Rational

numbers
1
This chapter at a glance
Stage 5.1/5.2
After completing this chapter, you should be able to:

evaluate numerical expressions using a calculator

Rational numbers

estimate the result of a calculation

convert fractions to recurring decimals

express a rate in its simplest form

state the number of significant figures in a number

round off a number correct to a given number of significant figures

determine the effect of rounding during calculations on the accuracy of the results

convert recurring decimals to fractions

convert rates from one set of units to another

solve problems involving rates.

1
2 Mathscape 9

1.1 Significant figures

No quantity, such as length, mass or time, can be measured exactly. For a measurement to be
of use, we need to know how accurate it is. That is, we must be confident that each digit in the
measurement is significant.

A significant figure is a number that is correct within

some stated degree of accuracy.

The rules for significant figures are:

All non-zero digits are significant.

Zeros between non-zero digits are significant.

Zeros at the end of a decimal are significant.

Zeros before the first non-zero digit in a decimal are not significant.

Zeros after the last non-zero digit in a whole number may or may not be
significant.

When rounding off correct to a specified number of significant figures, choose the number that
is closest in value to the given number and which also contains the required number of
significant figures.

Example 1
EG State the number of significant figures in each number.
+S
a 4.009 b 137.20 c 0.001 64 d 5000

Solutions
a In 4.009, the two non-zero digits (i.e. 4 and 9) are significant and the two zeros between
these digits are significant. ∴ The number has 4 significant figures.
b In 137.20, the four non-zero digits (i.e. 1, 3, 7 and 2) are significant and the zero at the end
of the decimal is significant. ∴ The number has 5 significant figures.
c In 0.001 64, the three non-zero digits (i.e. 1, 6 and 4) are significant; however, the zeros
at the beginning of the decimal are not significant. ∴ The number has 3 significant figures.
d In 5000, the non-zero digit (i.e. 5) is significant. Either some, all or none of the final zeros
could possibly be significant. This would need to be determined from the context in which
the number occurs. If we knew that the number had been rounded off correct to:
i 1 significant figure, then only the 5 would be significant
ii 2 significant figures, then only the 5 and the first zero would be significant
iii 3 significant figures, then only the 5 and the first two zeros would be significant
iv 4 significant figures, then all of the digits would be significant.
 Chapter 1: Rat io n al n u mbers 3

Example 2
EG Round off 47.503 correct to:
+S
a 4 significant figures b 3 significant figures
c 2 significant figures d 1 significant figure

Solutions
a 47.503 = 47.50 (4 significant figures) b 47.503 = 47.5 (3 significant figures)
c 47.503 = 48 (2 significant figures) d 47.503 = 50 (1 significant figure)

Example 3
EG Round off 39.99 correct to:
+S
a 3 significant figures b 2 significant figures c 1 significant figure

Solutions
a 39.99 = 40.0 (3 significant figures)
b 39.99 = 40 (2 significant figures; both the 4 and the 0 are significant figures)
c 39.99 = 40 (1 significant figure; only the 4 is significant)

Exercise 1.1

1 State the number of significant figures in each of the following.

a 45 b 7281 c 859 d 132 494
e 607 f 3012 g 4001 h 20 809

2 State the number of significant figures in each decimal.

a 5.28 b 7.152 c 38.5 d 254.883
e 0.4 f 0.005 g 0.0371 h 0.003 469
i 5.062 j 13.007 k 58.0208 l 0.001 09
m 9.30 n 0.10 o 1.4700 p 0.004 080
q 3.030 r 32.0040 s 409.010 00 t 0.010 203 00

■ Consolidation
3 Round off each of the following correct to 1 significant figure.
a 83 b 27 c 65 d 94
e 136 f 415 g 250 h 3810
i 9450 j 26 449 k 539 499 l 850 000

4 Round off each of these numbers correct to 2 significant figures.

a 128 b 171 c 234 d 675
e 1459 f 4026 g 8350 h 12 042
i 45 718 j 76 285 k 285 195 l 644 003
4 Mathscape 9

5 Round off each of the following decimals correct to the number of significant figures
indicated in the brackets.
a 3.67 [1] b 0.484 [1] c 0.0731 [2] d 6.2085 [4]
e 11.784 [2] f 0.3 [2] g 25.156 [3] h 49.066 28 [5]
i 91.045 [3] j 144.387 [2] k 7.3855 [4] l 10.9367 [2]
m 2018.68 [3] n 3693.21 [2] o 4002.142 [5] p 9187.549 [6]
6 Round off the following correct to:
i 1 significant figure ii 2 significant figures iii 3 significant figures
a 99.35 b 194.97 c 998.763 d 499.861

■ Further applications
7 Write down a possible number that is approximately equal to:
a 130, correct to 2 significant figures b 2.47, correct to 3 significant figures
c 65.24, correct to 4 significant figures

1.2 The calculator

As a wide variety of calculators is available, there are differences in the way they operate.
The examples here have been worked with the use of a direct logic calculator. That is, the
calculations are performed in the logical order in which they appear. For example, to evaluate
9 on a direct logic calculator, we press the square root key followed by the 9, then
press = . For models that do not use direct logic, we enter the 9, then press the square root key.
You will need to familiarise yourself with how your calculator works.

