Chapter 1
Prerequisites
Read chapter 1 in the bookSummary
The rational numbers and irrational numbers make up the set of real numbers.. Algebraic expressions are composed of constants and variables that are combined using addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division.. They take on a numerical value when evaluated by replacing variables with constants Rational numbers may be written as fractions or terminating or repeating decimals
Key terms
- distributive property
- the product of a factor times a sum is the sum of the factor times each term in the sum; in symbols, a ⋅ ( b + c ) = a ⋅ b + a ⋅ c
- irrational numbers
- the set of all numbers that are not rational; they cannot be written as either a terminating or repeating decimal; they cannot be expressed as a fraction of two integers
- rational numbers
- the set of all numbers of the form m n , where m and n are integers and n ≠ 0. Any rational number may be written as a fraction or a terminating or repeating decimal
- order of operations
- a set of rules governing how mathematical expressions are to be evaluated, assigning priorities to operations
- algebraic expression
- constants and variables combined using addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division
- real numbers
- the sets of rational numbers and irrational numbers taken together
- constant
- a quantity that does not change value
- variable
- a quantity that may change value