Numerical Skills For Business

Chapter 1 - Lecture 1

The Number System and Basic Operations with Whole Numbers

MNU1X10 / MNU11X0
Introduction:

A number is a unit used to denote quantity. We can think of

how much or how many. Whenever we use the word
number without qualification, we will mean a “real
number”.
The number symbols that we use today are Hindu-Arabic
in origin. The number system we use comprise of ten
symbols:

0;1;2;3;4; 5;6;7;8;9

With these ten symbols we can represent any real

number.
Introduction:

Integers
Composition of Integers:

positive integers are the numbers : +1 ; +2 ; +3 ;…

negative integers are the numbers : -1 ; -2 ; -3 ; …
Zero (0) is also an integer, but it is neither positive or
negative

The number line

Basic Terminology: ,

1. The result obtained by addition of numbers is referred

to as the SUM.
Example: 2 + 4 + 1 = 7
2. The result obtained by subtraction of numbers is
referred to as the DIFFERENCE.
Example: 10 - 6 = 4
3. The result obtained by multiplication of numbers is
referred to as the PRODUCT.
Example: 3 x 6 = 18
4. The result obtained by division of numbers is referred
to as the QUOTIENT.
Example: 30 6 = 5
Basic Terminology: ,

5. A positive EVEN number is any positive whole number

that is exactly divisible by 2.
6. A positive ODD number is any whole number that is not
exactly divisible by 2.
7. A PRIME number is a number which is divisible only by 1 and
itself.
Example: 2 ; 3 ; 5 ; 7…
8. A FACTOR is a natural number that can be divided
exactly into a given number.
Example: 1; 2; 4; and 8 are all factors of 8
9. A MULTIPLE of a number is the product you obtain
when you multiply that number by any positive
whole number.
Example: 5 ; 10;15; …
The importance of commas in ,numbers:

Business communications often include numerical

information that must be read. It is important for you to be
able to read and write numbers. You need to have an
understanding of number place values.
Each digit has a place value in a number depending on
its position.
The importance of number place
,
value:
Reading and writing numbers:,
Example 1 : 3 002 914 623
Identify each group
• 3 - three billion
• 002 - two million
• 914 - nine-hundred and fourteen thousand
• 623 - six hundred and twenty-three

PLACE VALUES
Billion Million Thousand Hundred Ten Unit
B M TH H T U
3 002 914 6 2 3
The number is read as: “three billion, two million, nine
hundred and fourteen thousand, six hundred and twenty
three.”
Reading and writing numbers , :
Example 2a) : R23 106 564
This is read as: “ twenty three million, one hundred and six
thousand, five hundred and sixty four rand.”

Official documents and cheque forms have a place for the

amount to be written in word form and also in number form.
Example 2b): Write R57 356,39 in word form.
“Fifty seven thousand, three hundred and fifty six rand
and thirty nine cents’’
Note:
• the important use of the comma
• the use of spaces to denote place value and ease of
reading a number.
Reading and writing numbers , :
Example 3: 4 521,6785

The number 4 521,6785 is read as:

“four thousand, five hundred and twenty one, comma
six seven eight five.”

• it is important for making meaning of this number that

the digits after the decimal place are read as numbers
without reference to place values.

• however digits in front of the decimal comma are read

with very precise place value information which indicates
a clear sense of the size of the number.
Addition and Subtraction of Natural
,
numbers
CALCULATORS ARE NOT ALLOWED IN THIS CHAPTER
Example1: Receiving stock:
You receive 66 rolls of plastic from the warehouse but you
already have 238 rolls in stock. What is your total stock
now?

Solution:
Add 238 rolls and 66 rolls
When adding make sure that the numbers are lined up
.
starting from the right, so that the units (U) line up the
units, the tens (T) with the ten, and hundreds (H) with the
hundreds.
Addition and Subtraction of Natural numbers

A200200ddition and Subtraction of Natural numbers

Addition and Subtraction of Natural numbers
Addition and Subtraction of Natural numbers

Start with the units column: 8 + 6 = 14

(Write 4 under the units column and carry 1 ten to the next
Formulas
place value column i.e. tens column)
Now the tens column:3 + 6 and the 1 you carried = 10
(Write a 0 in the tens column and carry 1 hundred to the
hundreds column)
Now the hundreds column: 2 and the 1 carried from the
tens column = 3
The answer is 304 rolls
Addition and Subtraction of Natural
,
numbers
Example 2:
Issuing stock:
You have 243 rollers in the storeroom stock and issue a
total of 37 rollers to workers during a shift. How many
rollers do you have left after the shift?
Solution:
Subtract 37 rollers from 243 rollers

