Handouts Intermediate Algebra Home
| The absolute value of a number is its distance from
zero on the number line. Absolute value is indicated by placing the number between two vertical bars. Example: ½- 5 ½ |
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| A term is a number or variable or number times a variable. | |||||||||
| The operation associated with terms is addition. (Terms are added together.) | |||||||||
| The operation associated with factors is multiplication. (Factors are multiplied together.) | |||||||||
| 1. Addition of Real Numbers. a. To add two real numbers which have the same sign: ignore the signs, add the numbers and keep the sign they have in common. b. To add two real numbers which have different signs: ignore the signs, subtract the numbers and keep the sign of the number with the larger absolute value. Checkbook example: Begin with zero balance each time. Positive numbers represent deposits to the account. Negative numbers represent withdrawals from the account. The new account balance is the answer to the addition. |
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| 2. Subtraction of Real Numbers. (Addition of the opposite.) a. Change the subtraction sign to addition and change the number after the subtraction sign to its opposite (you must do both!) b. Add as in #1 above. |
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| 3. Multiplication and Division of Real Numbers. a. Determine the sign of the answer. 1. If there is an even number of negative factors, the answer is positive. 2. If there is an odd number of negative factors, the answer is negative. b. Multiply or divide the numbers as usual. Tic-tac-toe example:
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