Our journey of learning mathematics starts with numbers.

We are all familiar with numbers since we

use them to count objects. However, there are more things to learn about numbers than counting
them. These things are what we’re going to talk about in this chapter.

Topics:

•Real Numbers and Imaginary Numbers

•Operations on Integers

•Order of Operations (PEMDAS)

•Factors and Multiples

•Divisibility Rules

•Fractions and Decimals

•Operations on Fractions and Decimals

•Percent

•Ratio and Proportion

→REAL & IMAGINARY NUMBERS

Numbers are everywhere!

The money in your pocket, your birthdate, class grades, and even the time you will spend reading this
reviewer. All of these things involve numbers.

Although we are all familiar with numbers, not everyone knows their classifications.

In this review, let’s discuss two classes of numbers: Real and imaginary numbers.

Table of Contents:

•Natural or Counting Numbers

•Whole Numbers

•Integers

•Rational Numbers

•Irrational Numbers

•Real Numbers

•The Real Number Line

•Imaginary Numbers
Natural or Counting Numbers

Natural numbers are used to count objects. These are the numbers you use to determine how many
pets you have, how many apples you have bought from the market, or how many petals a flower has.

Natural numbers start with 1, followed by 2, then 3, and so on. Therefore, the smallest natural number
is 1. Meanwhile, there’s no largest natural number.

0, negative numbers, fractions, and decimals are not natural numbers since we do not use them to
count objects.

Numbers such as 14, 25, 799, 1212, 100000, and 5612312 are all examples of natural numbers.

Whole Numbers

Whole numbers are counting numbers, including 0. In other words, if you include 0 in the set of
natural numbers, you will obtain the set of whole numbers.

Therefore, natural numbers are part of the set of whole numbers.

This means that all natural numbers are also whole numbers. Also, all whole numbers are natural
numbers except for 0 since 0 is not a natural number.

Example: Is 510 a whole number or a natural number?

Solution: 510 is a natural number since we use it for counting. Since all natural numbers are also
whole numbers, 510 is both a natural and a whole number.

Integers

Integers are positive and negative whole numbers, including 0. Examples are 1, 0, -1, 500, -500, 2200,
-3800, and so on.

If you combine the set of all whole numbers and the set of all whole negative numbers, you now have
the set of integers. Also, the set of natural numbers and the set of whole numbers are just subsets or
parts of the set of integers.
Fractions and decimals are not integers. For example, ½, -⅓, -⅔, and 0.9 are not integers.

Rational Numbers

Any number that can be expressed as a ratio of two integers is a rational number. In simple words, a
number is a rational number if there are two integers such that when the first integer is divided by the
second integer, the result is the original number.

Suppose the number 18. Can you think of two integers such that when you divide the first integer by
the second integer, the result is 18?

36 and 2 are integers. Note that 36 ÷ 2 = 18. Since there are two integers such that when you divide the
first integer (36) by the second integer (2) the result is 18, then 18 is a rational number.
A rational number is also a number that can be written as a fraction with integers. For example, 75 is
rational since you can express it as 150⁄2, where 150 and 2 are both integers. Also, ½ is a rational number
since it is a fraction composed of integers 1 and 2.

Shown below is the formal definition of a rational number:

A rational number is any number that you can express in the form p⁄q such that p and q are both
integers and q is not equal to 0.

Again, don’t worry if the definition sounds confusing because it simply means that a number is a
rational number if and only if you can write it as a fraction with integers.

To make it easier for you, here is a list of numbers that can be considered rational numbers:

1. All integers are rational numbers. Example: -1, 0, -1000, 152321, etc. are all rational numbers

2. All fractions (positive or negative) are rational numbers. Example: -5⁄3, -½, 2⁄3 , etc. are rational
numbers.

3. All terminating decimals or decimals with an end (positive or negative) are rational numbers: If a
decimal number has a finite or countable number of digits, that decimal number is rational. Example:
0.01, 0.99, -0.23234, -0.421, etc., are rational numbers.

4. All non-terminating (never-ending) repeating decimals (positive or negative) are rational numbers:
If a decimal number has an infinite or uncountable number of digits but the digits are being repeated,
then the decimal number is a rational number. Example : 0.9999… , 0.123123123123…, 0.010101…, –
0.11111…, etc. are rational numbers.

Meanwhile, non-terminating non-repeating decimals such as 0.5411346565134…, 0.28992139813…, etc

are not rational numbers. Non-terminating non-repeating decimals have an uncountable number of
digits that are not repeated in a certain pattern. You cannot express these non-terminating non-
repeating decimals as a fraction with integers.

