FUNDAMENTALS OF MATHEMATICS

I. Fundamental Operations and their Respective Properties (and Divisibility Rules)

ADDITION
5+10=15
Addend + Addend = Sum
PROPERTIES
Commutative Property of Addition a+ b=b+a
Associative Property of Addition ( a+ b ) +c=a+(b+c )
a+ 0=a
Identity Property of Addition
0 is the additive identity
a+ (−a ) =0
Inverse Property of Addition
−a is the additive inverse
SUBTRACTION
18+1 0=8
Minuend – Subtrahend = Difference
PROPERTIES
Non-Commutative Property of Subtraction a−b ≠ b−a
Non-Associative Property of Subtraction ( a−b )−c ≠ a−(b−c)
Identity Property of Subtraction a−0=a
Inverse Property of Subtraction a−a=0
MULTIPLICATION
7 ×5=35
Multiplicand × Multiplier = Product
PROPERTIES
Commutative Property of Multiplication a × b=b ×a
Associative Property of Multiplication ( a × b ) ×c=a ×(b ×c )
Distributive Property of
a × ( b+c )= ( a ×b )+(a × c)
Multiplication over Addition
Distributive Property of
a × ( b−c )=( a × b )−(a × c)
Multiplication over Subtraction
Distributive Property of (a +b) a b (a−b) a b
= + or = −
Multiplication over Division c c c c c c
a × 1=a
Identity Property of Multiplication
1 is the multiplicative identity

Inverse Property of Multiplication

a×() 1
a
=1
1
is the multiplicative inverse
a
Zero Property of Multiplication a × 0=0
DIVISION
7 0 ÷ 10=7+ 0
Dividend ÷ Divisor = Quotient +¿ Remainder
PROPERTIES
Non-Commutative Property of Division a÷b≠b÷a
Non-Associative Property of Division ( a ÷ b ) ÷ c ≠ a÷ (b ÷ c)
Identity Property of Division a ÷ 1=a
Inverse Property of Addition a ÷ a=1
DIVISIBILITY RULES
Divisibility by 2 A number is divisible by 2 if its last
 digit is an even number (0,2,4,6,8).
A number is divisible by 3 if the
Divisibility by 3
sum of its digits is divisible by 3.
A number is divisible by 4 if the number
Divisibility by 4
represented by its last two digits is divisible by 4.
Divisibility by 5 A number is divisible by 5 if its last digit is 0 or 5.
A number is divisible by 6
Divisibility by 6
if it is divisible by 2 AND 3.
To check divisibility by 7, subtract the double of the
last digit from the remaining digits. If the difference
Divisibility by 7
is divisible by 7, then the original number is also
divisible by 7. Repeat if necessary.
A number is divisible by 8 if the number
Divisibility by 8
represented by its last three digits is divisible by 8.
A number is divisible by 9 if the
Divisibility by 9
sum of its digits is divisible by 9.
Divisibility by 10 A number is divisible by 10 if its last digit is 0.
Method 1: Subtract the last digit of the number from
the rest of the number. If the difference is divisible by
11, then the entire number is also divisible by 11.
Repeat if necessary until you get a two-digit number
Divisibility by 11
or a number that you can easily divide by 11.
Method 2: If the difference of the sum of alternative
digits of a number is divisible by 11, then the entire
number is divisible by 11.
A number is divisible by 12 if the
Divisibility by 12
number is divisible by BOTH 3 AND 4.
Add four times of the last digit of the number to the
remaining number. Repeat the process if necessary
Divisibility by 13 until you get a number with two digits. If the number
you end up with is divisible by 13, then the original
number is also divisible by 13.

II. Order of Operations

G E M D A S
Grouping
(Parentheses) Exponents Multiplication Division Addition Subtraction
( ), [ ], { }
Important Notes:
1. In a particular simplification, if you have both multiplication and division, do the operations one by
one in the order from left to right.
2. Division does not always come before multiplication. We have to do one by one in the order from left
to right.
3. In a particular simplification, if you have both addition and subtraction, do the operations one by one
in the order from left to right.

III. Exponents, Roots, and Factorization of Whole Numbers

EXPONENTIAL NOTATION
(repeated multiplication)
2
10
Exponent
Bas e
 Read as “ten to the second power,” or “ten squared”
ROOT NOTATION
(uses radical sign √ )
√3 27
√ radicand
index

Read as “cube root of twenty-seven”

whole number greater than one whose only factors
Prime Number
are 1 and itself
1 not a prime number
2 first prime and the only even prime number
25 number of prime numbers less than 100
168 number of prime numbers less than 1000
whole number greater than one that is composed of
Composite Number
factors other than itself and 1
the factorization of a number with all factors as prime
Prime Factorization
numbers
factor that occurs in each number of a group of
Common Factor
numbers
Greatest Common Factor (GCF) largest common factor of a group of whole numbers
resulting individual products when a whole number is
Multiple multiplied by all other whole numbers, with the
exception of zero
multiples that are common to a group of whole
Common Multiple
numbers
smallest whole number that each of the given whole
Least Common Multiple (LCM)
numbers divides into without a remainder
Relatively Prime Numbers two numbers whose greatest common factor is 1
a positive integer that is equal to the sum of its
Perfect Number
positive divisors, excluding the number itself
6 first perfect number (1+2+3=6)
28 second perfect number (1+2+ 4+7+14=28 )
496 third perfect number
8128 fourth perfect number

