Cambridge (CIE) IGCSE Your notes

Maths: Core
Types of Numbers
Contents
Types of Number
Multiples, Factors & Primes
Squares, Cubes & Roots
Reciprocals

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 Types of Number
Your notes

Types of number
You will come across vocabulary such as
Integers and natural numbers
Rational and irrational numbers
Multiples
Factors
Prime numbers
Squares, cubes and roots
Reciprocals
Knowing what each of these terms mean is essential.

What are integers and natural numbers?

Integers are whole numbers;
They can be positive, negative and zero
For example, -3, -2, -1, 0, 1, 2, 3 are all integers
Natural numbers are the positive integers
They can be thought of as counting numbers
1, 2, 3, 4, … are the natural numbers
Notice that 0 is not included

What are rational and irrational numbers?

A rational number is a number that can be written as a fraction in its simplest form

a
A rational number can be written in the form
b
where a and b are both integers, and b is not zero

All terminating decimals are rational numbers

32
e.g. 0 . 32 =
100
All recurring decimals are rational numbers

4
e.g. 0 . 4444. . . =
9
Recurring digits are indicated by dots or bars
. ⎯⎯
e.g. 0 . 45 = 0 . 45 = 0 . 455 555 555 . . .
. . ⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯
e.g. 0 . 5824 = 0 . 5824 = 0 . 5824 5824 5824 . . .

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An irrational number cannot be written as a fraction
All non-terminating, non-recurring decimals are irrational numbers Your notes
π (pi) is an irrational number
It has an endless amount of decimal places and there is no pattern or recurring digits

π a
Any (simplified) fraction involving π , such as , will also be irrational (as a in is not an
2 b
integer)

Examiner Tips and Tricks

In the calculator paper, use your calculator to your advantage!
To determine whether a number is rational or irrational, type it into your calculator and
see if it can be displayed as a fraction (with integers)

Worked Example
. .
Explain why 0 . 3492 is a rational number.

Answer:
The dots indicate the first and last of the recurring digits
. .
0 . 3492 = 0 . 3492 3492 3492 . . .
. .
0 . 349 2 is a rational number as it is a recurring decimal

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 Multiples, Factors & Primes
Your notes

Multiples
What are multiples?
A multiple of a given integer is a number that can be formed by multiplying the integer by another
positive integer
For example, 12 is a multiple of 3 because 12 = 3 × 4
Multiples can be considered as the numbers in a times table
However multiples go beyond times tables and continue forever
For example, the multiples of 3 are 3, 6, 9, 12, 15, ..., 300, ..., 3000, ..., 34 567 896, ...
Every non-zero number has an infinite number of multiples
A common multiple of two or more integers is a number that is a multiple of the integers
For example, 12 is a common multiple of 4 and 6 6
Even numbers (2, 4, 6, 8, 10, ...) are multiples of 2
Odd numbers (1, 3, 5, 7, 9, ...) are not multiples of 2
Multiples can be algebraic

For example, the multiples of k would be k , 2k , 3k , 4k , 5k . . . .

How do I find the multiples of a number?

Starting with a particular value, multiples can be listed by counting up in steps of that particular
value
e.g. the multiples of 7 start with 7, then counting up in 7's will give 14, 21, 28, 35 and so on
Multiples form a sequence
e.g. 7, 14, 21, 28, 35, ...
Questions may ask you to state the multiples of a value between certain numbers
e.g. the multiples of 7 between 10 and 40 are 14, 21, 28 and 35

Worked Example
(a) List the first five multiples of 2.
Answer:

2 , 4 , 6 , 8 , 10
(b) List the multiples of 5 between 12 and 37.
Answer:

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 15 , 20 , 25 , 30 , 35
Your notes
Factors
What are factors?
A factor of a given integer is a value that divides the given number exactly with no remainder
6 is a factor of 18 because 18 ÷ 6 = 3
Every integer greater than 1 has at least two factors
The integer itself, and 1
A common factor of two or more integers is a number that is a factor of the integers
For example, 3 is a common factor of both 21 and 18

How do I find factors?