Example 1
EG Evaluate each of the following.
+S
6 2
a --- + 5 --- b −78 − 96 c 15.982 d 69.4
7 3
3 41 5 1
e f 3.524 g 117.3 h -------------
0.274
Solutions
Calculator steps: Answer:
a 6 a b--c- 7 + 5 a b--c- 2 a b--c- 3 = 6 11
------
21

b + − 78 − 96 =
/ –174
c 15.98 x2 = 255.3604
d 69.4 = 8.330 666 24
e 3
41 = 3.448 217 24
f 3.52 x y 4 = 153.522 012 2
 Chapter 1: Rat io n al n u mbers 5

g 5 x 117.3 = 2.593 340 858

h 0.274 x−1 = 3.649 635 036

Example 2
EG Evaluate each of these, correct to 2 decimal places, using the grouping symbols keys
+S ( and ) .
86.9 + 213.7
a ------------------------------ b 342.5 – 114.8
5.6 × 8.3
Solutions
Calculator steps: Answer
a 86.9 + 213.7 = ÷ ( 5.6 × 8.3 ) = 6.47
b ( 342.5 − 114.8 ) = 15.09

Example 3
EG 72.6 + 153.9
Use the memory function on the calculator to evaluate -----------------------------
- , correct to 3 decimal
+S places. 12.5 × 0.98
2

Solution
i Evaluate the denominator first and store the answer in the memory.
12.5 x2 × 0.98 = Min
ii Evaluate the numerator, then divide the answer by the number stored in the memory.
72.6 + 153.9 = ÷ MR = Answer: 1.479 (3 decimal places)

Exercise 1.2

1 a Evaluate 72 × 12.43 correct to 3 decimal places, without rounding off during the
calculation.
b Round off 72 to the nearest integer, then multiply by 12.43.
c Round off 72 to 1, 2 and 3 decimal places then multiply by 12.43. What do you
notice?
d What effect does rounding off too early have on the accuracy of an answer?

2 Evaluate each of these using the fraction key a b--c- , then give the answers as decimals,
correct to 2 decimal places.
3 1 7 4 6 2
a --- + ------ b ------ × --- c ------ ÷ ---
8 11 10 9 13 5
d 8 7--9- – 3 4--5- e 5 3--4- + 1 2--3- f 2 5--6- × 4 2--7-
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3 Evaluate each of the following using the sign change key + − . /

a −71 + 42 b −98 − 156 c −34 + 125
d −49 + 32 − 77 e 15 × −9 f −156 ÷ −12

4 Evaluate each of these correct to 4 significant figures using the square key x2 .
a 452 b 7.82 c 5.322 × 9
2
d 238.4 – 13.152 e (–12.7)2 f ( 4 7--8- )

5 Evaluate each of these correct to the nearest tenth using the square root key and cube
root key 3 .
a 23 b 85 + 72.6 c 90 × 16.45
d 3 70 e 3 110.4 ÷ 2.96 f 3 36.7 + 152.6

6 Evaluate each of the following correct to 1 decimal place using the power key x y .
a 6.53 b 3.724 c 4.085
6
d ( 2 -----
11
3
-) e 1.857 × 4.3 f 8.94 − 3.15

7 Evaluate each of these correct to the nearest hundredth using the root key x .
a 4 11 b 5 68.2 c 7 212.9
d 5 96 × 12.5 e 3 – 6 2.4 f 4
7 1--5-

8 Evaluate each of the following correct to 3 significant figures using the reciprocal key x−1
1
or ---
x .
1 1 1
a --- b ------------- c ---------------2
7 0.245 0.065
1 1 1
d ------- e --------------- f ------------4
3 3 51.4 1.98

9 Evaluate each of these correct to 2 decimal places using the pi key π .

9π
a π + 16.82 b 7π c ------
2
1
d π2 e --- f 5π
π

10 Evaluate each of the following correct to the nearest tenth using the grouping symbols keys
( and ) where necessary.
73 + 115 172 19.3 × 54.7
a --------------------- b --------------------- c ---------------------------
14 8.5 × 3.1 6.4 + 9.8
3
12 × 11 × 10 9.4 135 + 18.7
d ------------------------------ e ------------------------ f ------------------------------
7×8×9 5.1 × 7.25 11 – π
 Chapter 1: Rat io n al n u mbers 7

■ Consolidation
11 Find the value of each expression, correct to 2 decimal places.
83 101
a 10.652 × 8.3 b ---------4 c ---------
2.6 7
28
d 42 × 7.5 e ------- f 34 − 4.13
5
6
3 5 3 16.8
g 74.9 + 87.2 h 7.9 i ------------4
13.9
10 + 20 3 1
j -------------------------- k 25 + 50.3 – 19.6 l ------------------------
15 0.06 × 7
30 – 250
m -------------------- n ---------------
2
-
2
o 4 82.6 × 16.1
2+ 3 5 –8
2 2 3
24 + 23 1 116.7 + 99.8
p ----------------------
2
-
2
q ------------------
5 5
r ----------------------------------
2
16 – 15 2 – 2 2.1
2 3 4 3
s (1.7 +1.16)6 t 18 + 7 u 5 + 8 1--8-
3
10 + 3 1 ( – 8.4 )
v ------------------- w ---------------------------2- x ----------------------------
10 – 3 3 0.1 + 0.2 – 6.3 + 11.4

12 Evaluate, correct to the nearest tenth.

3 1 7
a π × 14 b ---------------- c ( 13.6 )
3– 5
0.92 18.9 1 1 1 – 40.6 + 15.35
d ---------- + ---------- e ------- + ------- + ------- f ----------------------------------
2.3 5.14 2 3 5 6.2 × 7.7
17 + 18 1
g --------------------------- h 4.6(19.83 − 7.12)3 i ---------------------------------
3 17 + 3 18 2
0.86 – 0.29
3 7
j ⎛ 9 2---⎞ ÷ ⎛ 1 1---⎞ k
100
------------------------------------------- l
124.37 – 19.66
------------------------------------
⎝ 3⎠ ⎝ 2⎠ 9.7 + 11.75
10 + 3 10 + 4 10

