Activity 6: Number Theory

Topics: GCD, LCM, divisibility rules, prime factorization

Class 1

1. Define "prime number" in your own words and give the first
five prime numbers.
2. Define "composite number" in your own words and give the
first five composite numbers.
3. Give two numbers that are neither prime nor composite.
4. How many prime numbers are there? Who was the first group
to realize this?
5. Complete Activity 2 from page 233 by answering all four
questions.
6. State the Fundamental Theorem of Arithmetic. What other
name is it known by? Now draw the factor tree for and write
the prime factorization of 280 using exponential notation.
7. State the divisibility test for each of the following AND give one
example and one non-example to illustrate each test: two,
three, four, five, six, seven, nine, and ten.
8. Determine whether or not 667 is prime. Show all work.
9. Define "GCD" in your own words and describe two ways to find
it.
10. Define "LCM" in your own words and describe two ways to
find it.

Class 2:

1. Give the three different meanings ("representations") for

fractions and, for each, give a unique example.
2. Write an original sentence that describes the difference
between "continuous" and "discrete" quantities. Include an
example for each type in your sentence.
3. One important concept in understanding fractions it that of
"equivalence" -- how is this concept connected to the GCD?
Explain in a clear sentence and give an example.
4. Answer #8 from Learning Exercises 6.2 beginning on page
125.
5. One important skill in operations with fractions involves those
with "unlike denominators" -- how is this skill connected to the
LCM? Explain in a clear sentence and give an example.
6. Compute by hand (show all steps & all work): Write two
fractions that are equivalent to 3/4.
7. Compute by hand (show all steps & all work): 2/3 - 1/2
8. Compute by hand (show all steps & all work): 2 2/3 + 5 1/6
9. Compute by hand (show all steps & all work): 5/6 * 3/4
10. Compute by hand (show all steps & all work): 7 1/2
divided by 1/3