Number Sense

Learning Objectives

By the end of this lesson, you will be able to:

• Apply number sense concepts, including ordering rational numbers, absolute value, multiples,
factors, and exponents.
• Add, subtract, multiply, divide, and use exponents and roots of fractions and decimal
numbers.
Powers and Roots

Powers are a way to show repeated multiplication.

5 × 5 can be expressed as “5 to the second power.”
The number 5 appears in the multiplication problem two times, so it is written as 52.
52 = 25

Roots are a way to show the number that produces a specific quantity when multiplied by itself.
The second (or “square”) root of 49 is the number that, when squared, results in 49.

49 = 7
Powers and Roots

Powers can also expand beyond exponents of 2.

5 × 5 × 5 can be expressed as “5 to the third power.”
The number 5 appears in the multiplication problem three times, so it is written as 53.

53 = 125

You can also take more than the square root of a number.
The third (or “cubic”) root of 125 is the number that, when cubed (raised to the third power)
results in 125.
3
125 = 5
Powers and Roots

A number raised to the first power equals itself.

31 = 3 14 1 = 14 1,3251 = 1,325

A number other than zero raised to the power of zero equals 1.

30 = 1 14 0 = 1 1,3250 = 1
A number raised to a negative exponent is equal to a fraction with a numerator of 1.

1 1 1
3 −2 = 14 −5 = 1,325−3 =
32 14 5 1,3253
Mixed Practice

1. Which expression has a value less than zero?

2
 1
A.  
2
3
B. ( −2)
C. 2 −3
2
D. ( −2)
Powers and Roots

You can simplify exponential expressions when the bases are the same.
When the bases are multiplied, the exponents are added.

34  32 = (3  3  3  3)  (3  3) = 34+2 = 36

x  x 3 = (x )(x x x ) = x 1+3 = x 4

When the bases are divided, the exponents are subtracted.

34 = 3  3  3  3 32 = 3  3 = 1 2−4 = 3−2
3 3 = 3
4−2 = 32 = 3
32 3 3 3 3 3 3
4 2

x 2 = x 2 − 4 = x −2 = 1
x4 x2
Powers and Roots

You can simplify radicals using the Product Rule and the Quotient Rule.

Product Rule: x  y = xy
7  2 = 7  2 = 14 54 = 9 6 = 9  6 = 3 6 = 3 6
x 2y = x 2  y = x y

Quotient Rule: x= x
y y
9= 9 =3 x2 = x2 = x2
4 4 2 y4 y4 y

y4 = y2  y2
Scientific Notation
Scientific notation is a convenient way to write out very small or very large numbers using
powers of 10.
Powers of 10:
100= 1
1 Essentially, scientific notation tells
101= 10 10-1=
10 you how many places to the left or
1 right to move the decimal point.
102= 10 × 10= 100 10-2=
100
1
103 = 10 × 10 × 10
= 1,000 10-3=
1,000
Scientific Notation

Scientific notation is a convenient way to write out very small or very large numbers using
powers of 10.

2 × 100==2 × 1==2.0 1
2  10−1 = 2  = 20.1 = 0.2
10
2 × 101==2 × 10==20
1
2 10−2 = 2  = 20.01 = 0.02
2 × 102==2 × 100==200 100
1
2 × 103==2 × 1,000= 2,000 2 10−3 = 2  = 20.001 = 0.002
= 1,000

Essentially, scientific notation tells you how many places to the left or right to move the
decimal point.
Mixed Practice

2. Cilia are very thin, hair-like projections from cells. They are 2.0 × 10–4
millimeters wide. What is the maximum number of cilia that would fit
side by side—without overlapping—across a microscope slide that is 25
millimeters wide? Write the answer in scientific notation.

A. 8.0 × 10–6

B. 1.25 × 10–3

C. 8.0 × 102

D. 1.25 × 105
Mixed Practice

3. An expression is shown.

15  12 On Test Day: Type your

Simplify the expression completely. Leave your answer in radical form. answer in the box. You may
use numbers, a decimal
point (.), and/or a negative
sign (–) in your answer.
(NOTE: Click the symbol
selector when you need to
enter the radical sign.)
Order of Operations

GED Math questions may require multiple operations to solve.

To solve these questions, you need to tackle the operations in the correct order:

P = parentheses (and brackets) 2 + 3 (5 – 2) 2 × 6 =

E = exponents (and roots) 2 + 3 (3) 2 × 6 =
M = multiplication 2 + 3 (9) × 6 =
from L to R
D = division 2 + 27 × 6 =
A = addition 2 + 162 = 164
from L to R
S = subtraction
Mixed Practice

4. An expression is shown.

 28 
36 − 2  + 5
 2 
Simplify the expression completely.

A. 16
B. 8
C. 2
D. –2
Number Lines

A number line represents numbers in order from least to greatest:

As you move to the right along the number line, values increase.
As you move to the left along the number line, values decrease.