■ Further applications
13 Use the memory function on the calculator to evaluate each of these, correct to 1 decimal
place.
3 2 5 3
a
7.6 + 39
----------------------------
- b ⎛ 11.6
----------⎞ ÷ ⎛ ----------⎞
9.47
c
8.1 13.4
------------------------ + ---------------------2-
3
1.4 × 0.995 ⎝ 2.3 ⎠ ⎝ 1.02⎠ 1.9 + 2.64 7 × 0.16
8 Mathscape 9

3 4
3.9 × 15.6 21.4 57.5 – 13.6 1 4 17.5 × 5.3 3 1
d -------------------------------3- + ---------- e ------------------------------- × ------------2 f ------------------------ – ---------------2
10.58 – 1.33 6.09 15 × 98.2 12.4 6.7 0.075

1.3 Estimation
Calculators do not make arithmetic errors. But sometimes we get incorrect answers when we
use a calculator. This is because we may have:
• left out a decimal point
• pressed the wrong key by mistake
• not pressed the equals key at the right time
• not understood the question
• set the calculator in the wrong mode
• not pressed the second function key.
By estimating the answer before using a calculator, we can work out whether the calculator
answer is reasonable. An estimate is more than a guess. It is an approximate answer that is
worked out logically. It does not have to be very close to the correct answer but it should be of
the same order of magnitude. That is, if the estimate is in the tens, the correct answer should
not be in the hundreds or the thousands.
For example, before evaluating 19.855 × 4.84 with a calculator, we could estimate that the
answer would be close to 20 × 5, that is, 100. If the calculator gives the answer as 9609.82, we
might have made an error when entering the data. In fact, a decimal point was omitted, since
the correct answer is 96.0982. It is also possible, of course, that our estimate is incorrect.
NOTE: Many different estimates can be given to calculations depending on the way that each
individual number is rounded off.

Example
EG Estimate the answer to each of these calculations.
+S 41.68 × 21.19
a 386 × 19 b 154.5 ÷ 11.2 c 17.74 × 0.493 d ---------------------------------
6.904
Solutions
41.68 × 21.19
a 386 × 19 b 154.5 ÷ 11.2 c 17.74 × 0.493 d ---------------------------------
6.904
⯐ 400 × 20 ⯐ 150 ÷ 10 ⯐ 18 × 1
---
2 42 × 20
= 8000 = 15 ⯐ ------------------
=9 7
= 6 × 20
= 120
 Chapter 1: Rat io n al n u mbers 9

Exercise 1.3

1 Round off each number correct to 1 significant figure and hence estimate the value of:
a 48 × 33 b 385 × 11 c 69 × 114 d 19 952 × 9
e 223 ÷ 52 f 642 ÷ 22 g 38 840 ÷ 375 h 8445 ÷ 23
i 54 × 186 j 2751 ÷ 63 k 297 × 42 l 96 959 ÷ 4367

2 Estimate the answer, as an integer, to each of the following calculations.

a 8.7 + 19.4 + 12.1 b 96.5 − 27.3 + 15.046 c 24.2 × 3.75 × 5.3
d 24.8 × 3.88 e 32.42 ÷ 7.93 f 126.7 ÷ 9.82
g 5.34 × 11.92 × 8.15 h 53.5 ÷ 6.12 × 8.046 i 189.4 − 47.75 − 283.19

■ Consolidation
3 Estimate the answer to each of these.
a (14.797 + 32.88) ÷ 8.1 b (348.5 − 102.7) × 4.193 c 495.13 ÷ (9.96 × 10.02)

4 Find the approximate value of:

a 18.8 + 6.84 × 3.125 b 183.4 − 31.2 ÷ 5.17
c 20.4 ÷ 3.95 + 19.87 × 5.02 d 2117 − 12.13 × 8.4 × 4.96

5 Estimate:
a 16.45 × 0.482 b 43.65 × 0.252 c 13.82 × 1.55 d 8.094 × 1.26

6 Estimate the answer for each of these, giving the answer as an integer.
a 23.67 b 84.77 c 3 29.1 d 3 119.8
7 Estimate the value of each calculation.
4.76 × 9.27 73.4 × 15.2 50.6 + 73.1 106.2
a --------------------------- b --------------------------- c ------------------------------ d ----------------2-
2.89 4.57 15.8 – 4.593 7.046

8 The crowds at each day of a test cricket match played at the SCG between Australia and
England were as follows:
• Day 1—34 356 • Day 2—29 875 • Day 3—26 234
• Day 4—18 558 • Day 5—9063
Round off each day’s crowd to the nearest 5000 spectators and hence estimate the total
match attendance.
9 The seasonal electricity bills received by a family each quarter were as follows:
Spring: $118.45 Summer: $187.57 Autumn: $133.20 Winter: $204.14
a Why do you think the electricity bills were higher in summer and winter than in spring
and autumn?
b Estimate the family’s annual electricity payments by rounding each quarterly bill
correct to the nearest $10.
c On average, about how much does this family pay for electricity each quarter?
10 Mathscape 9

10 A group of 4 people having dinner in a restaurant ordered the following meals from the
menu:
• Tamara: spaghetti bolognaise $18.75
• Luke: steak Diane $21.75
• Amanda: fettuccine boscaiola $19.20
• Barry: veal parmigiana $20.60
They also ordered 2 bottles of wine at $11.45 each and 4 coffees at $3.25 each.
a Estimate the total cost of the meal, allowing for a small tip.
b Approximately how much would each person expect to pay if they shared the bill
equally?
11 Therese decided to re-carpet her lounge room using carpet squares of side length 50 cm.
The lounge room is rectangular in shape and measures 5.2 m by 6.8 m.
a Estimate the area of the room in square metres.
b How many carpet squares are needed to cover an area of 1 m2?
c Estimate the number of carpet squares that are needed to cover the entire lounge room
floor.
d If the carpet squares are sold in packs of 40 at $385 per pack, estimate the total cost of
the re-carpeting.
e Should re-carpeting decisions be based on estimates or accurate measurements?
Explain.

