MAT093 Softcopy Notes For Students - Week 1
MAT093 Softcopy Notes For Students - Week 1
Learning Outcomes:
Upon completion of this chapter, readers should be able to:
1. Define and state the rules of indices, surds and logarithms.
2. Perform the algebraic operations of indices, surds, logarithms and complex numbers.
3. Solve equations involving indices, surds, logarithms and complex numbers.
Set is used when a collection of similar but distinct objects is to be treated as one whole.
Consider the set of single-digit numbers that consists of 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, and 9. The set
can be written using either one of the following:
Table 1.1
Roster Method The symbol 𝐴 denotes the set and the braces { } are
𝐴 = {0,1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9} used to enclose the elements in the set.
It is useful for classifying the different types of numbers we deal with into sets.
Table 1.2
Notation Description Set Numbers
Natural numbers (counting numbers)
ℕ = {1,2,3,4, … }
ℕ - The numbers that are often used to
count things.
Whole numbers
𝕎 = {0,1,2,3,4, … }
𝕎 - Consist of the counting numbers
together with 0.
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FOUNDATION MATHEMATICS I
Note: The three dots (…), called an ellipsis, indicate that the pattern continues indefinitely.
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1 NUMBER SYSTEM
The rational and irrational numbers together form the set of real numbers, ℝ. The
relationships among the subsets can be illustrated using a Venn diagram, as shown in
Figure 1.1.
𝕎
ℤ 0
{… , −3, −2, −1}
ℚ
3 5 2 2
൜… , − , , , , … ൠ
4 2 3 11
̅
ℚ
3
൛… , − √7, √2, √3, 𝜋, … ൟ
Figure 1.1
Example 1
5
Identify the numbers in the set 𝐴 = {−√9, 8 , 0, 0.122121 … , − √7, 𝜋, 2. ̅̅
23̅̅, 𝑒, 5.45,15}
that are
a) Natural numbers b) Whole numbers
c) Integers d) Rational numbers
e) Irrational numbers f) Real numbers
Solution
3
FOUNDATION MATHEMATICS I
Example 2
Solution
Real numbers can be depicted graphically as points on a straight line known as a real number
line. A specific location, the origin, represents zero. Points to the right of the origin represent
positive numbers and points to the left represent negative numbers.
Origin
Negative direction Positive direction
Real number line
-2 -1 0 1 2
−𝜋 − √2 √3 𝑒
Given any two real numbers 𝑎 and 𝑏, the three possibilities are
a) 𝑎 is less than 𝑏 , written as 𝑎 < 𝑏.
b) 𝑎 is equal to 𝑏, written as 𝑎 = 𝑏.
c) 𝑎 is greater than 𝑏, written as 𝑎 > 𝑏.
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1 NUMBER SYSTEM
Tables 1.3 shows set of real numbers that can be represented as intervals, inequalities and
graphs.
Table 1.3
Name of Interval Interval Inequality Number Line
Notation Description Representation
Finite and closed
[𝑎, 𝑏] 𝑎≤𝑥≤𝑏
𝑎 𝑏
(𝑎, 𝑏] 𝑎<𝑥≤𝑏
𝑎 𝑏
[𝑎, ∞) 𝑎≤𝑥<∞
𝑎
(𝑎, ∞) 𝑎<𝑥<∞
𝑎
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FOUNDATION MATHEMATICS I
Example 3
Rewrite each of the following inequalities using interval notation and illustrate them on the
real number line.
Solution
Example 4
Solution
Exercise 1.1
1. Consider the numbers in the table below. Tick the right box to classify the number.
Numbers 0.43 2 5.3576… −√15 3 𝜋 −2𝑒 𝑠𝑖𝑛 𝜋
√64 4 − √8
5 4
ℕ
𝕎
ℤ
ℚ
̅
ℚ
ℝ
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1 NUMBER SYSTEM
1
3. Locate the numbers 2 4 , 0.34, − √3, 3. ̅̅
25̅̅, 𝑒 , −2.35 on a real number line.
2
4. Write the following statement in interval notation and represent it on a real number line.
a) The real numbers greater than 8.
b) The real numbers less than and equal to −4.
c) The real numbers between and including −3 and 3.
d) The real numbers greater than −10 but less than and equal to 5.
e) The real numbers between 2 and 11.
1.2.1 Indices
An index number is a number that is raised to a power. The power (also known as the index or
exponent) indicates how many times a specified number is to be multiplied by itself.
𝑎𝑛 = ᇣᇧ
𝑎 ×ᇧᇧ
𝑎ᇧᇤᇧ
× 𝑎ᇧ
…ᇧ×
ᇧᇥ𝑎
𝑛 𝑡𝑖𝑚𝑒𝑠
where 𝑎 is the base and the integer 𝑛 is called the index or exponent.
index
𝑛
base
𝑎
𝑎𝑛 is read as ‘𝑎 to the nth power’.
