Number

 Types of number
 Integers

Integers are positive and negative whole numbers: … , -2, -1, 0, 1, 2, …..

 Natural numbers

Natural numbers are integers that can be used for counting : 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, …..

 Rational numbers

a
A Rational number is a number that can be written as a friction where a and b are integers
b
and b ≠ 0. Rational numbers include :

 All integers
581
 All terminating decimals, for example 5.81 can be written as
100
2
 All recurring decimals, for example 0 6. = 0.666 666… can be written as .
3

Irrational numbers
An irrational number is a number that cannot be written as a fraction such as 2 or π.
They give decimals that do not terminate or recur.

Real numbers
The set of real numbers is made up of all rational and irrational numbers.

Prime Factors
The factors of a number are all of the numbers that divide exactly into that number.
A prime number is a number with only two factors. The factors of 7 are 1 and 7, so 7
is a prime number. The factors of 12 are 1, 2, 3, 4, 6 and 12, so 12 is not a prime
number. The only factor of 1 is 1, so 1 is not a prime number. Any number that is not
prime can be written as the product of its prime factors. The prime factors of a
number can be found either using a factor tree or by dividing repeatedly by prime
numbers.
Common factors and common multiples
A common factor of two numbers is a number that is a factor of both of them. 2 is a common
factor of 8 and 12 because 8 ÷ 2 = 4 and 12 ÷ 2 = 6.
The highest common factor (HCF) of two numbers is the highest number that is a factor of
both numbers.
A multiple of a number is the product of the number and any integer. A common multiple of
two numbers is a number that is a multiple of both of them.
20 is a common multiple of 2 and 5 because 2 × 10 = 20 and 5 × 4 = 20.
The lowest common multiple (LCM) of two numbers is the lowest number that is a multiple
of both numbers.
Set language and notations
A set is a collection of numbers, shapes, letters, points or other objects. They form a set
because they fulfil certain conditions. The notation for a set is a pair of curly brackets: {…}.
The individual members of a set are called elements. A set can be defined by giving a rule
which satisfies all the elements or by giving a list of the elements.
Sets can be have a finite numbers of element or an infinite number of elements. The finite
sets have a fixed number of elements, meanwhile the infinite sets have not a fixed number
of elements. For example, {multiples of 8} or {prime numbers} Most of the sets you will be
dealing with will be finite sets. Sometimes we make sure we are dealing with a finite set by
defining a universal set. A universal set is a set from which – for a particular situation – all
other sets will be taken. 50.
Notation
The symbol for a universal set is e
The symbol ∈ means ‘is an element of’.
The symbol ∉ means ‘is not an element of’.
So 3 ∈ {prime numbers} and 4 ∉ {prime numbers}

Venn diagrams are a way of showing sets and the relationships between sets. Venn diagrams
were introduced in 1880 by John Venn. In a Venn diagram the universal set is shown by a
rectangle. Other sets are drawn as circles or ovals within the rectangle
Squares, square roots, cubes, and cubes roots
The integers 1, 4, 9, 16, 25, … are the squares of the integers 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, … . Because 16 =
42 , the positive square root of 16 is 4. It is written as 16 = 4. Similarly 36 = 6 and 81 = 9.
The cube of a number is the number multiplied by itself, and then by itself again. The
integers 1, 8, 27, 64, 125, 216, … are the cubes of the integers 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, … . Because 8 =
23 the cube root of 8 is 2. It is written as 83 = 2. Similarly 27 3 = 3 and 64 3 = 4.
Directed numbers
Some numbers are less than zero. These are called negative numbers. They are written as
ordinary numbers with a negative sign in front. Negative numbers are used in many
situations.
Vulgar and decimal fractions and percentages
a
A fraction is a number written in the form , where a and b are integers. The value on the
b
top of the fraction is known as the numerator. The value on the bottom of the fraction is
4
known as the denominator. The fraction is a proper fraction because the numerator is
7
7
smaller than the denominator. The fraction is an improper fraction because the numerator
4
3
is larger than the denominator. The fraction 1 is a mixed number because it is formed from
4
an integer and a proper fraction.

A fraction can be used to describe a share of a quantity. The denominator shows how many
parts the quantity is divided into. The numerator shows how many of those parts are
required.

The fraction represented by the shaded parts is 1 4 or 2 8 or 4 16. These three fractions are
equal in value and are equivalent. 1 4 = 2 8 = 4 16 but 1 4 is in its simplest form or in its
lowest terms

We can use place value in a decimal to convert the decimal to a fraction

So both terminating and recurring decimals can be written as fractions. Also all fractions can
be written as a terminating or a recurring decimal. You can convert the fraction 5 8 to a
decimal using division. 5 8 0.625 5 8 = ÷ = This is a terminating decimal because it finishes at
the digit 5. You can convert the fraction 1 6 to a decimal using division. 1 6 0.166 666... 1 6 =
÷ = This is a recurring decimal because the digit 6 repeats indefinitely. Dot notation for
recurring decimals Dot notation can be used when writing recurring decimals. Dots are
placed over the digits that recur. For example, 1 3 = 0.333 333… is written using dot notation
as 0.3. 1 6 = 0.166 666… is written using dot notation as 0.16. 124 999 = 0.124 124 124…
is written using dot notation as 0.124  

fractions, decimals and percentages The term per cent means ‘out of 100’. For example 75%
means 75 out of every 100 or 75 100 . 75 100 can be written in decimal form as 0.75. So 75%
is equivalent to 75 100 and 0.75. You can find fraction and decimal equivalents of all
percentages. There are some fraction, decimal and percentage equivalents that are useful to
remember