C HAPTER

Fractions and decimals

1.1 Integers
Integers are whole numbers, either positive or negative.

Addition and subtraction

Think of additions and subtractions as operations on a bank account, i.e. as deposits and
withdrawals.

Example
2
3959

You commence with $2 in the account; you deposit $3, then

 4

withdraw $9. Final balance  $4, an overdraft of $4.

Since the order of transactions does not affect the final result, it is often easier to change the
given order.

Example
2  3
2
4  1
3  9  6

Total deposits $9 and total withdrawals $6.

3

When the same number is both added and subtracted, it is easiest to disregard it.

Example
2  3
2
4  1
3  4  1
3

Since a negative number has the opposite effect to a positive number, a double negative is
equivalent to a positive. For example, 3 is the opposite of 3; also,  3 is the opposite
of 3, and is equal to
3.
Chapter 1 Fractions and Decimals

In this course we do not require a rigorous mathematical proof of this but will rely upon
commonsense because it seems clear that in any language, a double negative gives a positive.
For example:
if I say
then I am saying
which means

I am not talking nonsense

I am not talking no-sense
I am talking sense

(a double negative statement)

(a positive statement).

Example
Subtracting 2 from 5, we have: 5  2  5
2  7

Remember : Subtracting a negative quantity means adding that quantity.

Note: Do not use a calculator for Exercises 1.1 to 1.4.

Exercises 1.1
1

a
d

3
1
5
2

Take:
a 3 from 7
Take 5 from 2

26
17

5  2
235

8 from 6

3 from 8

Add 5 and 2

Add 8 and 8

In each case below write down the new temperature after the change described:
Original temperature (C)

Change in temperature (C)

7

rise of 3

4

rise of 9

drop of 6

New temperature (C)

What is the net result of:

a a loss of 8 dB followed by a gain of 3 dB?
b a loss of 6 dB followed by a gain of 8 dB?

Multiplication and division

As with addition and subtraction, the operations may be performed in any order.
2

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Example
238694

296384
 18  6  3  8  4


384

84

This is a much more convenient order for

computation, working from left to right

2

Exercises 1.1 (continued)

6

91  234  91  2

234568

When two numbers are multiplied or divided, the result is positive if the two numbers have the
same sign and negative if the two numbers have different signs.

Examples
3  5  15

3  5  15
8  4  2 (or
8  4  2 (or

2  3  6
6

8
  2)
4
8
  2)
4

6  2  3 (or 2  3)

6

6  2  3 (or 2  3)

Signs the same,
result is positive.

Note:

6

3
6

3
6
 3

 2
 2
 2

2  3  6

Signs different,
result is negative.

A fraction is negative if it contains one negative sign.

Exercises 1.1 (continued)

7

a
c

Multiply 3 by 5
Multiply 3 by 5

b
d

Divide 8 by 4
Divide 16 by 2

Write down the missing number in each case below:

a 4  . . .  12
b
8  . . .  4
c 4  . . .  20
d 16  . . .  4
Chapter 1 Fractions and Decimals

1.2 Order of operations

By international agreement, when a string of numbers contains a variety of different operations,
the order in which the operations are to be performed is:
1

remove brackets (i.e. evaluate the contents);

evaluate all  and ;

evaluate all
and .

Example

6
4  (2
1)  2  1  (5  1)
6
4

21

6

(brackets removed)
( and  performed)

8

(
and  performed)

Note: With nested brackets, the innermost brackets must be worked first.

Examples
1

17  [3  (2
3)]  17  [3  5]
 17  15
2

2  [10  (3
1)  2]  2  [10  4  2]
 2  [10  8]
22
4

Exercises 1.2
1

1  (3  2  4)

7  [2  (3  1)
1]

1  (2
3)  4
b

3  (1  2)  (1  4)

2  [3
(4  1)  4
1]

Squares and square roots

N 2 is the square of the number N; it is that number multiplied by itself. For example, 62  36.

N
 is the positive square root of the number N, i.e. the positive number that must be
multiplied by itself in order to obtain that number. For example,
9  3 because 3  3  9.
4

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Since 3  3  9 and also 3  3  9, the number 9 (and all other positive numbers) has two
square roots.
The positive square root of 9 is
9 ( 3).
The negative square root of 9 is 
9 ( 3).
Note:

17
 
17
  17
2
(
41
) 
41
 
41


and


412 

41  41

 41

 41

Numbers under a square root sign should be regarded as though they were within brackets. For
example,
6

2 5 and
(6



2
 5) and
(6
2  5) all mean the same. The value is

16
 or 4.

Note:

(2
3)2  52

The operation inside the brackets must be evaluated first.

 25

9


16 
25

5

The square root sign acts as a bracket, so the operation under it

must be evaluated first.