A number line can also represent fractions and mixed numbers:

Absolute Value

The absolute value of a number is its distance from zero on the number line.
2 2

The absolute value of 2 is 2, since 2 is two spaces away from zero on the number line.
The absolute value of –2 is also 2, since –2 is two spaces away from zero on the number line.

Absolute value is written using two straight lines around a number, variable, or expression.

|–2| = 2 |2d +6| =? if d = 1: |2(1)+6| = |8| = 8

if d = –4: |2(–4)+6| = |–8+6| = |–2| = 2
Absolute Value

To find the distance between two points on a number line, you can find the positive difference
between their values.

“Positive difference” means absolute value of the difference.

Distance between 3 and –2:
|3 – (–2)| = |3 + 2| = |5| = 5
|–2 – 3| = |–5| = 5
Mixed Practice

5. Which expression represents the distance between the two points, A and B, on the number line?

1 7
A. –
4 8

1 7
B. +
4 8
1 7
C. 4 – 8

1 7
D. +
4 8

p. 253
Mixed Practice

6. Which of the following expressions has the least value?

A. 3–3
B. 40
C. 41
D. 2–4
Mixed Practice

7. Bob has errands to run. He walks 5 blocks east from his apartment to the barber shop, then
walks 6 blocks west to the grocery store, then walks another 2 blocks west to the post office, and
finally walks back home. Assuming that Bob’s apartment, the barber shop, the grocery store, and
the post office are all located on the same street, how many blocks did Bob walk in completing
his errands?

A. 6
B. 11
C. 13
D. 16
Factors and Multiples

A factor is a number that divides evenly into another number.

2 × 5 = 10
2 and 5 are factors of 10.

All of the pairs of factors that can be multiplied to create a given product can be listed out in a
T-chart.
Factors of 10: 10
1 10 1 × 10 = 10
2 5 2 × 5 = 10
–1 –10 –1 × –10 = 10
–2 –5 –2 × –5 = 10
Factors and Multiples

The Greatest Common Factor (GCF) of two integers is the largest number that divides evenly into
both integers.
To find the GCF:
• Use a T-chart to find the factors of the first number.
• Use a T-chart to find the factors of the second number.
• Stop once you find a match in the right-hand column.

Find the GCF of 48 and 72: 48 72

1 48 1 72
2 24 2 36
3 16 3 24
4 12
6 8
Factors and Multiples

Multiples are numbers that result from multiplying one whole number by another whole number.
The first few multiples of 2 are 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 14, 16, 18 . . .

Every number has an infinite number of multiples.

Thinking about factors and multiples is especially helpful when simplifying fractions.
Factors and Multiples

The Least Common Multiple (LCM) of two integers is the smallest number that that is a multiple
of each integer.
To find the LCM:
• List out some multiples of the larger number.
• Start listing multiples of the smaller number.
• Stop once you find a match.

Find the LCM of 20 and 30:

Multiples of 30: 30, 60, 90, 120

Multiples of 20: 20, 40, 60

Factors and Multiples

Factors Multiples

Factors of a given number are found by Multiples of a given number are found by
dividing. multiplying.

Factors are less than or equal to the number Multiples are greater than or equal to the
that they’re factors of. number that they’re multiples of.

Factors are Few Multiples are Many

Mixed Practice

8. A fruit juice container holds 16 servings. If the serving size is 6 ounces, how many ounces does
the container hold in all?

A. 10
B. 22
C. 76
D. 96
Mixed Practice

1 3
9. From a wooden dowel 12 feet long, Jamie cut two pieces, each 3 feet long. How long, in feet,
2 4
is the remaining piece?

3
A. 8
4

1
B. 7
2

1
C. 6 2

D. 5
Mixed Practice

10. At noon, the temperature in the high desert was 92°F. A scientist observed the following
temperature changes over the course of the next two hours: +12°F, –5°F, +6°F, –3°F, and
+13°F. What was the temperature, in degrees Fahrenheit at the end of the two-hour period?

A. 95° F
B. 103° F
C. 115° F
D. 131° F
Mixed Practice

16
11. Which point on the number line below represents the value − ?
6

A. Point A
B. Point B
C. Point C
D. Point D
Mixed Practice

12. At a certain store, loose-leaf paper comes only in packages of 400 sheets. If a student buys
enough paper at this store to fill 3 binders with 150 sheets of paper each, how many sheets will
be left over?

A. 70
B. 50
C. 350
D. 450
Learning Objectives

Now that you have completed this lesson, you should be able to:
• Apply number sense concepts, including ordering rational numbers, absolute value, multiples,
factors, and exponents.
• Add, subtract, multiply, divide, and use exponents and roots of fractions and decimal
numbers.
Questions?

Effort and practice are the keys to Test Day Success. Now that you have
completed this lesson, you should reinforce these topics by completing
practice questions.