Finding all the factors of a particular value can be done by finding factor pairs
For example when finding the factors of 18
1 and 18 will be the first factor pair
Divide by 2, 3, 4 and so on to test if they are factors
18 ÷ 2 = 9, so 9 and 2 are factors
18 ÷ 3 = 6, so 6 and 3 are factors
18 ÷ 4 = 4.5, so 4 is not a factor
18 ÷ 5 = 3.6, so 5 is not a factor
18 ÷ 6 would be next, but we have already found that 6 was a factor
So we have now found all the factors of 18: 1, 2, 3, 6, 9, and 18

How do I find factors without a calculator?

Use a divisibility test
Some tests are easier to remember, and more useful, than others

Divisible Test Examples

by...

2 The last digit is 0, 2, 4, 6 or 8 123 is not divisible by 2

Ends in a 3
134 is divisible by 2
Ends in a 4

3 The sum of the digits is a 3, 6 or 9 123 is divisible by 3

If the sum is bigger than 9 1+2+3=6
Repeat the process with the digits in the sum 2574 is divisible by 3

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 2+5+7+4=18
1+8=9 Your notes
134 is not divisible by 3
1+3+4=8

4 The last two digits can be halved twice to give a whole 528 is divisible by 4
number
28 ÷ 2 = 14
14 ÷ 2 = 7
4274 is not divisible by
4
74 ÷ 2 = 37
37 ÷ 2 = 18.5

5 The last digit is 0 or 5 3025 is divisible by 5

Ends in a 5
2719 is not divisible by 5
Ends in a 9

8 The last three digits can be halved three times to give a 2144 is divisible by 8
whole number
144 ÷ 2 = 72
72 ÷ 2 = 36
36 ÷ 2 = 18
4916 is not divisible by 8
916 ÷ 2 = 458
458 ÷ 2 = 229
229 ÷ 2 = 114.5

9 The sum of the digits is a 9 423 is divisible by 9

If the sum is bigger than 9 4+2+3=9
Repeat the process with the digits in the sum 2574 is divisible by 9
2+5+7+4=18
1+8=9
134 is not divisible by 9
1+3+4=8

10 The last digit is 0 2710 is divisible by 10

Ends in a 0

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 3025 is not divisible by
10
Your notes
Ends in a 5

Once you know that the number has a particular factor, you can divide by that factor to find the
factor pair
If a number is not divisible by an integer, then the number is also not divisible by any multiple of that
integer
119 is not divisible by 3
so 119 is not divisible by 6, 9, 12, etc, ...
If a number is divisible by two integers, and the only common factor of those integers is 1, then the
number is also divisible by the product of the integers
594 is divisible by 2 and 3
The only common factor of 2 and 3 is 1
so 594 is divisible by 2×3=6
Instead of a divisibility test, you could use a formal written method to divide by a value
If the result is an integer; you have found a factor

Examiner Tips and Tricks

On the calculator exam paper, use your calculator to test for divisibility
A factor pair will be found if the result of the calculation is an integer
Being very familiar with times tables helps to reduce the need to use the divisibility tests

Worked Example
Find all the factors of 42.
Answer:
The first factor pair will be 1 and the value itself
1 42
42 ends in a 2 so 42 is divisible by 2
42 ÷ 2 = 21
2 21
4+2=6 so 42 is divisible by 3
42 ÷ 3 = 14
3 14
42 ÷ 2 = 21 and 21 ÷ 2 =10.5 so 42 is not divisible by 4
42 ends in a 2 so 42 is not divisible by 5

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 42 is divisible by 2 and 3 so 42 is divisible by 6
42 ÷ 6 = 7 Your notes
67
The next number to test, 7, is already on the list, so the list is complete
Write the list of factors in order, being careful to not miss any out
The factors of 42 are 1, 2, 3, 6, 7, 14, 21 and 42

Prime numbers
What are prime numbers?
A prime number is a number which has exactly two (distinct) factors; itself and 1
The first 10 prime numbers are
2, 3, 5, 7, 11, 13, 17, 19, 23, 29
You should remember at least the first ten prime numbers
1 is not a prime number, there are a few reasons for this such as
by definition, prime numbers are integers greater than or equal to 2
1 only has one factor
2 is the only even prime number
If a number has any factors other than itself and 1, it is not a prime number
For example, 27 is often mistaken for a prime number