IV. Significant Figures

significant or important digits, which convey the
Significant Figures
meaning according to its accuracy
RULES
All non-zero digits are significant. Example: 199,287 contains six significant digits
All zeros that occur between any
Example: 108.0097 contains seven significant digits
two non-zero digits are significant.
All zeros that are on the right of a decimal point
Example: 0.00798 contains three significant digits
and also to the left of a non-zero digit is never
(digits 7, 9, and 8 only)
significant.
All zeros that are on the right of a decimal point
are significant, only if, a non-zero digit does not Example: 20.00 contains four significant digits
follow them.
Example: 0.0079800 contains five significant digits
All the zeros that are on the right of the last non-
(7, 9, 8, two zeros after the non-zeros on the right of
zero digit, after the decimal point, are significant.
the decimal point)
 All the zeros that are on the right of the last non-
zero digit are significant if they come from a Example: 1090 m contains four significant digits
measurement.

V. Fractions, Decimals, and Percentages Conversions

divide 100 and remove the % sign or move the
Percent to Decimal
decimal point 2 places to the left
multiply the given by 100% or move the decimal
Decimal to Percent
point 2 places to the right
Fraction to Decimal divide the numerator by the denominator
a. write down the decimal over the number 1
b. multiply the numerator and the denominator by
10 for every number after the decimal point (10
Decimal to Fraction
for 1 number, 100 for 2 numbers, 1000 for 3
numbers, and so on)
c. simplify
divide the numerator by the denominator and
Fraction to Percent
multiply the quotient by 100%
a. convert the percent into decimal
b. write down the decimal over the number 1
c. multiply the numerator and the denominator by
Percent to Fraction 10 for every number after the decimal point (10
for 1 number, 100 for 2 numbers, 1000 for 3
numbers, and so on)
d. simplify

VI. Systems of Units and their Conversions

METRIC UNITS
1 kilometer (km) = 1,000 meters (m)
1 hectometer (hm) = 100 meters (m)
1 dekameter (dam) = 10 meters (m)
Length 1 meter (m) – base unit
1 decimeter (dm) = 0.1 meter (m)
1 centimeter (cm) = 0.01 meter (m)
1 millimeter (mm) = 0.001 meter (m)
1 kilogram (kg) = 1,000 grams (g)
1 hectogram (hg) = 100 grams (g)
1 dekagram (dag) = 10 grams (g)
Mass 1 gram (g) – base unit
1 decigram (dg) = 0.1 gram (g)
1 centigram (cg) = 0.01 gram (g)
1 milligram (mg) = 0.001 gram (g)
1 kiloliter (kL) = 1,000 liters (L)
1 hectoliter (hL) = 100 liters (L)
1 dekaliter (daL) = 10 liters (L)
Volume 1 liter (L) – base unit
1 deciliter (dL) = 0.1 liter (L)
1 centiliter (cL) = 0.01 liter (L)
1 milliliter (mL) = 0.001 liter (L)
IMPERIAL UNITS
Length 1 foot (ft) = 12 inches (in.)
 1 yard (yd) = 3 feet (ft) = 36 inches (in)
1 mile (mi) = 5,280 feet (ft)
Weight 1 pound (lb) =16 ounces (oz)
1 ounce (oz) = 0.0625 pound (lb)
1 ton (T) = 2,000 pounds (lb)
1 tablespoon (tbsp) = 3 teaspoons (tsp)
1 fluid ounce (fl oz) = 2 tablespoons (tbsp)
1 fluid ounce (fl oz) = 1/20 pint (pt)
1 cup (c) = 8 fluid ounces (fl oz)
Liquid Volume 1 pint (pt) = 2 cups (c)
1 pint (pt) = 16 fluid ounce (fl oz)
1 quart (qt) = 2 pints (pt)
1 gallon (gal) = 4 quarts (qt)
1 gallon (gal) = 128 fluid ounce (fl oz)
0°C = 273.15 K = 32°F
Temperature 0 K = -273. 15°C = -459.57 °F
0°F = -17.778°C = 255.372 K
1 minute (min) = 60 seconds (sec)
1 hour (hr) = 60 minutes (min)
Time
1 day (da) = 24 hours (hr)
1 week (wk) = 7 days (da)

VII. Properties of Equality

PROPERTIES OF EQUALITY
Reflexive Property of Equality (Axiom of Equality) a=a
Symmetric Property of Equality if a=b , then b=a
Transitive Property of Equality if a=b and b=c , then a=c
if a=b, then b can substitute a
Substitution Property of Equality
in any algebraic expression
Square Root Property of Equality if a=b , then √ a=√ b
if a=b , then a+ c=b+ c ;
Addition Property of Equality
for any real number c
if a=b , then a−c=b−c ;
Subtraction Property of Equality
for any real number c
if a=b , then ac=bc;
Multiplication Property of Equality
for any real number c
a b
if a=b , then = ;
Division Property of Equality c c
for any nonzero number c