TRADE MATHEMATICS TUTORIAL

This tutorial has been created to

aid the electrical apprentice.
It is highly advised that this
tutorial be completed prior to
entry of stage 2A.
It contains worked examples,
questions and answers on the
following:
• transposition
• trigonometry
• multiples and sub-multiples

Author: S. Tsitouris
 TRANSPOSITION
Transposition is the rearrangement of a formula so that the
subject or quantity to be found is placed on one side by itself.
Whatever process is applied to one side of the formula, the
same process must be applied to the other side of the formula.
This holds true for addition, subtraction, multiplication,
division, square root, raising to a power, etc.

Example 1:
V
Transpose R = for V
I

V
Multiply both sides by ‘I’ RI = × I
I

Cancel ‘I’ on right RI = V

Or… V = IR
......................................................................................................

Example 2:
The area of a triangle is: A = ½bh
where b is breadth and h is height.

Transpose A = ½ bh for h

Multiply both sides by ‘2’ 2A = ½ 2bh

Cancel ‘2’ on right 2A = bh

2A bh
Divide both sides by ‘b’ =
b b

2A
Cancel ‘b’ on right = h
b
Therefore if A is 6m2 and b = 3;
= 2 × 6 = 4m.
2A
Then h =
b 3

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Steve Tsitouris
Example 3:
Transpose z = 6p − 5 for p

Add ‘5’ to both sides z+5 = 6p − 5 + 5

Cancel the ‘5’ on the right z+5 = 6p

z+5 6p
Divide both sides by 6 =
6 6

z+5
Cancel the 6 on right =p
6
......................................................................................................

Example 4:
Transpose V = Πr 2 h for h

V Πr 2 h
Divide both sides by πr2 =
Πr 2 Πr 2

V
Cancel πr2 on right =h
Πr 2
......................................................................................................

Example 5:
Transpose v = Πr 2 h for r

V Πr 2 h
Divide both sides by πh =
Πh Πh

V
Cancel πh on right = r2
Πh

V
Square root both sides = r2
Πh

V
Cancel the square = r
Πh
and square root on right

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Exercises:

Transpose the following:

2ΠnT
1. Q = CV for C 2. Po = for n
60

Po
3. v = u + at for a 4. η= × 100 for Pi
Pi

V2
5. a 2 = b2 + c2 for c 6. P= for R
R

1
7. X l = 2ΠfL for f 8. Xc = for C
2ΠfC

9. Z 2 = R2 + X 2 for X 10. v = V MAX sin θ for θ

L
11. τ= for R 12. τ = RC for C
R

ρl
13. R= for l 14. QT = Q1 + Q2 + Q3 for Q3
A

R
15. cos θ = for θ 16. V MAX = 4.44 N p ff MAX for f
Z

Vp Np
17. = for N s 18. Vrms = 0.707V p for Vp
Vs Ns

Vp 1 1 1
19. Vrms = for Vp 20. = + for RT
1.414 RT R1 R2

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 TRIGONOMETRY

A C

A + B + C = 180 degrees

B
B

A C

A + B + C = 180degrees
B + C = 90degrees

Pythagoras’ theorum:
a2 = b2 +c2
i.e. the square of the hypotenuse is equal to the sum of the
squares on the other two sides.
This formula can be used to calculate the sides of a right
angled triangle.

Example 1: Calculate a c2 = a2 + b2
c2 = 422 + 312
c c2 = 1764 + 961
a=31 B c2 = 2725
Thus, c = 2725 = 52.2
b=42

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 Example 2: Calculate b c2 = a2 + b2
c=110 b2 = c2 – a2 (by transposition)
b2 = 1102 - 402
a=40 B b2 = 12100 - 1600
thus b = 10500 = 102.47
b
......................................................................................................

Example 3: Calculate c c2 = a2 + b2
a2 = c2 – b2 (by transposition)
c=33 a2 = 332 - 282
a B a2 = 1089 - 784
thus a = 305 = 17.46

b=28
…………………………………………………………………..

A
H is the Hypotenuse
O is the Opposite to the angle
A is the Adjacent to the angle

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 Example 4:

Use the calculator to find the values of:

a) cos 250 d) sin 650
b) cos 35.770 e) tan 700
c) sin 480 f) tan 350
......................................................................................................

Example 5:

Use the calculator to find the angle of each of the following:

a) sin-1 0.819 d) cos-1 0.766
b) sin-1 0.94 e) tan-1 1.732
c) cos-1 0.5 f) tan-1 0.7
......................................................................................................

Example 6:

Find the unknown to the following:

opp
sin Θ =
hyp

53 opp
sin Θ =
53
opp
30O opp = 53 sin Θ

opp = 53x sin 30°

opp = 53x0.5

opp = 26.5

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 Example 7:

Find the unknown to the following:

opp
tan Θ =
adj

opp
tan Θ =
15

opp = 15 tan Θ
opp
opp = 15x tan 60°

60O
opp = 26

15
......................................................................................................