■ Further applications
12 a Evaluate 4 and 9 . Hence, find estimates for 5 and 7 , correct to 1 decimal place.
b Evaluate 100 and 121 . Hence, find estimates for 110 , 105 and 115 , correct
to 1 decimal place.
13 Consider the statement 2n = 12.
a Show by substitution that:
i 3⬍n⬍4 ii 3.5 ⬍ n ⬍ 3.6
iii 3.58 ⬍ n ⬍ 3.59 iv 3.584 ⬍ n ⬍ 3.585
b Hence, estimate the value of n, correct to 3 decimal places.

14 By substituting and then refining estimates, find the approximate value of n in each of the
following, correct to 3 decimal places.
a 2n = 20 b 3n = 36 c 5n = 100

TRY THIS Fermi problem

A Fermi problem is a problem solved by making a good estimation.
Try these problems:
1 How many telephone calls are made in one day in Australia?
2 What would be the total value of all the books in every library in Australia?
 Chapter 1: Rat io n al n u mbers 11

1.4 Recurring decimals

A recurring decimal has an infinite number of decimal places, with one or more of the digits
repeating themselves indefinitely. Recurring decimals are written with a dot above the first and
last digits in the repeating sequence.
For example: 0.444 444 … = 0.4̇ 0.616 161 … = 0.6̇1̇
0.329 329 … = 0.3̇29̇ 1.288 888 … = 1.28̇
a
A rational number is a number that can be written in the form --- , where a and b are integers
b
(whole numbers) and b ≠ 0. Every recurring decimal can be expressed as a fraction, so recurring
decimals are rational numbers.

To convert a fraction to a recurring decimal, divide the numerator

by the denominator.

To convert a recurring decimal to a fraction:

let the decimal be x

multiply both sides by the smallest power of 10 so that the recurring part of the
decimal becomes a whole number

subtract the first equation from the second

solve the resulting equation.

Example 1
EG Convert each of these fractions to a recurring decimal.
+S 5 7 1
a --- b ------ c ------
9 11 12
Solutions
a 0.5 5 5… b 0.6 3 6 3… c 0.08 3 3…
9 5.050505 11 7.04060406 12 1.0040404
5 7 1
∴ --- = 0. 5̇ ∴ ------ = 0. 6̇3̇ ∴ ------ = 0.08 3̇
9 11 12

Example 2
EG Convert each recurring decimal to a fraction in simplest form.
+S
a 0. 8̇ b 0. 1̇5̇ c 0.2 4̇
12 Mathscape 9

Solutions
a Let x = 0. 8̇ … Œ b Let x = 0. 1̇5̇ … Œ c Let x = 0.2 4̇ … Œ
∴ 10x = 8. 8̇ …  ∴ 100x = 15. 1̇5̇ …  ∴ 10x = 2. 4̇ … 
Subtract Œ from  Subtract Œ from  ∴ 100x = 24. 4̇ …Ž
∴ 9x = 8 ∴ 99x = 15 Subtract  from Ž
8 15 ∴ 90x = 22
∴ x = --- ∴ x = ------
9 99 22
∴ x = ------
5 90
= ------
33 11
= ------
45

Exercise 1.4

This exercise should be completed without the use of a calculator, unless otherwise indicated.

1 Write each of these as a recurring decimal.

a 0.222 … b 0.777 … c 0.6444 … d 0.3555 …
e 0.272 727 … f 0.919 191 … g 0.484 848 … h 0.030 303 …
i 0.146 146 … j 0.029 029 … k 0.152 152 … l 0.698 698 …
m 1.666 … n 3.818 181 … o 8.274 274 … p 13.955 555 …

■ Consolidation
2 Use short division to convert each of these fractions to a recurring decimal.
1 1 2 4
a --- b --- c --- d ---
3 9 3 9
1 3 1 2
e ------ f ------ g --- h ------
11 11 6 15
5 7 5 11
i ------ j ------ k --- l ------
12 22 6 12

3 a Convert 1 2--3- to a decimal using a calculator.

b Does the calculator round off the answer at the last digit?

4 Express each of the following as a recurring decimal.

1 5 1 4
a --- b --- c ------ d ------
7 7 13 13

5 a Write down the recurring decimal for 1--9- .

b Hence, write down recurring decimals for 2--9- , 5--9- , 7
---
9
and 8--9- .
c What meaning should be given to 0.9̇? Why?
 Chapter 1: Rat io n al n u mbers 13

6 Convert each of these recurring decimals to a fraction or mixed numeral, in simplest form.
a 0. 2̇ b 0. 7̇ c 0. 3̇ d 0. 6̇
e 0. 1̇9̇ f 0. 3̇5̇ g 0. 2̇7̇ h 0. 7̇5̇
i 0.1 5̇ j 0.4 8̇ k 0.7 3̇ l 0.9 4̇
m 2. 1̇ n 1. 6̇0̇ o 7.8 3̇ p 3.41 6̇

■ Further applications
7 a Write down the recurring decimal for 1--3- .
1 1
b Hence, express ------
30
and --------- as
300
recurring decimals.
11 1
8 a Express ------ and ---
30 6
as recurring decimals.
1 1 11
b Show that --- + --- = ------ by adding fractions.
6 5 30
1 1 11
c Show that --- + --- = ------ by adding decimals.
6 5 30
2
9 a Express ---
3
as a recurring decimal.
b Use the fact that 1
------
15
= 2
------
30
= 2
---
3
× 1
------
10
to express 1
------
15
as a recurring decimal.

