CSEC Mathematics

SECTION 1 – Number Theory and Computation

Number Theory

What is a number?

A number is an arithmetical value, expressed by a word, symbol, or figure, representing a particular

quantity and used in counting and making calculations.

Numbers are a fascinating part of our lives. They are much more a part of our everyday life than we
might realize and would affect many things you might not realize.

Consider your daily routine.

What would life be without numbers?

How would you be affected if no numbers existed?

Types of Numbers

real numbers, factors, even numbers, prime numbers, complex numbers, whole numbers,
irrational numbers, natural numbers, rational numbers, odd numbers, integers, multiples,
composite numbers

Exercise

Use the list of words or phrases above to fill in the blanks for each question below. You are allowed to
use each only once.

1. The set of ____________ is another name given to the set of counting numbers. It is represented by
the symbol N. N = {1, 2, 3, 4, 5, …}.

2. The set of ______________ is the set of natural or counting numbers and zero. It is represented by
the symbol W. W = {0, 1, 2, 3, 4, …}.

3. The set of _______________is the set of numbers that is exactly divisible by two. For example, {2,
4, 6, 8, 10, 12, …}.

4. The set of ______________is the set of numbers which cannot be exactly divided by two. For

example, {1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 11, 13, …}.

5. The set of _______________ is the set of numbers which have only two factors, one and itself. For
example, {2, 3, 5, 7, 11, 13, 17, 19, …}

6. The set of ________________ is the set of numbers which have more than two factors. For

example, {4, 6, 8, 9, 10, 12, 14, 15, 16, 18, …}.

7. The set of __________ of a number is the set of numbers which can divide another number

without leaving a remainder. For example, the set of factors of 15 is {1, 3, 5, 15} and

the set of factors of 18 is {1, 2, 3, 6, 9, 18}.

8. The set of _____________ of a number is the set of numbers which can be divided by another

number without leaving a remainder. For example, the set of multiples of 3 is

{3, 6, 9, 12, 15, 18, …} and the set of multiples of 7 is {7, 14, 21, 28, 35, 42, …}.

9. The set of ______________ consist of zero, positive and negative natural numbers. It is

represented by the symbol Z. Z = {…, - 6, - 5, - 4, - 3, - 2, - 1, 0, 1, 2, 3, …}.

10. The set of ________________ is the set of numbers which can be written as a fraction. For

3 1 3 2
, , ,
example, 4 2 9 7 . It is represented by the symbol Q.

11. The set of _______________ is the set of numbers that cannot be written as a fraction. For

5 2
3,   7,
example, 4 9 . It is represented by the symbol Q1 or I.

12. The set of ____ is the set of both the rational and irrational numbers. It is represented by the

symbol R.

We note N  W  Z  Q  R and Q1  R. So R = Q  Q1. The Venn diagram representing the

set of real numbers is as follows: U=R

N W Z Q

Q1 = I

Square Numbers

Square numbers are as follows: 12, 22, 32, 42, 52, 62, 72, 82, 92, 102, 112, 122, …

That is, 1, 4, 9, 16, 25, 36, 49, 64, 81, 100, 121, 144, 169, 225, …

NOTE: Square roots 1  1, 4  2, 9  3, 16  4, 25  5, 36  6 , and so on.

Cube Numbers

Cube numbers: 13, 23, 33, 43, 53, 63, 73, 83, 93, 103, 113, 123, … That is,

1, 8, 27, 64, 125, 216, 343, …

NOTE: Cube roots 1  1, 8  2, 27  3, 64  4, 125  5, 3 216  6

3 3 3 3 3

and so.