Note: The “three-dot” symbol that is used on some decimals is called an "ellipsis". A decimal with an
ellipsis means that there are digits that follow after the last digit of the number. For example, in
0.9292… the number 2 is not the last digit of the decimal number since there are digits that follow 2.

Irrational Numbers

A number that is not a rational number is an irrational number An irrational number cannot be
expressed as a fraction with integers.

Examples of irrational numbers are the non-terminating non-repeating decimals such as

0.321315325453… Using this example, you cannot provide two integers such that when you divide the
first integer by the second integer, the result will be 0.321315325453…

There are a lot of important irrational numbers in mathematics. For instance, the famous pi (π) which
is used to calculate the circumference of a circle and the value of which is approximately 3.1416… is an
irrational number.

Real Numbers

If you combine the set of rational numbers and the set of irrational numbers, the resulting set is the
set of real numbers.

Real numbers are the combination of rational and irrational numbers. -1, 0, 0.12093020…, and -½ are
examples of real numbers.
It is clearly seen that the set of the rational numbers and the set of irrational numbers are subsets of
the set of real numbers.

The set of rational numbers is composed of the set of integers, fractions, and decimals. On the other
hand, the set of positive whole numbers, negative whole numbers, and 0 composed the set of
integers.

Therefore, the set of natural numbers, whole numbers, integers, rational, and irrational numbers are
all subsets of the set of real numbers.

The Real Number Line

The real number line is a visual representation of the set of real numbers. Every point in the number
line corresponds to a real number. Hence, a point in the real number line can be either a rational or an
irrational number.

In the middle of the number line lies the number zero (0). On the left of zero are the negative numbers
while all positive numbers are on the right of zero.
The farther you go to the left of the number line, the smaller the value of the number is. As the
number line goes to the right, the larger the value of the number is.

For example, – 5 is smaller in value than – 2 since – 5 can be located farther to the left compared to –
2. Meanwhile, 200 is larger in value than 100 since 200 is located farther to the right compared to
100.
We can also plot fractions and decimals in the real number line. For instance, ½ can be located
between 0 and 1, -5⁄2 can be located between -2 and -3, and 4.5 can be located between 4 and 5.

Just like rational numbers, irrational numbers can be located in the real number line. For instance, π
whose value is approximately 3.1416 can be located between 3 and 4.

Imginary Numbers

The first time I heard of imaginary numbers, it felt like hearing about unicorns. You may think that
these numbers, just like unicorns, do not exist because they are called “imaginary”.

However, it is important to note that imaginary numbers also “exist” in a mathematical sense and it
has practical uses in various fields.

But what exactly is an imaginary number?

An imaginary number is the square root of a negative number. Recall that the square root of a
number is the number that when multiplied by itself yields the original number. For example, the
square root of 16 is 4 since 4 x 4 = 16.
However, there’s no real number that gives the square root of a negative number. Suppose that I want
to get the square root of -15. -15 has no square root in the set of real numbers since when a real
number is multiplied by itself, the result must always be non-negative.

Mathematical mathematicians used imaginary numbers to express the square root of a negative
number. They used i to represent the square root of -1. i is the basic unit of imaginary numbers or the
imaginary unit.

Another interesting fact about imaginary numbers is that they cannot be located in the real number
line.
What if we combine a real number and an imaginary number? Well, what you have now is a complex
number such as 3 + 5i where 3 is the real number while 5i is the imaginary number.

→FUNDAMENTAL OPERATIONS ON INTEGERS

You have learned what integers are and how they fit in the number family tree. Now, it’s time to go to
the next level and learn how to apply fundamental operations on integers.

In this review, you’ll learn how to add, subtract, multiply, and divide integers.

Table of Contents

-Absolute Value of a Number

-Finding the Absolute Value of a Number: An Easy Trick

-Operations on Integers

-1. Addition of Integers

a. Addition of Integers with the Same Signs

b. Addition of Integers with Different Signs

-2. Subtraction of Integers

-3. Multiplication of Integers

-4. Division of Integers

-Bonus: Multiplying a Number by Zero (0)

Absolute Value of a Number

Before we proceed to our actual topic, we need to discuss first the concept of absolute value.

The absolute value of a number is its distance from zero. In other words, the absolute value of a
number tells you how far a number from zero is. We use the symbol | | to indicate the absolute value of
a number.

Example 1: What is the absolute value of 3?

Solution: Let’s determine how far three is from zero.

Using a number line, you can verify that 3 is three units far from zero.

Therefore, the absolute value of 3 is equal to 3.

In symbols, | 3 | = 3.

Example 2: What is the absolute value of – 4?

Solution: Using a number line, you can verify that – 4 is four units away from zero.

Hence, the absolute value of -4 is equal to 4.

