3.6 Summary of key concepts

Fundamentals of mathematics Page 1 / 1

This module is from Fundamentals of Mathematics by Denny Burzynski and Wade Ellis, Jr. This module reviews the key concepts from the chapter "Exponents, Roots, Factorization of Whole Numbers."

Summary of key concepts

Exponential notation ( [link] )

Exponential notation is a description of repeated multiplication.

Exponent ( [link] )

An exponent records the number of identical factors repeated in a multiplication.

In a number such as $7^{3}$ ,

Base ( [link] )

7 is called the base .

Exponent ( [link] )

3 is called the exponent , or power.

Power ( [link] )

7^{3}

is read "seven to the third power," or "seven cubed."

Squared, cubed ( [link] )

A number raised to the second power is often called squared . A number raised to the third power is often called cubed .

Root ( [link] )

In mathematics, the word root is used to indicate that, through repeated multiplication, one number is the source of another number.

The radical sign $\sqrt{}$ ( [link] )

The symbol

\sqrt{}

is called a radical sign and indicates the square root of a number. The symbol

\sqrt[n]{}

represents the

n

th root.

Radical, index, radicand ( [link] )

An expression such as

\sqrt[4]{16}

is called a radical and 4 is called the index . The number 16 is called the radicand .

Grouping symbols ( [link] )

Grouping symbols are used to indicate that a particular collection of numbers and meaningful operations are to be grouped together and considered as one number. The grouping symbols commonly used in mathematics are

Parentheses: ( )
Brackets: [ ]
Braces: { }
Bar:

Order of operations ( [link] )

Perform all operations inside grouping symbols, beginning with the innermost set, in the order of 2, 3, and 4 below.
Perform all exponential and root operations, moving left to right.
Perform all multiplications and division, moving left to right.
Perform all additions and subtractions, moving left to right.

One number as the factor of another ( [link] )

A first number is a factor of a second number if the first number divides into the second number a whole number of times.

Prime number ( [link] )

A whole number greater than one whose only factors are itself and 1 is called a prime number . The whole number 1 is not a prime number. The whole number 2 is the first prime number and the only even prime number.

Composite number ( [link] )

A whole number greater than one that is composed of factors other than itself and 1 is called a composite number .

Fundamental principle of arithmetic ( [link] )

Except for the order of factors, every whole number other than 1 can be written in one and only one way as a product of prime numbers.

Prime factorization ( [link] )

The prime factorization of 45 is

3 \cdot 3 \cdot 5

. The numbers that occur in this factorization of 45 are each prime.

Determining the prime factorization of a whole number ( [link] )

There is a simple method, based on division by prime numbers, that produces the prime factorization of a whole number. For example, we determine the prime factorization of 132 as follows.
132 divided by 2 is 66. 66 divided by 2 is 33. 33 divided by 3 is 11.

132 divided by 2 is 66. 66 divided by 2 is 33. 33 divided by 3 is 11.

The prime factorization of 132 is

2 \cdot 2 \cdot 3 \cdot 11 = 2^{2} \cdot 3 \cdot 11

Common factor ( [link] )

A factor that occurs in each number of a group of numbers is called a common factor . 3 is a common factor to the group 18, 6, and 45

Greatest common factor (gcf) ( [link] )

The largest common factor of a group of whole numbers is called the greatest common factor . For example, to find the greatest common factor of 12 and 20,

Write the prime factorization of each number.
$\begin{matrix} 12 & = & 2 \cdot 2 \cdot 3 = 2^{2} \cdot 3 \\ 60 & = & 2 \cdot 2 \cdot 3 \cdot 5 = 2^{2} \cdot 3 \cdot 5 \end{matrix}$
Write each base that is common to each of the numbers:
2 and 3
The smallest exponent appearing on 2 is 2.
The smallest exponent appearing on 3 is 1.
The GCF of 12 and 60 is the product of the numbers $2^{2}$ and $3$ .
$2^{2} \cdot 3 = 4 \cdot 3 = 12$

Thus, 12 is the largest number that divides both 12 and 60 without a remainder.

Finding the gcf ( [link] )

There is a simple method, based on prime factorization, that determines the GCF of a group of whole numbers.