Start with the units column: 7 is bigger than 3 so we take

one ten from the 4 tens. (Remember that 13 is actually 3
units and 1 ten) 13 – 7 = 6.
Addition and Subtraction of Natural
,
numbers
Example 2 continued:
Now the tens: Because 1 ten was removed in the previous
step only 3 tens remain. Thus 3 – 3 = 0.
Now the hundreds: 2 – 0 = 2

Example 3: Counting stock:

You are counting seats in a stadium and find that you have

92 in Block A, 1004 in Block B, 6 in Block C and 158 in

block D. What is the total number of seats in the stadium?

Solution:
Add 92; 1004; 6 and 158 Be careful to use place value
columns correctly to set up your calculation correctly
Addition and Subtraction of Natural numbers

Adding 92; 1004; 6 and 158

Formulas
Addition of integers
This set of numbers is called the set of integers and can be
written as:
{. . . ; –3 ; –2; –1; 0 ; 1 ; 2 ;3 ; . . .}

If you have money in your bank account it is described as being

“in the BLACK” You therefore have a positive balance.
When you owe money, your bank account is described as being
“in the RED” You therefore have a negative balance.
Formulas
Example1: Simplify the following (without using a
calculator):
– 4 + 6 –10 + 3

Solution:
As a calculation done from left to right:
– 4 + 6 = 2 then 2 – 10 = – 8 then – 8 + 3 = – 5
Addition of integers
Example1: – 4 + 6 –10 + 3

or this could also have been shown using smaller number to

assist one as follows:

Formulas
or As a calculation which groups positive and negative
values first and then a final calculation of the total:

– 4 + 6 –10 + 3
(– 4 – 10) and (+6 + 3 )
= (– 14) + (+9) = – 5
Addition of integers
Practice: Calculators are not allowed.
1. There are 125 passengers in a bus. At a bus stop 23
passengers got off the bus while 17 passengers got on.
How many passengers were in the bus after the stop?
Solution: 125 23 17

2. Determine the thermometer

Formulas reading if the temperature:
a) drops from – 2 C by 5 C
– 2C – 5C = C

b) rises from – 1 C by 5 C
– 1C 5C = 5C – 1C= 4C
Addition of integers
Practice: Calculators are not allowed.
3) Temba, Jack and Vincent go shopping. They buy the
following items:
2 loaves of bread @ R8 each;3 packets of milk @ R11
each; 5 packets of biscuits @ R7 each;2 dozen eggs
@ R6 for 6.
i) Calculate the total cost of their shopping.
Formulas
ii) If they split the cost equally, how much must they each
pay?
Solution:
iii) Total cost

ii) Each will pay

Addition of integers
Practice: Calculators are not allowed.
4. A man receives his monthly bank statement. The
following amounts appear as withdrawals:
– 150; – 24; – 36; – 110.
a) How much money did he withdraw altogether?
b) What is the balance of the bank statement if before the
withdrawals he had R1334 in his account?
Solution: Formulas
Finding sum of the withdrawals:
150 24 36 110
Balance :
Multiplication
When multiplying by 10, the place value of the digits moves
1 place to enlarge the number.

Example 1: 236 x 10 = 2 360

When multiplying by 100 the place value of the number

moves 2 digits to enlarge the number.
Formulas

Example 2: 5 327 x 100 = 532 700

Note: multiplication by units of ten such as 10, 100, 100,

10 000, etc should all be done mentally by enlarging the
number, using a sense of place value of digits.
Order of multiplication
When multiplying different numbers it does not matter what
order is chosen for the multiplication operation:
Example : 3 x 7 =21 gives the same answer as 7 x 3=21
and 7 x 3 x 5 = 3 x 5 x 7 = 5 x 3 x 7
=105
Multiplication by parts

Example 1: Formulas
26 x 21 ) 26 x 21 )
26 x 20 520 or 25 x 20 500
26 x 1 26 1 x 20 20
546 1 x 25 25

1 x 1 1

546
Multiplication by parts
Example 2:

a)

Formulas
or )

or
Multiplication by parts
Example 2:

borrow 100 from 800 to remain with 700

borrow 10 from 100 to remain
with 90

Formulas

32
Exercises
1. Copy and complete the multiplication tables in the
study guide page 25 & 26. Then study the tables.

Tutorial Questions:

Study guide pages 21 ; 22 ; 23 and 27

Formulas
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