In symbols, | – 4 | = 4
 It is important to note that the absolute value of a number is always nonnegative (either positive or
0) since we are dealing with the distance of a number from zero which is always non-negative. You will
never encounter a negative value for distance. There’s no such road that is – 60 km long.

Finding the Absolute Value of a Number: An Easy Trick

You can quickly determine the absolute value of a number without drawing a number line. You need to
follow these rules:

Rule 1: If the number is positive, the absolute value of the number is itself.

Rule 2: If the number is negative, drop the negative sign.

For example, the absolute value of 9 is simply 9 using rule 1.

On the other hand, the absolute value of – 16 is 16 using rule 2.

Can you determine the absolute value of 0, – 321, 1500, and -9000?

The answers are:

|0|=0

| – 321 | = 321

| 1500 | = 1500

| – 9000 | = 9000

Finding the absolute value of a number is essential in adding and subtracting integers. Now that you
know it, let’s proceed to our actual topic.
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Fundamental Operations on Integers

Fundamental Operations on Integers

You have learned what integers are and how they fit in the number family tree. Now, it’s time to go to
the next level and learn how to apply fundamental operations on integers.

In this review, you’ll learn how to add, subtract, multiply, and divide integers.

Click below to go to the main reviewers:

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Table of Contents

Absolute Value of a Number

Finding the Absolute Value of a Number: An Easy Trick

Operations on Integers

1. Addition of Integers

a. Addition of Integers with the Same Signs

b. Addition of Integers with Different Signs

2. Subtraction of Integers

3. Multiplication of Integers

4. Division of Integers

Bonus: Multiplying a Number by Zero (0)

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Test Yourself!

1. Practice Questions [Free PDF Download]

2. Answer Key [Free PDF Download]

3. Math Mock Exam + Answer Key

Absolute Value of a Number

Before we proceed to our actual topic, we need to discuss first the concept of absolute value.

The absolute value of a number is its distance from zero. In other words, the absolute value of a
number tells you how far a number from zero is. We use the symbol | | to indicate the absolute value of
a number.

Example 1: What is the absolute value of 3?

Solution: Let’s determine how far three is from zero.

Using a number line, you can verify that 3 is three units far from zero.
Therefore, the absolute value of 3 is equal to 3.

In symbols, | 3 | = 3.

operations on integers 1

Example 2: What is the absolute value of – 4?

Solution: Using a number line, you can verify that – 4 is four units away from zero.

Hence, the absolute value of -4 is equal to 4.

In symbols, | – 4 | = 4

operations on integers 2

It is important to note that the absolute value of a number is always nonnegative (either positive or 0)
since we are dealing with the distance of a number from zero which is always non-negative. You will
never encounter a negative value for distance. There’s no such road that is – 60 km long.

Finding the Absolute Value of a Number: An Easy Trick

You can quickly determine the absolute value of a number without drawing a number line. You need to
follow these rules:

Rule 1: If the number is positive, the absolute value of the number is itself.

Rule 2: If the number is negative, drop the negative sign.

For example, the absolute value of 9 is simply 9 using rule 1.

On the other hand, the absolute value of – 16 is 16 using rule 2.

Can you determine the absolute value of 0, – 321, 1500, and -9000?

The answers are:

|0|=0

| – 321 | = 321

| 1500 | = 1500

| – 9000 | = 9000

Finding the absolute value of a number is essential in adding and subtracting integers. Now that you
know it, let’s proceed to our actual topic.

→Operations on Integers

1. Addition of Integers

The first thing you need to consider before adding integers is to determine whether the given integers
have the same or different signs.

Integers have the same signs if both of them are positive or both of them are negative. Meanwhile,
integers have different signs if one of them is positive and one of them is negative.

a. Addition of Integers with the Same Signs

To add integers with the same signs (either both are positive or both are negative)

Step 1: Add the absolute values of the given integers

Step 2: Put the common sign to the number you have obtained from Step 1.

Let’s have some examples:

Example 1: 15 + 32 = ?
Even a preschooler can answer this easy example. Of course, the answer is 47. However, let’s try
answering this problem using the steps on adding integers with the same signs since 15 and 32 are
both positive (same signs).

Solution:

Step 1: Add the absolute values of the given integers.

The absolute value of 15 is 15, while the absolute value of 32 is 32. We add their absolute values: 15 +
32 = 47

Step 2: Put the common sign to the number you have obtained from Step 1.

Since both 15 and 32 are positive integers, their common sign is positive. The number we obtained
from Step 1 was 47. Therefore, the sign of 47 must be positive.

Indeed, 15 + 32 = 47

Example 2: What is the sum of – 210 and – 172?

Solution:

Let’s use the steps for adding integers with the same signs since – 210 and – 172 are negative integers
(i.e., same signs).