Exercises 1.2 (continued)

3

2
2

3

42

5
 42

(3
4)2 

102  
62

1.3 Fractions
In this section, we will revise fractions. There are three common notations for real numbers:
fractions, decimals and percentages.

Example
23

100

 0.23  23%

It is essential that you can perform operations on all such numbers and quickly convert between
these different notations.

Equivalent fractions
2

You will remember that 3 of a quantity is the amount we obtain if we divide the quantity into 3
equal parts and take 2 of them.
Chapter 1 Fractions and Decimals

To obtain the same amount, we could divide the quantity into 6 equal parts and take 4 of them,
and so on.

Example
1
3
2
6

These are called

equivalent fractions

3
9

It follows that if the numerator and denominator of a fraction are multiplied by the same
number, the size of the fraction is unchanged; we obtain an equivalent fraction. Hence, also,
the numerator and denominator may be divided by the same number to obtain an equivalent
fraction. When as many as possible such divisions are made, the fraction is expressed in its
simplest form and is said to be in its lowest terms.

Example
2250
225
45
9
3
        
5250
525
105
21
7

Divisibility rules
Example
Which of the numbers 2, 3, 4, 5 and 9 will divide into 31 836?

Solution
First note that 3
1
8
3
6  21.
Hence the answer is: 2 (because 2 divides into 6)
4 (because 4 divides into 36)
3 (because 3 divides into 21)

Exercises 1.3
1

Which of the numbers 2, 3, 4, 5 and 9 divide into

a 123 456?
b 234 567?

Reduce each of the following fractions to lowest terms:

a

13
5

150

12
6

189

CD Supplement to accompany Mathematics for Technicians

38
4

432

30 3
75

40 500

Cancelling
Dividing a fraction above and below by the same number is often called cancelling when this
number occurs both in the denominator and in the numerator.

Example
7  5  13
5  13
  
3  11  7
3  11

Note: You can cancel only when all the numbers in the numerator are multiplied and all the
numbers in the denominator are multiplied.

Examples
1

7  5  13

3
11  7

7  5  13

3  11  7

The sevens cannot be cancelled here because of the plus sign

(in the denominator).
The sevens cannot be cancelled here because of the minus sign
(in the numerator).

Exercises 1.3 (continued)

Cancel first if possible, then express in simplest form:
23
4
321
2
3 a 
b 
3  13
2  321

98  17

19  98

Mixed numbers
A mixed number consists of an integer and a fraction. You should be able to convert mixed
numbers to fractions and vice versa.

Example
1

33  3
3
9

 3
3
11

 3

19

4

16

 4
4
3

 4
4
3

 44

Chapter 1 Fractions and Decimals

Exercises 1.3 (continued)

4

Convert the following improper fractions to mixed numbers (first reduce to lowest terms if
necessary):
a

13

5

39

4

139

12

78

30

1224

504

Convert the following mixed numbers to improper fractions:

a

53

120

86

11

1012

1212

1111

Addition and subtraction of fractions

Examples
1

2 threes
5 threes  7 threes

2 elevenths
5 elevenths  7 elevenths, i.e. 11
11  11

Similarly, 7 thirteenths  3 thirteenths  4 thirteenths, i.e. 13  13  13

To add or subtract fractions, we express them with the same denominator.

Example
5
7
5
5
20
14

    
  
24
12
24
6
24
24
11
 
24

5
7
5
20
5  14

    
24
12
6
24
11
 
24

or

Exercises 1.3 (continued)

In the following exercises, all working is to be done in fractions and answers should be given as
proper fractions or mixed numbers.
a

3
25




100

1
3

4
12

1
2

 5

1
2

3  4

3
8

12

2
3

12
24

3
4

 6

11

3
4

1
9

6

3
8

12
3

2
3

 6

 10  5

1
4

3
5

20

3
4

8
5

1
30

11

 20

 3  5

Addition and subtraction of mixed numbers

Express the fractional parts with the same denominator, then deal with the integral and
fractional parts separately.
8

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Examples
1

10

274
356  2712
3512

9

10

 (27
35)
(12
12 )

19

 6212
7

 6312
2

15

24

15

165  124  1620  1220

 1520  1220


(note this step)

9
320

Exercises 1.3 (continued)

9

482  363

405
204

715  483

318
495

Multiplication of fractions
Multiply the numerators; multiply the denominators. Cancel first, when possible.

Examples
1

16
2
4
2
242
        
105
3
5
7
357

5
52
122
10
      
3  13
13
39
318

7
93
9
3
27
        
10
10  5
5
7
50

Multiplication of mixed numbers

Convert to fractions first.