If you have questions between live sessions, email your GED experts at [email protected].

Happy studying!
Answer Key
Answer Key

1. Which expression has a value less than zero?

2
 1 Determine the value of each answer choice:
A.  
2
3
B. ( −2)  1
2
 1  1  1
A.   =    =
C. 2 −3  2   2  2  4
2
D. ( −2) B. ( −2 ) = ( −2 )( −2 )( −2 )= ( 4 )( −2 )= −8
3

…but don’t do more work than you have to.

Answer Key

2. Cilia are very thin, hair-like projections from cells. They are 2.0 × 10–4
millimeters wide. What is the maximum number of cilia that would fit
side by side—without overlapping—across a microscope slide that is 25
millimeters wide? Write the answer in scientific notation.

A. 8.0 × 10–6 In order to figure out how many cilia will fit, divide the width of the slide by the
width of a single cilium.
B. 1.25 × 10–3
25 2.5  101
C. 8.0 × 102 = 25 millimeters = 2.5 × 101 millimeters
2.0  10–4
2.0  10–4
D. 1.25 × 105 = 1.25 ×10[1-(-4)] 1 - (-4) = 1 + 4 = 5
= 1.25 ×105
Answer Key

3. An expression is shown.

15  12 On Test Day: Type your

Simplify the expression completely. Leave your answer in radical form. answer in the box. You may
use numbers, a decimal
6 5 15  12 = 53  4 3 = 5 3 4 3 point (.), and/or a negative
sign (–) in your answer.
= 33 4  5
(NOTE: Click the symbol
= 3 45
2
selector when you need to
= 32  4  5 enter the radical sign.)

= 3 2  5
=6 5
Answer Key

4. An expression is shown.

 28 
36 − 2  + 5
 2 
Simplify the expression completely.  28   28 
3 6 − 2  + 5 = 3 6 − +5
 2   4 
A. 16
= 3(6 – 7) + 5
B. 8
C. 2
= 3(–1) + 5

D. –2 = –3 + 5
=2
Answer Key

5. Which expression represents the distance between the two points, A and B, on the number line?

1 7
A. –
4 8

1 7 To find the distance between two points on a number line, you

B. +
4 8 can take the positive difference:
1 7
C. 4 – 8 7 1 1 7
− or −
1 7 8 4 4 8
D. +
4 8

p. 253
Answer Key

6. Which of the following expressions has the least value?

A. 3–3 Determine the value of each answer choice:

B. 40
1 1
C. 41 A. 3−3 = =
33 27
D. 2–4
B. 40 = 1
C. 41 = 4
1 1
D. 2−4 = 4
=
2 16
Answer Key

7. Bob has errands to run. He walks 5 blocks east from his apartment to the barber shop, then
walks 6 blocks west to the grocery store, then walks another 2 blocks west to the post office, and
finally walks back home. Assuming that Bob’s apartment, the barber shop, the grocery store, and
the post office are all located on the same street, how many blocks did Bob walk in completing
his errands?

A. 6
Distance walked on errands: 2 + 5 + 6 = 13 blocks
B. 11
But Bob still needs to walk home! Only one answer choice is greater than 13.
C. 13
D. 16
Answer Key

8. A fruit juice container holds 16 servings. If the serving size is 6 ounces, how many ounces does
the container hold in all?

A. 10 servings per container × serving size = total amount in container

B. 22
16 × 6 = 96 ounces
C. 76
D. 96
Answer Key

1 3
9. From a wooden dowel 12 feet long, Jamie cut two pieces, each 3 feet long. How long, in feet,
2 4
is the remaining piece?

3 1
A. 8 12
4 2 feet = 12.5 feet
1 3
B. 7 3 feet = 3.75 feet
2 4

1 12.5 – 3.75 – 3.75 = 5 feet

C. 6 2

D. 5
Answer Key

10. At noon, the temperature in the high desert was 92°F. A scientist observed the following
temperature changes over the course of the next two hours: +12°F, –5°F, +6°F, –3°F, and
+13°F. What was the temperature, in degrees Fahrenheit at the end of the two-hour period?

A. 95° F 92 + 12 – 5 + 6 – 3 + 13 = 115
B. 103° F
C. 115° F
D. 131° F
Answer Key

16
11. Which point on the number line below represents the value − ?
6

A. Point A
B. Point B
C. Point C 16 4
− = −2
D. Point D 6 6
4 4
2 is between 2 and 3, so −2 is between –2 and –3.
6 6
Answer Key

12. At a certain store, loose-leaf paper comes only in packages of 400 sheets. If a student buys
enough paper at this store to fill 3 binders with 150 sheets of paper each, how many sheets will
be left over?

A. 70 3 × 150= 450 sheets needed

B. 50 1 package = 400 sheets
C. 350 2 packages = 800 sheets
D. 450 800 – 450 = 350 sheets left over