Definitions

A setAny collection of objects. is a collection of objects, typically grouped within braces { }, where each object is called an elementAn object within a set.. For example, {red, green, blue} is a set of colors. A subsetA set consisting of elements that belong to a given set. is a set consisting of elements that belong to a given set. For example, {green, blue} is a subset of the color set above. A set with no elements is called the empty setA subset with no elements, denoted $\varnothing$ or { }. and has its own special notation, { } or ∅.

When studying mathematics, we focus on special sets of numbers. The set of natural (or counting) numbersThe set of counting numbers {1, 2, 3, 4, 5, …}., denoted N, is

The three periods (…) is called an ellipsis and indicates that the numbers continue without bound. The set of whole numbersThe set of natural numbers combined with zero {0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, …}., denoted $W$, is the set of natural numbers combined with zero.

The set of integersThe set of positive and negative whole numbers combined with zero {…, −3, −2, −1, 0, 1, 2, 3, …}., denoted Z, consists of both positive and negative whole numbers, as well as zero.

Notice that the sets of natural and whole numbers are both subsets of the set of integers.

Rational numbersNumbers of the form $\frac{a}{b}$, where a and b are integers and b is nonzero., denoted Q, are defined as any number of the form $\frac{a}{b}$, where a and b are integers and b is nonzero. Decimals that repeat or terminate are rational. For example,

The set of integers is a subset of the set of rational numbers because every integer can be expressed as a ratio of the integer and 1. In other words, any integer can be written over 1 and can be considered a rational number. For example,

Irrational numbersNumbers that cannot be written as a ratio of two integers. are defined as any number that cannot be written as a ratio of two integers. Nonterminating decimals that do not repeat are irrational. For example,

The set of real numbersThe set of all rational and irrational numbers., denoted R, is defined as the set of all rational numbers combined with the set of all irrational numbers. Therefore, all the numbers defined so far are subsets of the set of real numbers. In summary,

Number Line

A real number lineA line that allows us to visually represent real numbers by associating them with points on the line., or simply number line, allows us to visually display real numbers by associating them with unique points on a line. The real number associated with a point is called a coordinateThe real number associated with a point on a number line.. A point on the real number line that is associated with a coordinate is called its graphA point on the number line associated with a coordinate..

To construct a number line, draw a horizontal line with arrows on both ends to indicate that it continues without bound. Next, choose any point to represent the number zero; this point is called the originThe point on the number line that represtents zero..

Mark off consistent lengths on both sides of the origin and label each tick mark to define the scale. Positive real numbers lie to the right of the origin and negative real numbers lie to the left. The number zero (0) is neither positive nor negative. Typically, each tick represents one unit.

As illustrated below, the scale need not always be one unit. In the first number line, each tick mark represents two units. In the second, each tick mark represents $\frac{1}{7}$.

The graph of each real number is shown as a dot at the appropriate point on the number line. A partial graph of the set of integers Z follows:

Example 1: Graph the following set of real numbers: $\{-1,-\frac{1}{3},0,\frac{5}{3}\}$.

Solution: Graph the numbers on a number line with a scale where each tick mark represents $\frac{1}{3}$ unit.

Ordering Real Numbers

When comparing real numbers on a number line, the larger number will always lie to the right of the smaller one. It is clear that 15 is greater than 5, but it may not be so clear to see that −1 is greater than −5 until we graph each number on a number line.

We use symbols to help us efficiently communicate relationships between numbers on the number line. The symbols used to describe an equality relationshipExpress equality with the symbol =. If two quantities are not equal, use the symbol $\ne$. between numbers follow:

These symbols are used and interpreted in the following manner:

We next define symbols that denote an order relationship between real numbers.

These symbols allow us to compare two numbers. For example,

Since the graph of −120 is to the left of the graph of –10 on the number line, that number is less than −10. We could write an equivalent statement as follows:

Similarly, since the graph of zero is to the right of the graph of any negative number on the number line, zero is greater than any negative number.

The symbols < and > are used to denote strict inequalitiesExpress ordering relationships using the symbol < for “less than” and > for “greater than.”, and the symbols $\le$ and $\ge$ are used to denote inclusive inequalitiesUse the symbol $\le$ to express quantities that are “less than or equal to” and $\ge$ for quantities that are “greater than or equal to” each other.. In some situations, more than one symbol can be correctly applied. For example, the following two statements are both true:

In addition, the “or equal to” component of an inclusive inequality allows us to correctly write the following:

The logical use of the word “or” requires that only one of the conditions need be true: the “less than” or the “equal to.”