1.5 Rates
A rate is a comparison of two unlike quantities. This is different from a ratio, in that a ratio
is a comparison of two or more like quantities. In particular, a rate is a measure of how one
quantity is changing with respect to another. In a ratio, units are not written, whereas in a rate,
the units must be written if the rate is to have any meaning.

A rate is a comparison of two unlike quantities.

Equivalent rates can be formed by changing the units in either or both quantities. For example,
a rate of 5 cm/s is equivalent to 50 mm/s since, in both cases, the object moves the same
distance (5 cm or 50 mm) in equal amounts of time (1 s).
To be in simplest form, a rate must be expressed as a quantity per 1 unit of another quantity.
For example, a rate of 60 km/h is in simplest form because it represents a change in distance of
60 km for every 1 hour of time.

Example 1
EG Express each of the following statements as a rate in simplest form.
+S
a $150 in 3 hours b 48 L in 12 min
14 Mathscape 9

Solutions
a $150 in 3 hours b 48 L in 12 min
÷3 ÷3 ÷ 12 ÷ 12
= $50 in 1 hour = 4 L in 1 min
= $50/h = 4 L/min

Example 2
EG Convert:
+S
a 2.4 kg/day to g/day b 3.5 cm3/s to cm3/min c 18 m/s to km/h

Solutions
a 2.4 kg in 1 day b 3.5 cm3 in 1 s c 18 m in 1 s
= 2400 g in 1 day × 60 × 60 × 60 × 60
= 2400 g/day = 210 cm3 in 1 min = 1080 m in 1 min
= 210 cm3/min × 60 × 60
= 64 800 m in 1 h
= 64.8 km/h

Exercise 1.5

1 Express each statement as a rate in simplest form.

a 30 m in 3 s b 80 km in 2 h c 45 L in 5 min
d 42 kg over 7m2 e 32 g in 4 s f 200 trees in 8 h
g 108 km on 9 L h $180 in 4 h i 90c for 5 min
j $12 for 8 kg k 119 runs in 34 overs l 150 crates in 4 days
m 240 beats in 2 1--2- min n 72 kL in 1.5 h o 13 km on 1.25 L

2 Complete these equivalent rates.

a 3 cm/s = _____ cm/min b 5 g/min = _____ g/h c $2.30/kg = $_____ /t
d 7.5 L/h = _____ L/day e 0.9 km/min = _____ km/h f 0.4 kg/m2 = _____ kg/ha

3 Complete these equivalent rates.

a 2 L/min = _____ mL/min b 9 m/s = _____ cm/s
c 3.8 cm/s = _____ mm/s d $1.15/g = _____ c/g
e 14.6 t/day = _____ kg/day f 2.35 ha/week = _____ m2/week

4 Complete these equivalent rates.

a 70 mm/s = _____ cm/s b 850 cm/min = _____ m/min
c 4900 mL/day = _____ L/day d 24c/min = $ _____ /min
e 25 g/m3 = _____ kg/m3 f 59 600 L/year = _____ kL/year

■ Consolidation

5 Complete the following equivalent rates.

a 75 cm/s = _____ m/min b 8c/g = $ _____ /kg
 Chapter 1: Rat io n al n u mbers 15

c 9 m/mL = _____ km/L d 150 kg/h = _____ t/day

e 81.25 mL/h = _____ L/day f 142 m/min = _____ km/h

6 Complete the following equivalent rates.

a 25 m/s = _____ km/h b 40 mL/s = _____ L/h
c 27.5 g/s = _____ kg/h d 5 mm/min = _____ m/day
e 0.8 m/min = _____ km/day f 2.4c/mm = $ _____/m
g 72 km/h = _____ m/s h 12.24 t/day = _____ kg/min
i 1.32 km/L = _____ cm/mL

7 Convert these annual interest rates to monthly rates.

a 12% pa b 6% pa c 18% pa d 4.2% pa

8 Convert these monthly interest rates to annual rates.

a 0.75% per month b 0.9% per month c 1.25% per month

9 Calculate the daily interest rate on a credit card if the annual rate is 15.33% pa.

10 Convert:
a $240/week to an equivalent monthly rate
b $1352/month to an equivalent fortnightly rate
c $2.80/week to an equivalent quarterly rate
d $44.20/quarter to an equivalent fortnightly rate.

■ Further applications

11 Complete these equivalent rates.

a 5c/cm2 = $_____/m2 b 60 mL/m2 = _____ L/km2 c 1.2 g/cm3 = _____ t/m3

12 Complete this equivalent rate: $25/L = _____ c/cm3.

TRY THIS Desert walk

James is a cross-country walker. He comes
to a 60 km stretch of desert where there is
neither water nor food. He can walk 20 km
per day and he can carry enough food and
water for 2 days. How many days will it take
him to cross the desert, and how many
kilometres will he travel if he has to build up
depots of food and water?
Difficult part
If he was considering a 100 km trip across
the desert, how many days’ supply of food
would be necessary?
16 Mathscape 9

1.6 Solving problems with rates

We use many different types of rates every day, often without realising it. For example:
• driving speed • bank interest rates • currency exchange rates
• petrol consumption rates • sporting strike rates • rates of pay
• electricity rates • pollution rates • medical recovery rates
Since most adults drive a car, the concept of speed plays a very important role in our daily lives.
We need to know how fast to drive in order to reach a particular destination on time. It is also
important to know at what speed we can safely drive under various conditions, such as on
narrow roads, in wet weather, near pedestrian crossings and so on.
Informally, we think of speed as a measure of how fast an object is travelling. Formally,
however, speed is defined as the rate of change of distance with respect to time. If we know the
distance that an object has travelled from one point to another and the amount of time that it
took to get there, then we can calculate how fast it was travelling. You should already be
familiar with the following formulae relating speed, distance and time.