For examples:
26 = 2 × 2 × 2 × 2 × 2 × 2 = 64
1 3 1 1 1 1
( ) = × × =
3 3 3 3 27
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FOUNDATION MATHEMATICS I
• Properties of Indices
𝑎𝑚 𝑝9
= 𝑎𝑚−𝑛 3
= 𝑝9−3 = 𝑝6
𝑎𝑛 𝑝
𝑎 𝑚 𝑎𝑚 5 4 54 625
( ) = 𝑚 , 𝑏≠0 ( ) = 4=
𝑏 𝑏 3 3 81
1 1 1
𝑎−𝑛 = 2−4 = =
𝑎𝑛 24 16
𝑚 𝑛
5 5
𝑛
𝑎 𝑛 = √𝑎𝑚 = ( √𝑎)𝑚 𝑞 2 = √𝑞 5 = (√𝑞)
𝑎0 = 1 , 𝑎 ≠ 0 70 = 1
Example 5
Simplify:
1 5
𝑥𝑦 2
a) (𝑟 −7 3
) b) −2 3 5
(𝑝 𝑦 ) c) (√9𝑡) 4 d) (25)2 e) ( 3)
16 𝑥
Solution
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1 NUMBER SYSTEM
Example 6
Simplify the following.
Solution
Example 7
Simplify:
1 3 1 1 3
5 1
a) 81−4 b) 162 c) 5𝑏 4 ÷ 15𝑏 3 ∙ 𝑏 2 d) 3
√𝑥 ∙ √𝑥 2𝑛 ÷ (𝑥 −6 )2
Solution
1 17 50+6𝑛
Ans: a) b) 64 c) 𝑏 12 d) 𝑥 15
3
3
Example 8
Simplify:
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FOUNDATION MATHEMATICS I
Solution
3 𝑣
Ans: a) 2−12𝑥+18 b) 22𝑥+8 ∙ 321𝑥+1 c) √
𝑢5
Exponential or index equations are those in which the variable index is involved. For
2
example, 3𝑥 = 92𝑥 and 2𝑥 − 43𝑥−4 = 0. When the index is unknown, the index
property of equality can be used to solve exponential equations.
Solving such equations requires expressing each term as a power of the same base.
Example 9
Solve the following equations:
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1 NUMBER SYSTEM
Example 10
Solution
1.2.2 Surd
Surd is a number that contains one or more root sign; √⬚ (or radical sign) which cannot be
𝑎
simplified into a fraction of two integers; 𝑏 , 𝑏 ≠ 0. For example, √2 is a surd but √4 is not a
surd since √4 = 2. Thus, surd is an irrational number, and expressed in its simplest form.
Examples:
a) √3 b) 4√5 c) 2 − √7 d) √2 + 4
3 12 √4(3) 2√ 3
e) √3 + √5 f) √9 g) √8 = √4(2) = 2√2 h) √ = =
25 √25 5
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FOUNDATION MATHEMATICS I
• Properties of Surd
Table 1.5
Properties of Surd Examples
𝑛
𝑚 3
√𝑎𝑚 = 𝑎 𝑛 √33 = 32
𝑚 𝑚 𝑚 3 3 3 3
√𝑎 √𝑏 = √𝑎𝑏 √5 √4 = √5(4) = √20
𝑚 5
√𝑎 𝑚 𝑎 √4 5 4
5
𝑚 = √ = √ = √2
√𝑏 𝑏 5
√2 2
𝑛 𝑚 3 2(3) 6
𝑚𝑛
√ √𝑎 = √𝑎 √√5 = √5 = √5
𝑚 𝑚 𝑚
𝛽 √𝑎 + 𝛾 √𝑎 = (𝛽 + 𝛾) √𝑎 √2 + 2√2 = 3√2
𝑚 𝑚 𝑚
𝛽 √𝑎 − 𝛾 √𝑎 = (𝛽 − 𝛾) √𝑎 √2 − 2√2 = −√2
CAUTION:
➢ √𝑎√𝑎 = 𝑎
➢ √𝑎 ± 𝑏 ≠ √𝑎 ± √𝑏
➢ √𝑎 2 ± 𝑏 2 ≠ 𝑎 ± 𝑏
2
➢ (√𝑎 ± √𝑏) ≠ 𝑎 ± 𝑏
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1 NUMBER SYSTEM
Example 11
Solution
Example 12
Simplify:
5 3
a) (2 √3) √216 b) 3√11 + 6√44 c) (3√40 + 2√5)(5√2 − 1)
Solution
Example 13
Simplify:
a) √16𝑥 5 𝑦 4 b) 3
√16𝑦√11𝑥 5 𝑦 2 c) √36𝑥 4 𝑦 4
√64𝑥10 𝑦 3
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FOUNDATION MATHEMATICS I
Solution
• Conjugate of Surd
Conjugate of surd is formed by changing the sign between terms of a surd expression.