Example 8:

Find the unknown to the following:

adj
cos Θ =
hyp

adj
cos 45° =
100 100

adj = 100 cos 45°

adj = 100x0.707
45O
adj = 70.7

adj

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Steve Tsitouris
 Example 9:
`
Find the unknown to the following:
opp
tan Θ =
adj

40
tan Θ =
30

40 tan Θ = 1.33

Θ = tan-11.33
ϑ
Θ = 53.06°

30

......................................................................................................

Example 10:

Find the unknown to the following:

opp
sin Θ =
hyp

40
sin Θ° =
50
50
40
sin Θ = 0.8
Θ = sin-10.8

Θ = 53.13°

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Steve Tsitouris
Example 11:

Find the unknown to the following:

adj
cos Θ =
hyp

120
cos Θ° =
150
150

cos Θ = 0.833

Θ = cos-10.833
Θ
125 Θ = 33.6°

…………………………………………………………………..

Exercise 1:

Find the unknown lengths to the following:

a) c)

255
30

30
175

b) d)

44
50 123
65

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Exercise2:

Find the lengths or angles marked ‘x’ and in the following

right-angled triangles:

a) b)
x

32
3.5 m

110 mm

32
x

c) 2.4 m d)
63

4.7m

2.3m
e) f)
12m

x x
7.2 m
4.3 m

34m

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 THE METRIC SYSTEM AND SI UNITS

BASE UNITS
Quantity Unit Symbol

length meter m
mass kilogram kg
time second s
electric current ampere A
thermodynamic temp. kelvin K
luminous intensity candela cd
amount of substance mole mol

The base units that are mostly used are: length, mass and time.

DERIVED UNITS (WITH SPECIAL NAMES)

Quantity Unit Symbol Derivation

force newton N kg m/s2

pressure pascal Pa N/m2
stress pascal Pa N/m2
work joule J Nm
energy joule J Nm
power watt W J/s
temperature degree Celcius C K-273.15

These derived units are used in the trade.

DERIVED UNITS (WITH COMPLEX NAMES)

Quantity SI Units Symbol

area square meter m2

volume cubic meter m3
pressure newton/square meter N/m2
moment of force newton meter

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 TABLE OF POWERS OF 10
Number Power of 10 Number Power of 10
6
1000 000 10 1 100
5
100 000 10 0.1 10-1
4
10 000 10 0.01 10-2
3
1 000 10 0.001 10-3
2
100 10 0.000 1 10-4
1
10 10 0.000 01 10-5
0
1 10 0.000 001 10-6

PREFERRED MULTIPLES AND SUBMULTIPLES

Prefix Symbol Factor Magnitude
12
tera T 10 1000 000 000 000
9
giga G 10 1000 000 000
6
mega M 10 1000 000
3
kilo k 10 1000
-3
milli m 10 0.001
-6
micro µ 10 0.000 001
-9
nano n 10 0.000 000 001
-12
femto f 10 0.000 000 000 001
-15
atto a 10 0.000 000 000 000 0001

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According to the laws of mathematics and physics, the derived
units are obtained by combining and interrelating base symbols.
You can indicate multiplication by joining the symbols and
omitting spaces:

Newtons × meters = N × m = Nm

Division is shown by any of the following methods:

meters m
m/s m / s −1
sec onds s

If division is to be carried out more than once, only one stroke

is used. Therefore meters per second per second is shown as:

m
m / s2 m / s −2
s2

…………………………………………………………………..

MULTIPLE AND SUBMULTIPLE UNITS

We can use and index or power as a method of writing the
multiples and submultiples of ten. This index indicates the
number of times ten is multiplied or divided by itself to obtain
the desired number.

10 = 1 x 10 = 101
100 = 10 x 10 = 1 x 102 = 102
1000 = 10 x 10 x 10 = 1 x 103 = 103

0.1 = 1 x 10-1 = 10-1

0.01 = 1 x 10-2 = 10-2
0.001 = 1 x 10-3 = 10-3

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MULTIPLICATION OF POWERS OF 10

102 x 103
i.e. 10 x 10 multiplied by 10 x 10 x 10
which is 10 x 10 x 10 x 10 x10
which equals 105

103 x 10-2
i.e. 10 x 10 x 10 x 0.01
which equals 10

DIVISION OF POWERS OF 10

105/102
i.e.
10 x 10 x 10 x 10 x 10
10 x 10

by cancellation the solution is:

10 x 10 x 10 = 103

Other numbers may also have powers of 10 in their expressions.

eg: 4 758 897 = 4.758 897 x 106
eg: 0.00032 = 0.32 x 10-3 = 3.2 x 10-4 = 32 x 10-5

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TRADE APPLICATION OF UNITS

Let’s choose a unit. eg: Length.

The base unit for length is the meter (m).
Multiples and submultiples of the meter are used where
appropriate. This allows the dimensions or distances are neither
too large or too small.