Distance Distance = Speed × Time Distance

Speed = --------------------- Time = ---------------------
Time Speed
D D
S = ---- D=S×T T = ----
T S
There is an important distinction that needs to be made between average speed and
instantaneous speed. The formulae above are usually associated with average speed, since the
speed of the object may vary at different times throughout its journey. It may start moving
slowly, speed up at times and slow down or even stop at other times. If, however, a speed
camera had been used to measure the speed of the object at a single moment in time, then it
would have measured the instantaneous speed of the object. The instantaneous speed at a split
second may therefore differ from the average speed over the entire journey.
The degrees and minutes key on the calculator can be used to simplify the working in some
questions, particularly when the time is given in hours and minutes or minutes and seconds.

Example 1
EG a The entry price to an amusement park is $7.50 per child. Find the total entry cost for a
+S group of 90 children.
b A farmer used 145 kg of super phosphate to cover an area of 5 ha. How many kilograms
were used per hectare?

Solutions
a The entry cost for 1 child = $7.50 b 145 kg covers an area of 5 ha
∴ the entry cost for 90 children ÷5 ÷5
= 90 × $7.50 ∴ 29 kg covers an area of 1 ha
= $675
 Chapter 1: Rat io n al n u mbers 17

Example 2 Solution
EG A car can travel 138 km on Using the unitary method,
+S 15 L of petrol. How far can it 138 km on 15 L
travel on a full tank of 35 L? ÷ 15 ÷ 15
= 9.2 km on 1 L
× 35 × 35
= 322 km on 35 L
∴ The car can travel 322 km on a full tank of 35 L of
petrol.

Example 3
EG a Jenny ran 600 metres in 80 seconds. What was her running speed?
+S b A man drove at an average speed of 60 km/h for 7 hours. How far did he drive?
c Shona’s average walking speed is 5 km/h. How long would it take her to walk 20 km?

Solutions
D D
a S = ---- b D=S×T c T = ----
T S
= 60 × 7
600
= --------- = 420 km 20
= ------
80 5
= 7.5 m/s =4h

Example 4 Solution
EG A satellite travels 30 000 km Using the degrees and minutes key on the calculator,
+S in 5 h 18 min. Calculate, in D
km/h, the speed of the S = ----
T
satellite, correct to the nearest
= 30 000 ÷ 5 D°M′S′′ 18 D°M′S′′
km/h.
= 5660 km/h (nearest km/h).

Exercise 1.6

1 a An author writes at a rate of 3 pages per hour. How many pages would she write in
6 hours?
b A shearer was able to shear 18 sheep per hour. How many sheep could he shear in
2 1--2- hours?
c The price of admission into a fun park is $7.50 per child. How much will it cost to admit
a class of 30 students?
d If petrol costs 97.4 cents/L, find how much it would cost to fill the tank in a car that
holds 42 L.
e A tap is dripping at the rate of 3 mL per minute. How many litres of water will be lost
in 2 days?
18 Mathscape 9

f The crew on a fishing boat put out the nets every 2 hours and catch an average of 240 kg
of fish. How many tonnes would the crew expect to catch if they fish for 10 hours?
2 a Trevor earns $15.20 per hour as a sales assistant. How many hours would he need to
work in order to earn $562.40?
b Janine has a typing speed of 54 words per minute. How long would it take her to type
a 1350 word article?
c A lumberjack can cut down 8 trees per hour. How long will it take him to cut down
120 trees?
d A cricket side scored 243 runs in 50 overs during a limited overs cricket match.
Calculate the average scoring rate in runs per over?
e A plumber charged $200 for 2 1--2- hours labour to repair a broken pipe. Find the
plumber’s hourly rate.
f A machine prints 150 newspapers per minute. How long would it take to print 18 000
newspapers?

■ Consolidation

3 a Georgina drove 12 km in 10 minutes. At the same speed, how far would she drive in
30 minutes?
b Gino’s pulse rate was 100 beats per minute. How many times would his heart beat in
15 seconds?
c A fruit picker claimed that he could pick 1200 apples per hour. How many apples could
he pick in 20 minutes?
d Richard can answer 7 multiplications in 15 seconds. How many questions could he
answer in 1 minute?
e A bank teller can serve 20 customers per hour. How many customers can she serve in
45 minutes?
f A tap drips 12 times in 20 seconds. How many times would it drip in 30 seconds?
4 Use the unitary method to answer the following questions.
a Dianne paid $3.75 for 3 kg of oranges. How much would she have paid for 7 kg?
b In a walking race, Paul took 40 minutes to walk 8 km. How long would it take him to
walk 13 km?
c Susan’s car uses petrol at the rate of 10.6 L/100 km. How much petrol would she use
on a journey of 250 km?
d If it takes 1 1--2- hours to remove 36 t of sugar from a silo, how long it would take to
remove 30 t?
e George delivered 400 pamphlets in 50 minutes. How many pamphlets would he deliver
in 2 1--2- hours?
f If sausages are being sold for $2.80 per kilogram, find the cost of purchasing 350 grams
of sausages.
 Chapter 1: Rat io n al n u mbers 19

5 Andrew wants to tile his front patio, which is rectangular in shape and has an area of 12 m 2.
The tiles are sold in packets of 50, and 40 tiles are needed to cover each square metre of the
patio. How many packets of tiles does Andrew need to buy?