Example 2: Fill in the blank with <, =, or >: −2 ____ −12.

Solution: Use > because the graph of −2 is to the right of the graph of −12 on a number line. Therefore, −2 > −12, which reads “negative two is greater than negative twelve.”

Answer: −2 > −12

In this text, we will often point out the equivalent notation used to express mathematical quantities electronically using the standard symbols available on a keyboard. We begin with the equivalent textual notation for inequalities:

Many calculators, computer algebra systems, and programming languages use this notation.

Opposites

The oppositeReal numbers whose graphs are on opposite sides of the origin with the same distance to the origin. of any real number a is −a. Opposite real numbers are the same distance from the origin on a number line, but their graphs lie on opposite sides of the origin and the numbers have opposite signs.

For example, we say that the opposite of 10 is −10.

Next, consider the opposite of a negative number. Given the integer −7, the integer the same distance from the origin and with the opposite sign is +7, or just 7.

Therefore, we say that the opposite of −7 is −(−7) = 7. This idea leads to what is often referred to as the double-negative propertyThe opposite of a negative number is positive: −(−a) = a.. For any real number a,

Example 3: What is the opposite of $-\frac{3}{4}$?

Solution: Here we apply the double-negative property.

Answer: $\frac{3}{4}$

Example 4: Simplify: $-\left(-\left(4\right)\right)$.

Solution: Start with the innermost parentheses by finding the opposite of +4.

Answer: 4

Example 5: Simplify: $-(-(-2))$.

Solution: Apply the double-negative property starting with the innermost parentheses.

Answer: −2

Try this! Simplify: $-\left(-\left(-\left(5\right)\right)\right)$.

Answer: −5

Absolute Value

The absolute valueThe absolute value of a number is the distance from the graph of the number to zero on a number line. of a real number a, denoted $\left|a\right|$, is defined as the distance between zero (the origin) and the graph of that real number on the number line. Since it is a distance, it is always positive. For example,

Both 4 and −4 are four units from the origin, as illustrated below:

Example 6: Simplify:

a. $\left|-12\right|$

b. $\left|12\right|$

Solution: Both −12 and 12 are twelve units from the origin on a number line. Therefore,

Answers: a. 12; b. 12

Also, it is worth noting that

The absolute value can be expressed textually using the notation abs(a). We often encounter negative absolute values, such as $-\left|3\right|$ or −abs(3). Notice that the negative sign is in front of the absolute value symbol. In this case, work the absolute value first and then find the opposite of the result.

Try not to confuse this with the double-negative property, which states that $-(-7)=+7$.

Example 7: Simplify: $-\left|-\left(-7\right)\right|$.

Solution: First, find the opposite of −7 inside the absolute value. Then find the opposite of the result.

Answer: −7

At this point, we can determine what real numbers have a particular absolute value. For example,

Think of a real number whose distance to the origin is 5 units. There are two solutions: the distance to the right of the origin and the distance to the left of the origin, namely, $\left\{\pm 5\right\}$. The symbol (±) is read “plus or minus” and indicates that there are two answers, one positive and one negative.

Now consider the following:

Here we wish to find a value for which the distance to the origin is negative. Since negative distance is not defined, this equation has no solution. If an equation has no solution, we say the solution is the empty set: Ø.

Answers

1: {1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12}

3: {0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9}

5: {2, 4, 6, 8, 10}

7: Rational

9: Rational

11: Rational

13: Irrational

15: Irrational

17: Integer, Rational

19: Rational

21: Integer, Rational

23: True

25: False

27: True

29:

31:

33:

35:

37:

39:

41: <

43: >

45: >

47: <

49: =

51: True

53: False

55: True

57: True

59: True

61: −10, −7, −6 (answers may vary)

63: −1, −2/3, −1/3 (answers may vary)

65: −15, −10, −7 (answers may vary)

67: Ten is less than twenty.

69: Negative four is not equal to zero.

71: Zero is equal to zero.

73: $-7<0$

75: $0\ge -1$

77: $-2=-2$

79: 9

81: −10

83: −5

85: 1

87: 1

89: 11

91: $-\pi$

93: Larger

95: <

97: >

99: <

101: 20

103: 33

105: 2/5

107: 0

109: −12

111: −20

113: −7

115: 8/9

117: −3

119: 45

121: 6

123: −5

125: 9

127: $\pm 9$

129: 0

131: Ø, No solution

133: $\pm 8$

135: >

137: <

139: <