DEPARTMENT OF GEODETIC ENGINEERING
Bachelor of Science in Geodetic Engineering
MCET00-Pre Calculus
Prepared by: Engr. Willie G. Mamaradlo
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ALGEBRA is a branch of mathematics whereby numbers
and quantities are represented by symbols, usually
letters, which enables the generalization of arithmetic
operations and the resolution of equations involving
unknowns.
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UNIT I. PRELIMINARY TOPICS IN ALGEBRA
LESSON 1: THE SET OF REAL NUMBERS
REAL NUMBERS- In mathematics, a real number is a value that represents
a quantity along a continuous line which what you call a number line.
Real numbers are simply the combination of rational and irrational numbers,
in the number system. In general, all the arithmetic operations can be
performed on these numbers and they can be represented in the number
line, also. At the same time, the imaginary numbers are the un-real numbers,
which cannot be expressed in the number line and are commonly used to
represent a complex number. Some of the examples of real numbers are 23,
-12, 6.99, 5/2, π, and so on.
Real numbers can be defined as the union of both rational and irrational
numbers. They can be both positive or negative and are denoted by the
symbol “R”. All the natural numbers, decimals and fractions come under this
category.
Order Property for Real Numbers
Given any two real numbers a and b,
- if a is to the left of b on the number line, then a < b.
- if a is to the right of b on the number line, then a > b
Real numbers include rational numbers and irrational numbers. RATIONAL
NUMBERS are fractions, which look like this:
1/4, 3/2, −1/8, 6/7, −2/3, …
Decimal numbers that terminate or repeat are also rational numbers and can
look like this:
−0.25, 0.333, 5.7, ...
IRRATIONAL NUMBERS are all numbers that can’t be written as a fraction.
These are irrational roots like √2 and decimal numbers like π that go on
forever.
√2=1.41421356237...
π=3.14159265359...
INTEGERS are a special kind of rational number. They’re made up of all the
numbers you normally think about, like 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, ... plus negative
numbers as well. So the set of integers looks like this:
... −5, −4, −3, −2, −1, 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, .....
Within the set of integer numbers is a set of numbers that we call WHOLE
NUMBERS, which is made up of all positive integers, plus 00. So the set of
whole numbers is
0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, ...
And within the set of whole numbers, we define a set called the NATURAL
NUMBERS, which is only the set of all positive integers, without 0. So the set
of natural numbers is
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, ...
We often refer to natural numbers as the “counting numbers,”
NUMBER SET SYMBOLS
Each of these number sets is indicated with a symbol. We use the symbol as
a short-hand way of referring to the values in the set.
R represents the set of real numbers
Q represents the set of rational numbers
Z represents the set of integers
W represents the set of whole numbers
N represents the set of natural numbers
Additional Reference: College and Advanced Algebra 2020 Edition by
Racso C. Daliva, EdD
IMAGINARY NUMBER- denoted as i which is equal to the square root of
negative 1
COMPLEX NUMBER- is an expression of both real and imaginary number
combined. It takes the form a+bi
ABSOLUTE VALUE- The absolute value of a real number is the numerical
value of the number neglecting the sign.
Example. The absolute value of -5 is 5
a
FRACTIONS- are numbers which are in the form
b
where a is the numerator and b is the denominator.
Types of Fractions
Proper Fraction- is one where the numerator is smaller
3
than denominator. (Example. )
5
Improper Fraction- is one where the numerator is greater
7
than the denominator. (Example. )
5
Mixed Fraction- Combination of an integer and a proper
fraction.
3
(Example. 5 )
5
*Adding and Subtracting Fractions (with like denominator)
*Adding and Subtracting Fractions (with unlike denominator)
Additional Reference: College and Advanced Algebra 2020 Edition by
Racso C. Daliva, EdD
LESSON 2: PROPERTIES OF INTEGER EXPONENTS
1. Multiplication Property
-To multiply powers with the same base, keep the base and add the
exponents
a m⋅an =am+n
23⋅ 25 =23+5 =28
2. Division Property
-To divide powers with the same base, keep the base and subtract the
exponents
am
n
=a m−n
a
25 5−3 2
=2 =2
23
3. Raising a Power to a Power
-To raise a power to a power, keep the base and multiply the
exponents
( am )n =a m⋅n
( 23 )2 =23⋅2 =26
* Other Laws on Exponents
https://byjus.com/maths/algebraic-expressions
https://www.cuemath.com/algebra/algebraic-expression/
Additional Reference: College and Advanced Algebra 2020 Edition by
Racso C. Daliva, EdD
LESSON 3: ALGEBRAIC EXPRESSION
Algebraic expressions are the idea of expressing numbers using letters or
alphabets without specifying their actual values. The basics of algebra taught
us how to express an unknown value using letters such as x, y, z, etc. These
letters are called here as variables. An algebraic expression can be a
combination of both variables and constants. Any value that is placed before
and multiplied by a variable is a coefficient.
Examples
3x + 4y – 7, 4x – 10, etc.
These expressions are represented with the help of unknown variables,
constants and coefficients. The combination of these three (as terms) is said
to be an expression. It is to be noted that, unlike the algebraic equation, an
algebraic expression has no sides or equal to sign. Some of its examples
include
3x + 2y – 5
x – 20
2x2 − 3xy + 5
*Polynomials
*Factoring Polynomials
*Rational Expressions
https://byjus.com/maths/algebraic-expressions
https://www.cuemath.com/algebra/algebraic-expression/
Additional Reference: College and Advanced Algebra 2020 Edition by
Racso C. Daliva, EdD