Examples of pair of conjugates are as follows:
Table 1.6
Surd Conjugate Example (Pair of Conjugates)
√𝑎 ± √𝑏 √𝑎 ∓ √𝑏 √2 + √7 ↔ √2 − √7
√𝑎 ± 𝑏 √𝑎 ∓ 𝑏 √2 + 7 ↔ √2 − 7
𝑎 ± √𝑏 𝑎 ∓ √𝑏 2 + √7 ↔ 2 − √7
• Rationalizing Denominator
Multiplication between conjugates will result in a rational number (no surd expression
exists):
Example 14
−10 2
2 3 − 2√7 7 + √21
a) b) ( ) c) +
√5𝑟 √2 − 2√3 √7 − √3 2
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1 NUMBER SYSTEM
Solution
15
FOUNDATION MATHEMATICS I
Example 15
√3 1+√2
a) Rationalize the denominator and simplify + .
√4+5 √2−3
√𝑢−√𝑣 3√𝑣−2√𝑢
b) Given = and 𝑣 > 1, find the value of √𝑢 − √𝑣 .
√𝑣+2 𝑣−4
Solution
Ans: a) √3 − 4√2 − 5 b) 1
7
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1 NUMBER SYSTEM
• Surd Equation
The equation of surd may exist in three ways; equation consists of one surd, two surds
or three surds. It is important to check the validity of the answer with the original
equation.
Figure 1.2
Example 16
a) √1 − 3𝑥 = 4 b) 3 + 2√𝑥 − 3 = 𝑥 c) √2 − 7𝑥 − 1 = √5 + 𝑥
Solution
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FOUNDATION MATHEMATICS I
Example 17
Solution
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1 NUMBER SYSTEM
Ans: 𝑥 = 4,7
1.2.3 Logarithm
A number which is in index form can be written in a logarithmic form. 𝑥 is the logarithm of 𝑏
to the base 𝑎 is written as 𝑥 = log 𝑎 𝑏 and it is equivalent to 𝑎 𝑥 = 𝑏.
𝑎 𝑥 = 𝑏 ⇔ 𝑥 = log 𝑎 𝑏,
where 𝑎, 𝑏 > 0 and 𝑎 ≠ 1.
𝑏>0
log 𝑎 𝑏 = 𝑥
𝑎 > 0, 𝑎 ≠ 1
The following examples show how index and logarithm can be interchanged.
Table 1.7
Index Form Logarithmic Form
32 = 9 log 3 9 = 2
91 = 9 log 9 9 = 1
5𝑥𝑦 = 𝑧 − 1 log 5 (𝑧 − 1) = 𝑥𝑦
𝑥
√2 = 4 log √2 4 = 𝑥
Note:
➢ Logarithm with base 10 is called common logarithm and it can be written without the
base 10:
log10 𝑥 = log 𝑥
➢ Logarithm with base 𝑒 is called natural logarithm and it can be written as ln:
log 𝑒 𝑥 = ln 𝑥
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FOUNDATION MATHEMATICS I
• Properties of Logarithm
Table 1.8
Properties of Logarithm Examples
log 𝑎 𝑎 = 1 ln 𝑒 = 1
log 𝑎 1 = 0 log 6 1 = 0
𝑎log𝑎 𝑥 = 𝑥 10log 8 = 8
CAUTION:
Example 18
Without using calculator, evaluate the following using the properties of logarithm:
3 1 4 +2ln3)
a) log 4 16( √64) b) log 3 √27 + log 5 125 + log 1000 c) 𝑒 (ln 4−ln 2
Solution
20
1 NUMBER SYSTEM
Example 19
7𝑒 𝑦 8𝑥 3
a) log 5 25√𝑎(𝑏 − 𝑐) b) ln ( ) c) log√
𝑥 𝑦
Solution
Example 20
21
FOUNDATION MATHEMATICS I
Solution
• Change of Base
log 𝑐 𝑏
log 𝑎 𝑏 =
log 𝑐 𝑎
1
Note: log 𝑎 𝑏 =
log𝑏 𝑎
Example 21
Evaluate log √3 35 by converting into ln. Leave the answer in four decimal places.
Solution
22
1 NUMBER SYSTEM
• Logarithmic Equation
Index equation with different bases and cannot be converted into common base can
be solved by applying 𝐥𝐨𝐠 𝟏𝟎 or 𝐥𝐧 to both sides of the equation.
Example 22
Solution
23
FOUNDATION MATHEMATICS I
Example 23
Solution
Example 24
Solve the equations below and leave the answers correct to three significant figures.
2 −3
a) (2𝑒)𝑥 = 𝑒9
b) log 4 (3 + 𝑥) = 2 + log 4 (𝑥 + 1)
Solution
24
1 NUMBER SYSTEM
Exercise 1.2
25
FOUNDATION MATHEMATICS I
26