6 The following currency conversions show the value of 1 Australian dollar (A$1) in US$,
euro and NZ$.
A$1 = US$0.6075 A$1 = 0.5636 euro A$1 = NZ$1.0887
Use these currency conversions to convert:
a A$20 into US$ b A$50 into euro c A$175 into NZ$
d A$250 into euro e A$600 into NZ$ f A$4500 into US$

7 Use the currency conversions in Q6 to convert the following amounts into Australian
dollars. Give your answers correct to the nearest cent.
a NZ$30 b US$95 c 110 euro d NZ$200
e US$565 f 782 euro g NZ$1400 h US$2378

8 a Dave drove 350 km in 5 hours. What was his average speed?

b A plane travelled 1960 km in 7 hours. What was the speed of the plane?
c Jennifer ran at a speed of 8 km/h for 1 1--2- hours. How far did she run?
d A ship sailed at 42 km/h for 25 hours. What distance did it sail?
e Morgan rode his motor bike a distance of 340 km at a speed of 85 km/h. How long was
the trip?
f A satellite orbits the earth at a speed of 22 500 km/h. How long will it take for the
satellite to travel a distance of 78 750 km?
9 Use the degrees and minutes key on your calculator to answer the following questions.
a How far will a coach travel in 4 h 25 min at an average speed of 90 km/h?
b Calculate the average speed of a battleship which sails 600 km in 11 h 45 minutes.
Answer correct to the nearest km/h.
c How long will it take for a plane to fly 615 km at a speed of 180 km/h? Answer correct
to the nearest minute.

■ Further applications

10 The speed of ships and sometimes of aircraft is measured in knots. A knot is a speed of one
nautical mile per hour, where 1 nautical mile is equivalent to 1852 metres.
a Express a knot in km/h.
b If an aircraft is travelling at 120 knots, how long would it take to travel 5000 km?
c If another aircraft is travelling at 760 knots, how many kilometres will it travel in
6 hours?
11 The petrol consumption (C) of a car is measured in litres of petrol (L) used per 100 km (K)
travelled.
a Write down a formula connecting C, L and K.
b Calculate the petrol consumption of a car that travels 1038 km in a month and uses 95 L
of petrol.
 20 Mathscape 9

c Meera is planning a tour of the Australian outback and expects to travel 10 000 km.
Her vehicle’s petrol consumption is expected to average 12 L/100 km. If the average
price of petrol in the outback is $1.12 per litre, calculate the expected cost of petrol for
this trip.

TRY THIS Passing trains

A slow train leaves Canberra at 9.17 am and arrived
at Goulburn at 12.02 pm. On the same day the
express leaves Canberra at 9.56 am and arrives in
Goulburn at 11.36 am.
At what time does the express pass the slow train
if each is travelling at a constant speed?
HINT: A travel graph would give an approximate
answer.

0FF
MAT
ATICALLY

OCUS ON
O R K I N M I CAAL LL LYY
O C U S O N W 0 R K I N G M AATTHHEEMMAATTI C
W G

Art, magic squares and mathematics

F O C U S O N W O R K I ENM G
MATH WORKING
FOCUSON
 Chapter 1: Rat io n al n u mbers 21

Introduction
Many famous artists have been fascinated by mathematics. For example, the art of Albrecht
Dürer (1471–1528), shows the influence of the mathematical theory of proportion and his
mastery of perspective. He painted in oil and worked in metal, and his engravings were widely
acclaimed. One of these, completed in 1514, was called Melancholia. Interestingly, it contains

THEMATICALLY
a picture of a magic square, the first to be seen in Europe. Note how Dürer recorded the date of
the etching, 1514, in the magic square.
To make a magic square, use all the numbers 1, 2, 3, 4, … to fill the
4 9 2
squares on a board, so that each row, column and both main diagonals
add up to the same number. A 3 × 3 magic square, for example, uses
each of the numbers 1, 2, 3, 4, … 9 just once in each cell: 3 5 7

8 1 6

2L EARNING ACTIVITIES

ALLY
1 Check the row, column and diagonal totals for the 3 × 3 magic square above. What did you

FOCUS ON WORKING MA
find? Is each number used just once? Notice that the total for each row, column and

IC
diagonal is 3 times the middle number. This is a clue to making a 3 × 3 magic square for

MATHEMAT
yourself.
2 Copy and complete the missing numbers from the 4 × 4 16 3 2
magic square in Dürer’s etching. Work out the constant
row, column and diagonal total first. 5 11

12

4 15 14 1

WORKING
3 Check that each number 1, 2, 3, 4, … 16 has been used once only.
4 Add the numbers of the four cells in the middle of the square. What do you notice?
5 Add the numbers in the corners of the square. What do you notice?
6 Not all magic squares start with 1, 2, 3, 4, … to fill the cells
96 64 37 45
of the square. Copy and complete the 4 × 4 magic square
ON

opposite. Work out the constant row, column and diagonal

total first. 39 62
FOCUS

76 57

23
 22 Mathscape 9

7 Now draw up a new 4 × 4 square and reverse all the entries in the example above: change
96 to 69, 64 to 46, 37 to 73, 45 to 54 and so on. Check it out for a magic square. What is
the surprising result?
8 Magic squares were well-known in the Islamic world long before they reached Europe.
They have also been found in ancient Chinese manuscripts. Check out the Internet or books
MATHEMATICALLY

in your library to learn more about them.