Worked Example
Show that 51 is not a prime number.
Answer:
If we can find a factor of 51 (that is not 1 or 51), this will prove it is not prime
51 is not even so is not divisible by 2
Next use the divisibility test for 3
5 + 1 = 6 and 6 is divisible by 3
therefore 51 is divisible by 3
51 ÷ 3 = 17
51 is not prime as it has more than two (distinct) factors

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 Squares, Cubes & Roots
Your notes

Squares, cubes & roots

What are square numbers?
A square number is the result of multiplying a number by itself

The first square number is 1 × 1 = 1 , the second is 2 × 2 = 4 and so on

The first 15 square numbers are: 1, 4, 9, 16, 25, 36, 49, 64, 81, 100, 121, 144, 169, 196, 225
Aim to remember at least the first fifteen square numbers
In algebra, square numbers can be written using a power of 2

a × a = a2

What are cube numbers?

A cube number is the result of multiplying a number by itself, twice

The first cube number is 1 × 1 × 1 = 1 , the second is 2 × 2 × 2 = 8 and so on

The first 5 cube numbers are 1, 8, 27, 64 and 125

Aim to remember at least the first five cube numbers
You should also remember 103 = 1000
In algebra, cube numbers can be written using a power of 3

a × a × a = a3

What are square roots?

The square root of a value, is the number that when multiplied by itself equals that value
For example, 4 is the square root of 16
It is the inverse of squaring

Square roots are indicated by the symbol

e.g. The positive square root of 49 would be written as 49

Square roots can be positive and negative
e.g. The square roots of 25 are 5 and -5
If a negative square root is required then a - sign would be used

e.g. 25 = 5 but − 25 = − 5
Sometimes both positive and negative square roots are of interest and would be indicated
by ± 25
The square root of a non-square integer is also called a surd

e.g. 3 is a surd, as 3 is not a square number

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 surds are irrational numbers
where possible modern calculators will display irrational numbers as surds Your notes
64 is rational, as it is equal to 8
64 is a square number

However, 2 is irrational
2 is not a square number
You should aim to remember the square roots of the first 15 square numbers:

1, 4, 9, 16 , 25 , 36 , 49 , 64 , 81 , 100 , 121 , 144 , 169 , 196 , 225

What are cube roots?

The cube root of a value, is the number that when multiplied by itself twice equals that value
For example, 3 is the cube root of 27
It is the inverse of cubing
3
Cube roots are indicated by the symbol

e.g. The cube root of 64 would be written as 3 64

You should remember the values of the following cube roots:

3
1 , 3 8 , 3 27 , 3 64 , 3 125 , 3 1000

Worked Example
Write down a number which is both a cube number and a square number, and hence express this
number in two different ways using powers of 2 and 3.
Answer:
Listing the first 12 square numbers
1, 4, 9, 16, 25, 36, 49, 64, 81, 100, 121, 144
Listing the first 5 cube numbers
1, 8, 27, 64, 125
64 appears in both lists, it is the 8th square number and 4th cube number
64 is both a square and cube number
64 = 82 and 64 =43

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 Reciprocals
Your notes

Reciprocals
What is a reciprocal?
The reciprocal of a number is the result of dividing 1 by that number
Any number multiplied by its reciprocal will be equal to 1

1
The reciprocal of 3 is
3
1
The reciprocal of is 3
3
1 1
3× = ×3=1
3 3
2 3
The reciprocal of is
3 2
3 2
The reciprocal of is
2 3
2 3 3 2
× = × =1
3 2 2 3
1
Algebraically the reciprocal of a is
a
1
The reciprocal of is a
a
This can also be written using a power of -1

1
= a −1
a

Worked Example
3 ...
Write down a fraction that completes this calculation: × =1
7 ...
Answer:
Recall that a number multiplied by its reciprocal is equal to 1

3
×
7 =1
7 3

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