number line

To the left of zero are the negative numbers, and to the right are positive numbers. The arrows on
the graph are important because they show that the numbers go on forever. The term used to
describe this is infinity. Numbers continue infinitely in both the positive and negative directions.
Opposite numbers are the same distance from zero on the number line but in opposite directions.
Every real number has an opposite. The opposite of 2 is −2, and the opposite of −7 is 7. Distance
(which is measured by absolute value) is always positive because it only refers to the number of
units between two numbers, or the length between two objects. It does not refer to direction. When
graphing on a number line, an open circle means greater than or less than. A closed circle on a
number line means greater than or equal to or less than or equal to.

To compare and order numbers, it may be necessary to convert to a different form. Once they are all
in the same form, you can place them in the correct order.

Here is a summary of the "rules" for converting between fractions, decimals and percents.

Property of South Central Kansas Education Service Center. This material was written to
supplement and expound upon the Odysseyware curriculum as an aid to our students.
Converting a repeating decimal…

First, determine how many places are in your period (or pattern).

0.12341234... = 0.1234 and has a period of 4. (“pattern” of 4, use 4 zeros [10000])

0.12343434... = 0.1234 and has a period of 2. (“pattern” of 2, but use 4 zeros to include pattern [10000])
0.1234444... = 0.1234 and has a period of 1. (“pattern of 1, but use 4 zeros to include pattern [10000])
__ Convert to a fraction.
Convert - 0.36 to a fraction.
If you have a preceding number which is
The following steps work whether the fraction is NOT in your pattern, there is an extra
positive or negative. If the decimal is negative, step involved. FIRST move the decimal
its equivalent fraction will be negative also. so it is directly before the pattern. In
this example, we must move 1 place.
Let n = 0.363636. . .There are two numbers in (x 10)
your “pattern”, so you will use two zeros (100) to _ _
change both sides of your equation. If n = .25, then 10n = 2.5 Since the
decimal is now directly before the
Then 100n = 100(0.36363636. . .) = 36.3636. . . pattern this is the “new“ original
(Multiplying a decimal by 100 moves the equation. There is one number in the
decimal point two places to the right.) “pattern”, so use one zero (10) to
change both sides of equation with
multiplication. _______

original equation Then, 10(10n) = 10(2.5)

_______

100n = 25.5 now subtract

_- 10n = 2.5_”new” original eqtn
90n = 23
n = 23
90

Rounding: The rules for rounding decimals, whether rational or irrational, are given for you to
follow.

1. When rounding to a certain number of places, look at the digit immediately after (on the right)
the last decimal place to be kept.
2. If this digit is 0, 1, 2, 3, or 4, leave the last place to be kept as it is, and drop all remaining
digits.
3. If this next digit is 5, 6, 7, 8, or 9, add 1 to the last place to be kept, and change all remaining
digits to 0.

Example: Rounding pi: 3.1415926 . . .

To the nearest tenth (one decimal place) is 3.1 because the next digit is 4.
To the nearest hundredth (two decimal places) is 3.14 because the next digit is 1.
To the nearest thousandth (three decimal places) is 3.142 because the next digit is 5.
To the nearest ten-thousandths (four decimal places) is 3.1416 because the next digit is 9.

Property of South Central Kansas Education Service Center. This material was written to
supplement and expound upon the Odysseyware curriculum as an aid to our students.
 Property Name Rule
commutative property of addition a+b=b+a
commutative property of multiplication a•b=b•a
associative property of addition a + (b + c) = (a + b) + c
associative property of multiplication (a • b) • c = a • (b • c)
distributive property of multiplication
a(b + c) = ab + ac
over addition
distributive property of multiplication
a(b - c) = ab - ac
over subtraction
identity property of addition
a+0=a
(identity element is 0)
identity property of multiplication a•1=a
inverse property of addition a + -a = 0

inverse property of multiplication

a• =1
Symmetric property If a = b, then b = a

INTEGER RULES
Operation Results
pos + pos = pos
(same team)
neg + neg = neg
Addition
pos + neg = WAR!!
(Stronger “army” wins SIGN, by how many/subtract?)
“KFC”
K – Keep the first number
Subtraction F – Flip to addition
C – Change 2nd number to its opposite
(Now follow your addition rules.)
Same signs (or even # negative factors) = positive
Multiplication and Division
Different signs (or odd # negative factors) = negative

Property of South Central Kansas Education Service Center. This material was written to
supplement and expound upon the Odysseyware curriculum as an aid to our students.
 SOLVING EQUATIONS/INEQUALITIES
1. Eliminate parentheses/grouping terms.
 When parentheses are preceded by a + sign, remove ( ) and keep signs the same.
2x – 5 + (x – 13)……2x – 5 + x – 13…….3x - 18
 When parentheses are preceded by a – sign, remove ( ) and change the signs of EACH
term. 5x + 7 – (2x – 7)..…..5x + 7 – 2x + 7…….3x + 14

2. Combine/add LIKE terms on each side of the equation. Make each side as simple as possible
before you begin to “move” terms.
(Hint: Remember, when you combine/add like terms, the variable DOES NOT change!!!
The variable may change when you multiply.)

3. Use inverse operations on BOTH SIDES OF THE EQUATION to isolate the variable. Begin
“moving” the terms “not touching” the variable.

4. Solve and check. (REMEMBER for inequalities {≤, ˂, ≥, ˃}, if you divide or multiply both
sides, BY A NEGATIVE, the inequality sign will “flip”!)
Terms Type Reason they cannot combine INVERSE OPERATIONS
7x and 3y Unlike Not the same variable
2x and 5x 2 Unlike Not the same exponents
Operation Inverse (Think
“reverse”)
-4x and 5xy Unlike Not all the same variables
5 and 3x Unlike Both are not variables Addition Subtraction
Reminder: x is the same as 1x Subtraction Addition
You can multiply a number and a variable,
but you CANNOT add/combine them. Multiplication Division
Example: Division Multiplication
3x + 2 + 5x – 7 = 2x – (2x – 28) Square Square Root

3x + 2 + 5x – 7 = 2x – 2x + 28 eliminate Square Root Square

parentheses HINT: Always start with the terms not directly
touching the variable when solving a multi-step
8x – 5 = 28 combine like terms on each side equation.
8x – 5 + 5 = 28 + 5 isolate the variable by
REMEMBER – You must keep the equation balanced!!!
adding 5 to both sides What you do to one side of the equation,
8x ÷ 8 = 33 ÷ 8 isolate the variable further you MUST do to the other side of the equation!!
by dividing both sides by 8
x = 33 ÷ 8 Solve. WHAT HAPPENED TO MY VARIABLES?!
When solving, if the variables are eliminated and
x = 33/8 In algebra, we use improper fractions. there remains a false statement like 2 = 5, there is
Mixed numbers are rarely used. no solution. An empty set.
Property of South Central Kansas When solving, if the variables are eliminated and
Education Service Center. This
there remains a true statement like 5 = 5, there are
material was written to supplement
and expound upon the Odysseyware infinite answers. Solution is all real numbers.
curriculum as an aid to our students.