Examples
1

5
105
1
1
14  33    
3
24
25
 
6

11
22
5
2
1
45  14    
5
42
11
 
2

 46

 52

Multiplication of a mixed number and an integer

Multiply the integral and fractional parts separately.
Chapter 1 Fractions and Decimals

Examples
1

3
3
5  574  (5  57)
(5  )
4
 285

15
4

 204

e
12 a

3
  8
4
17
  6
17
18
1
1


1 2  24

15
2

 204
72
1

 2884

11 a

 285
34

Exercises 1.3 (continued)

2
10 a 3  7
b

 12  8

12  178  (12  17)

 2112

4  25

2

7

 8


437  
437

25  18

32  4  2  4

3
  26
13
7
12
  
24
35
1
2


3 2  3

b
f
b

2225  3

34  3

123

898  2

51

98  98

8

9

34  13

15

 28
3

Division of a fraction by a number

Multiply by the reciprocal of that number.

Examples
1

7
8

 2  8  2

7
7

 2  4

 16

 8
3

6
7

 4  7  3

 7

 2  8

17

Exercises 1.3 (continued)

3
13 a 1  4
b
1
1
14 a 23  12
b

12  23  2  3

 16

3

4

2
1

247  3

3

8

1  32

 2
1

2

3

288  8

5
7

4

7

44  14

 14
1

Complex fractions
These are most easily simplified by multiplying top and bottom by the same number.
10

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Examples
1

2

3

12
4
9

 
17
25

24
33
  
64
 34
1
5
53  26

13

33

 17

 30
6

11

 10

(The original fraction was multiplied by 6.)

 110

Exercises 1.3 (continued)

1

4

3

1

15 a


6

5

6

3 2

 3

7


12

4

 8

5
1
1
  

8
2
8

Squaring a fraction or a mixed number

The square of a number is that number multiplied by itself.

Examples
1


3

4

3
3
  
4
4
9

16

A fraction is squared by squaring the numerator and squaring the

denominator.

1    
3

4

7

4

49

 16


To square a mixed number, first convert it to a fraction.

1
316

Note: From the above, it can be seen that:

9
33
  



16
44
3

 4

1
49

316  

16
7

 4
3

 14
This method can be used only in special cases such as those shown above where the numerator
and denominator are both perfect squares. Other cases require a calculator or tables to find the
square root.

Exercises 1.3 (continued)

16 A wheel is rotating at a constant speed of 3 revolutions in each 2 s.
a
b

What fraction of a revolution is made in 4 s?

5
What fraction of a second does the wheel take to make 9 of a revolution?
Chapter 1 Fractions and Decimals

11

17 A pendulum is timed to make 40 oscillations in 30 s.

a
b
c

How long does it take to make 1 oscillation?

1
How long does it take to make 72 oscillations?
1
How many oscillations does it make in 52 s?
1

18 A turntable rotates at 333 rpm. How many revolutions does it make in:
1
1
a 20 min?
b 42 min?
c 12 h?
5

19 An alloy contains (by mass) 8 copper, 4 zinc and the remainder tin. In a sample of this

alloy, what fraction of the mass is tin?

1

20 A 1 L container is 2 full of liquid and a 2 L container is 3 full. What is the total number of

litres of liquid present?

1

21 How many dollars does a person earn by working for 43 h at $4.50/h?
22 Find the efficiency of a machine when its mechanical advantage (MA) is 5 and its velocity

MA
1
ratio (VR) is 72. (Use efficiency  .)
VR

1.4 Decimal fractions

Addition and subtraction of decimals

Exercises 1.4
1

0.86
23.45

23.73
628.4

82.5
1.56

16  0.894

324.6  8.94

263  4.89

Multiplication and division by powers of 10

Exercises 1.4 (continued)
3

0.32  10

12.34  100

8  400

0.006  500

Multiplication of decimals
To multiply decimals, follow these steps:
1

Multiply the numbers, ignoring the decimal points.

Insert the decimal point in your result, making sure that the number of decimal places in the
result is the same as the total number of decimal places in the original numbers.

Examples
1

12

23.4  0.13
First multiply:
234  13  3042
Since there are three decimal places in the original numbers (one in 23.4 and two in 0.13),
we must have three decimal places in the result. Hence, the answer is 3.042.

CD Supplement to accompany Mathematics for Technicians

1.23  0.0024
123  24  2952
We must have six decimal places in the result.
answer  0.002 952 (note two zeros inserted to give six decimal places)

Cases such as the above, where the multiplication cannot be done mentally, would normally be
done using a calculator, but it is important that you should be able to use the method above if a
calculator is not available.