8E XTENSION ACTIVITIES

This activity is best done with an actual chessboard and a knight. If you do not have a chess set,
you can follow on the diagram below, an 8 × 8 board with 64 squares. Imagine a knight placed
in the top left corner of the board, square 1, as shown below. A knight can move one square
forward and two to the side, or two squares forward and one to the side.

1 31 50 33 16 63 18
MATICALLY

47 2 15 64

4 45 20 13
F O C U S O N W O R K I HNE G

5 40
MAT

8 41 57 12

43 6 55 26 10 22
WORKING

Starting as shown in the diagram, move the knight from one position to the next, with the
objective of covering every square just once on the whole board. Copy and keep track of your
moves by writing in the number of the move on your diagram.
ON

It will help to know that you will create an unusual square, whose rows and columns total 260.
Various moves have been put in to get you started. It is not quite ‘magic’ in that the diagonals
do not total 260 also.
FOCUS

This problem, known as the ‘Knight’s Tour’, was made by the brilliant Swiss mathematician
Leonhard Euler (1707–1783). You can read more about him on the Internet.
 Chapter 1: Rat io n al n u mbers 23

E L ET’S COMMUNICATE

Discuss what you have enjoyed from these activities with a classmate or, if you have worked

MATICALLY
in groups, among the group members. Can you pose another problem that could be
investigated? For example, how are magic squares made? Discuss with your teacher.

%R EFLECTING

People have been fascinated by numbers down through the centuries. Take out a book from the
library on the history of mathematics and find some examples. Reflect on this as an example of
how mathematics is a subject that can surprise, delight and engage the mind in a special way
for its own sake.

1 What is a small word for magnitude? rate noun 1. speed: to work at a steady rate | The car
2 Explain the difference between a guess was travelling at a rate of 100 kilometres an hour.
and an estimate. 2. a charge or payment: The interest rate on the loan
3 What is a rational number? is 10 per cent per year. 3. rates, the tax paid to the
4 When is a digit in a number significant? local council by people who own land
–verb 4. to set a value on, or consider as: The council
5 Read the Macquarie Learners Dictionary rated the land at $20 000. | I rate him a very good
entry for rate: friend.
–phrase 5. at any rate, in any case: We enjoyed
ourselves at any rate.
6. at this rate, if things go on like this: At this rate
we will soon run out of money.
How is the word ‘rate’ used in this chapter?
 24 Mathscape 9
CHAPTER RE

1 State the number of significant figures in: 5 92.8 3 15 + 4 13

a 406 b 7.2009 e ---------------- f ---------------------------
c 0.0031 d 12.0560 4– 2 15 – 13
2 Round off each number correct to 8 Estimate the value of each calculation.
1 significant figure. a 9.84 × 15.2 + 18.77
a 76 b 150 b 7.97 + 47.3 ÷ 15.49
c 4278 d 894 000 194.7 × 259.2
c ---------------------------------
3 Round off each number correct to 53.6
2 significant figures. 9 Write each of these as a recurring
a 341 b 725 decimal.
c 15 049 d 369 412 a 0.333 333 … b 0.252 525 …
4 Round off each number correct to the c 0.346 346 … d 5.918 181 …
number of significant figures shown in 10 Convert these fractions to recurring
the brackets. decimals.
a 198 [1] b 4316 [1] 7 4 7
c 18 209 [1] d 572 [2] a --- b ------ c 1 -----
-
9 11 12
VIEW

e 2154 [2] f 36 587 [2]

11 Convert these recurring decimals to
5 Round off each decimal correct to the fractions.
number of significant figures shown in a 0.2̇ b 0.7̇2̇ c 0.13̇
the brackets.
a 4.83 [1] b 0.0723 [2] 1
12 Given that --- = 0.16̇ , express each of the
c 3.4661 [3] d 22.018 [3] 6
e 106.84 [2] f 8994.7 [1] following fractions as a recurring
6 Evaluate each of these, correct to decimal.
2 decimal places, using a calculator. 1 1
a ------ b ---------
60 600
a 5 2--3- − 1 -----
10
7
- b −6.3 − 1.29
13 Express each statement as a rate in
c 5.842 d 136.4 simplest form.
e 3 91 f 2.715 a 80 m in 10 s
6 1 b $45 for 9 min
g 101.9 h -------------
0.107 c 72 L in 3 h
8π
i ------ d 215 runs for 5 wickets
3
7 Evaluate each of the following, correct to 14 a A car uses 18 L of petrol to travel
2 decimal places, using a calculator. 150 km. How much petrol would be
15.7 × 34.15 needed to travel 350 km?
a ------------------------------ b 75.3 × 29.1
12.31 – 5.6 b A farmer spreads 25 kg of fertiliser
1 over an area of 4000 m2. How much
c ------------------------------- d 3.45 − (2 3--5- )4 fertiliser would be needed to cover an
3 2
0.57 + 4.5 area of 1.5 ha?

CHAPTER REVIEW
 Chapter 1: Rat io n al n u mbers 25

15 Convert: 17 a A plane flew 6000 km in 7 1--2- hours.

VIEW
a 7 mm/min to mm/h How fast was the plane travelling?
b 75 km/h to km/day b Karen walked 24 km at 5 km/h. How
c 1.35 L/m2 to mL/m2 long did she walk for?
d 8.2 m/s to cm/s c Jude drove at 80 km/h for 4 h 15 min.
16 Convert: What distance did he drive?
a 40 m/min to km/h 18 Daryl drove 527 km in 6 h 23 min. Find

CHAPTER RE
b 250 mL/h to L/day his speed, correct to 1 decimal place.
c 13.5 g/m2 to kg/ha
d 5 m/s to km/h

CHAPTER REVIEW