1 meter = 1000 millimeters

or 1m = 1000mm

1 kilometer = 1000 meters

or 1km = 1000m

EXERCISES:

1. Express the following as powers of 10:

a) 1000 000
b) 10 000
c) 1000
d) 10
e) 0.01
f) 0.000 01
g) 0.000 001

2. What prefix and symbol is given to the following

multiples or submultiples?
a) 1000 000
b) 1000
c) 0.001
d) 0.000 001

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3. Express the following as millimeters:
a) 6 436m
b) 245m
c) 56.44m
d) 0.000 18km

4. Express the following pressures as pascals:

a) 5.78MPa
b) 1 255.75kPa
c) 0.0166Mpa

5. Calculate:
a) 103 x 105 d) 106/102
b) 104 x 10-2 e) 10-2/102
c) 103 x 10-3 f) 103/10-2

6. Express the following quantities using the appropriate

power of 10 multiple or submultiple:
a) 367 876mm
b) 1 789mm
c) 300 780g
d) 0.0067 litres

7. Multiply the following and express with a suitable power

of 10:
a) 8.98 x 106 x 10-5
b) 2 678 x 10-3 x 106
c) 0.0098 x 102 x 106
d) 4.5 x 106 x 10-5
e) 3.05 x 10-4 x 10-1

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8. Divide the following and express with a suitable power of
10:
a) 4.8 x 106 by 10-5
b) 2 498 x 10-4 by 10-2
c) 0.378 x 103 by 10-2
d) 423.834 x 106 by 10-3

9. What derived unit is obtained when the following are

multiplied?
a) meters by meters
b) newtons by meters
c) kilograms by meters

10. What derived unit is obtained when the following are

divided?
a) newtons by square meters
b) joules by seconds

11. Express the following in meters:

a) 2.908km
b) 0.066km
c) 2 500 000mm
d) 7 776mm
e) 45 900mm
f) 0.8 x 10-3km

12. Express the following in grams:

a) 0.348kg
b) 0.008kg
c) 7.888kg
d) 5 900mg
e) 10 700mg

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13. Express the following to the units shown:
a) 0.562km to meters
b) 0.095 m to millimeters
c) 4 879g to kilograms
d) 2 760s to minutes

14. Express the following to the units shown:

a) 5 812N to kilonewtons
b) 5.18 x 106N to meganewtons
c) 1.45 x 109N to meganewtons
d) 0.088kN to newtons
e) 2.05 x 10-6MN to newtons

15. Express the following to the units shown:

a) 12250 x 10-3 J to kilojoules
b) 152350 x 106 J to kilojoules
c) 56.56 x 109 J to megajoules
d) 1.66 x 103 kJ to joules
e) 0.88 x 10-6 kJ to joules
f) 6 784 W to kilowatts
g) 77 895W to kilowatts
h) 79 x 10-3 MW to watts
i) 6.1 x 10-3MW to kilowatts

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Answers to student exercises

Transposition
1. C = Q/V 11. R = L/τ
2. n = (60P o )/2πT 12. C = τ/R
3. a = (v – u)/t 13. l = RA/ρ
4. P i = (P o 100)/ η 14. Q3 = QT – Q1 – Q2
5. c = a2 − b2 15. ϑ = cos-1(R/Z)
6. R = V2/P 16. f = V/4.44Npf max
7. f = X L /2πL 17. N s = N p V s /V p
8. C = 1/X C 2πf 18. Vp = V rms /0.707
9. X = Z2 – R2 19. V p = V rms /1.414
10. ϑ = sin-1vV max 20. R t = 1/(1/R1 + 1/R2)

Trigonometry
1a. 42.43 1c. 185.47
1b. 41.53 1d. 114.86

2a. 58.29mm 2d. 60.70

2b. 2.97m 2e. 69.330
2c. 5.29m 2f. 53.330

Multiples and submultiples

1a. 106 1e. 10-2
1b. 104 1f. 10-5
1c. 103 1g. 10-6
1d. 101

2a. Mega (M) 2c. milli (m)

2b. kilo (k) 2d. micro (µ)

3a. 6 436 000mm 3c. 56 440mm

3b. 245 000mm 3d. 180mm

4a. 5 780 000Pa 4c. 16 600Pa

4b. 1 255 750Pa

5a. 108 5d. 104

5b. 102 5e. 10-4
5c. 100 or 1 5f. 105

6a. 367.816km 6c. 300.78kg

6b. 1.789km 6d. 6.7ml

7a. 89 800 x 103 7d. 0.045 x 103

7b. 2.678 x 106 7e. 30.5 x 10-6
7c. 80 x 103

8a. 0.48 x 1012 8c. 37.8 x 103

8b. 0.02498 x 103 8d. 0.423 x 1012

9a. m2 9c. kgm

9b. Nm

10a. N/m2 10b. J/s

11a. 2 908m 11d. 7.776m

11b. 66m 11e. 45.9m
11c. 2 500m 11f. 0.8m

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12a. 348g 12d. 5.9g
12b. 8g 12e. 10.7g
12c. 7 888g

13a. 562m 13c. 4.879kg

13b. 95mm 13d. 46min

14a. 5.812kN 14d. 88N

14b. 5.18MN 14e. 0.000002N
14c. 1 450MN

15a. 0.13kJ 15f. 6.784kW

15b. 1.61kJ 15g. 77.895kW
15c. 0.0062MJ 15h. 7 900W
15d. 170 980J 15i. 6.1kW
15e. 88 000J

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