Multiple ( [link] )

When a whole number is multiplied by all other whole numbers, with the exception of zero, the resulting individual products are called multiples of that whole number. Some multiples of 7 are 7, 14, 21, and 28.

Common multiples ( [link] )

Multiples that are common to a group of whole numbers are called common multiples . Some common multiples of 6 and 9 are 18, 36, and 54.

The lcm ( [link] )

The least common multiple (LCM) of a group of whole numbers is the smallest whole number that each of the given whole numbers divides into without a remainder. The least common multiple of 9 and 6 is 18.

Finding the lcm ( [link] )

There is a simple method, based on prime factorization, that determines the LCM of a group of whole numbers. For example, the least common multiple of 28 and 72 is found in the following way.

Write the prime factorization of each number
$\begin{matrix} 28 & = & 2 \cdot 2 \cdot 7 = 2^{2} \cdot 7 \\ 72 & = & 2 \cdot 2 \cdot 2 \cdot 3 \cdot 3 = 2^{3} \cdot 3^{2} \end{matrix}$
Write each base that appears in each of the prime factorizations, 2, 3, and 7.
To each of the bases listed in step 2, attach the largest exponent that appears on it in the prime factorization.
$2^{3}$ , $3^{2}$ , and $7$
The LCM is the product of the numbers found in step 3.
$2^{3} \cdot 3^{2} \cdot 7 = 8 \cdot 9 \cdot 7 = 504$

Thus, 504 is the smallest number that both 28 and 72 will divide into without a remainder.

The difference between the gcf and the lcm ( [link] )

The GCF of two or more whole numbers is the largest number that divides into each of the given whole numbers. The LCM of two or more whole numbers is the smallest whole number that each of the given numbers divides into without a remainder.

<< Chapter < Page Page > Chapter >>

Read also:

Get Jobilize Job Search Mobile App in your pocket Now!

100% Free Mobile Applications
Receive real-time job alerts and never miss the right job again

Source: OpenStax, Fundamentals of mathematics. OpenStax CNX. Aug 18, 2010 Download for free at http://cnx.org/content/col10615/1.4

Google Play and the Google Play logo are trademarks of Google Inc.

Notification Switch

Would you like to follow the 'Fundamentals of mathematics' conversation and receive update notifications?

Ask

©flickr: Luis	Final Exam Review By Madison Christian Start Exam
	10 Sociology 10 Global Inequality MCQ By OpenStax Start Quiz
	15 Lec:15 Correlation Regression By Janet Forrester Start Quiz
	16 Biology 16 Gene Expression MCQ By OpenStax Start Quiz
	13 Neuroanatomy 13 The Hypothalamus By Stephen Voron Start Quiz
	1 Pharmacology Nervous System MCQ By Rohini Ajay Start Quiz
	2 Arts Society: Theater 2 By Jonathan Long Start Quiz
	9 Lec:9 Descriptive Statistics By Janet Forrester Start Quiz
	3 Lec:3 Cohort Studies By Janet Forrester Start Quiz
	4 Microbiology Final 4 By Madison Christian Start Quiz

3.6 Summary of key concepts

Summary of key concepts

Exponential notation ( [link] )

Exponent ( [link] )

Base ( [link] )

Exponent ( [link] )

Power ( [link] )

Squared, cubed ( [link] )

Root ( [link] )

The radical sign size 12{ sqrt {} } {} ( [link] )

Radical, index, radicand ( [link] )

Grouping symbols ( [link] )

Order of operations ( [link] )

One number as the factor of another ( [link] )

Prime number ( [link] )

Composite number ( [link] )

Fundamental principle of arithmetic ( [link] )

Prime factorization ( [link] )

Determining the prime factorization of a whole number ( [link] )

Common factor ( [link] )

Greatest common factor (gcf) ( [link] )

Finding the gcf ( [link] )

Multiple ( [link] )

Common multiples ( [link] )

The lcm ( [link] )

Finding the lcm ( [link] )

The difference between the gcf and the lcm ( [link] )

Read also:

Get Jobilize Job Search Mobile App in your pocket Now!

The radical sign $\sqrt{}$ ( [link] )