Exercises 1.4 (continued)

5

0.023  0.45

0.034  1.6

Cases such as the following should be computed mentally:

6

a
c

6.83  0.05
0.9  0.3

b
d

0.004  0.6
1.1  0.12

Division by an integer
Divide as usual and insert the decimal point when you come to it. Keep the decimal points aligned.

Examples

32.41
6194.4
6

194.46  6  32.41

3.082
2680.1
32
78

80.132  26  3.082

2 13
2 08
52
52
0

Exercises 1.4 (continued)

7

62.1  3

9.15  15

17.028  36

Converting a fraction to a decimal

Write the numerator as a decimal, then divide in the usual way.
Note: 7  7.000 000 . . .

Chapter 1 Fractions and Decimals

13

Examples
1

5

8

 0.625

0.625
85.0
000
0.
. .

7

16

 0.4375

0.437 5
167
.0
000
0.
. .
64
60
48
120
112
80
80
0

Exercises 1.4 (continued)

8

Convert the following fractions to decimals (exact answers required):

a

5

8

3

16

13

40

17

80

13

32

Rounding up and down

If the denominator has only 2 and 5 as its prime factors, as in the cases above, the decimal
terminates, and the fraction can be expressed exactly as a decimal. However, if the denominator
contains other prime factors, the decimal will not terminate and a recurring (or repeating)
decimal will be obtained. These decimals are written with dots or bars over the recurring digits.

Examples
1
2

1
 
3
2114

990

.
0.333 333 3  0.3

..

 2.135 353 535 3  2.135  or 2.135

In such cases the results are given only to the accuracy required.

Examples
3

11

..
 0.27272727 . . . ( 0.27 )

When written correctly to one decimal place, the result is 0.3, since 0.3 is closer to the correct
result than is 0.2.
Written correct to two decimal places, the result is 0.27, since this is as close to the correct
result as we can approximate using only two decimal places.

As can be seen from the above, if the next decimal place is 5 or greater, you should raise the
last digit to obtain the more accurate approximation.
14

CD Supplement to accompany Mathematics for Technicians

Division by a decimal
Convert the fraction to an equivalent fraction such that the denominator is an integer, then
proceed as before.

Examples
2.64
26.4


1 
1.7  17  . . .

6.8

1.234

6800



1234  . . .

Exercises 1.4 (continued)

9

Evaluate the following (without using a calculator) and state each result exactly:
a 91.8  1.35
b 15  0.625

10 Obtain each answer mentally:

0.84
30

b 
0.4
1.5
11 Obtain each answer mentally:
a 2  0.04
b
a

0.3

0.15

0.9  0.003

14.4

0.12

2.4  0.008

Note: Do not use a calculator for the following exercises. It is important that this simple
arithmetic can be performed without using any aid.

12 Voltage V volts (V) produces a current of I amperes (A) through the resistor of R ohms ().

Given that V  I  R, find the voltage needed

R
I
to produce a current of 0.2 A through a resistor
of 0.3 .
b Given that V  I  R, find the voltage needed
to produce a current of 0.4 A through a resistor
V
of 2.45 .
V
c Given that I  , find the current produced through a resistor of 120  by 14.4 V.
R
V
d Given that I  , find the current produced through a resistor of 40  by 3.6 V.
R
e Given that R  V  I, find the size of the resistor such that 20 V produces a current of
0.4 A.
1
13 The conductance of a resistor is given by G   siemens (S), where R is the resistance in
R
ohms (). Find the conductance of a wire whose resistance is:
a 0.2 
b 50 
c 20 
d 0.04 
e 0.001 
f
2.5 
g 400 
a

14 The spot on an oscilloscope screen makes one sweep each 0.004 s.

a
b

Find the time taken for it to make 50 sweeps.

What is the frequency of the sweep (in sweeps/s)?
Chapter 1 Fractions and Decimals

15

V2
R
R . Find the power dissipated when:
a the voltage is 0.5 V and the resistance is 5 
b the voltage is 1 V and the resistance is 0.2 

15 The power dissipated by a resistor is  watts, where V is the voltage across a resistance of

1.6 Significant figures

Exercises 1.6

16

State the number of significant figures in each of the following measurements:

a 7.0 g
b 6.004 kg
c 160  0.5 g
d 0.430 t
e 0.055 kg
f
100.0 g

Express each of the following measured quantities correct to 3 significant figures in the
same unit of measurement as given:
a 50.012 3 mm
b 0.000 803 2 kg
c 1.000 826 m
d 0.607 080 km

Perform the operations on the following measured quantities, expressing each result in
square metres with the appropriate number of significant figures:
a 2.00 m  1.43 m
b 2.00 m  1.4 m
c 2.0 m  1.43 m
d 2 m  1.43 m
e 20 m  3.4 m
f
20.0 m  3.4 m

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