Step 1: Add the absolute values of the given integers.

The absolute value of – 210 is 210, while the absolute value of – 172 is 172. We add their absolute
values:

210 + 172 = 382

Step 2: Put the common sign to the number you have obtained from Step 1.

Since – 210 and – 172 are negative integers, their common sign is negative. Therefore, we put a
negative sign to the number we obtained from step 1, which is 382.

Hence, the sum of – 210 and – 172 is – 382.

b. Addition of Integers with Different Signs

Now, what if the given integers have different signs? What if one integer is positive while the other is
negative and vice-versa?

Just follow these steps to add integers with different signs quickly:

Step 1: Subtract the absolute values of the given numbers.

Step 2: Put the sign of the integer with a larger absolute value to the number you have obtained from
Step 1.

Let’s have some examples:

Example 1: Add -19 and 25.

Solution:

-19 is a negative number, and 25 is a positive integer. They have different signs. Hence, we will use the
steps above to add integers with different signs.

Step 1: Subtract the absolute values of the given numbers.

The absolute value of – 19 is 19. Meanwhile, the absolute value of 25 is 25.

Subtracting the absolute values (larger – smaller): 25 – 19 = 6

Step 2: Put the sign of the integer with a larger absolute value to the result you have obtained from
Step 1.

| – 19 | = 19 and | 25 | = 25.

Note that the absolute value of 25 is larger than the absolute value of – 19. Also, 25 is a positive
number. Therefore, the result obtained from Step 1 (6) must be a positive integer.

Hence, – 19 + 25 = 6

Example 2: Add – 32 and 15.

The given integers have different signs. Let’s use the steps for adding integers with different signs.

Solution:

Step 1: Subtract the absolute values of the given numbers.

The absolute of – 32 is 32, while the absolute value of 15 is 15.

Subtracting the absolute values (larger – smaller): 32 – 15 = 17

Step 2: Put the sign of the integer with a larger absolute value to the result you have obtained from
Step 1.

| – 32 | = 32 and | 15 | = 15.

Note that the absolute value of – 32 is larger than the absolute value of 17. Also, – 32 is negative.
Therefore, the result obtained from Step 1 (17) must be a negative integer.

Hence, – 32 + 15 = – 17

Example 3: Add – 90 and 32.

Solution:

Step 1: Subtract the absolute values of the given numbers.

The absolute of – 90 is 90, while the absolute value of 32 is 32.

Subtracting the absolute values (larger – smaller): 90 – 32 = 58

Step 2: Put the sign of the integer with a larger absolute value to the result you have obtained from
Step 1.

| – 90 | = 90 and | 32 | = 32.

Note that the absolute value of – 90 is larger than that of 32. Also, – 90 is negative. Therefore, the
result we obtained from Step 1 (58) must be a negative integer.

Hence, – 90 + 32 = – 58

Now that you have learned how to add integers, you are prepared to learn how to subtract them.

2. Subtraction of Integers

There are two steps you need to follow when subtracting integers:

Step 1: Change the operation into addition and reverse the sign of the second integer (or the
subtrahend).

Step 2: Apply the rules for adding integers.

Let’s have some examples.

Example 1: What is – 19 – 5?

Solution:

Step 1: Change the operation into addition and reverse the sign of the second integer (or the
subtrahend).

The first thing you have to do is to change the subtraction sign (-) into an addition sign (+).

Afterward, reverse the sign of the second integer (or the subtrahend). The subtrahend is 5, so we
reverse the sign of 5 into – 5.

– 19 + (- 5) =

Step 2: Apply the rules for adding integers.

We need to apply the rules for adding integers to finish the subtraction process.

We have obtained – 19 + (- 5) from Step 1. This means that we need to add integers with the same
signs. I hope that you still remember the rules for adding integers.

Using the rules for adding integers with the same signs:

– 19 + (- 5) = – 24

And then we’re done. The answer is – 24.

Therefore, – 19 – 5 = – 24

Example 2: Compute for: – 32 – (-12)

Solution:

Step 1: Change the operation into addition and reverse the sign of the second integer (or the
subtrahend).

The first thing you have to do is to change the subtraction sign (-) into an addition sign (+).

Afterward, reverse the sign of the second integer (or the subtrahend). The subtrahend is – 12, so we
change the sign of – 12 into 12.

– 32 + 12 =

Step 2: Apply the rules for adding integers.

We need to apply the rules for adding integers to finish the subtraction process.

We have obtained – 32 + 12 from Step 1. This means that we need to add integers with different signs.

Using the rules for adding integers with different signs:

– 32 + 12 = – 20

Therefore, – 32 + 12 = – 20

Example 3: What is -18 – (- 45)?

Solution:

Step 1: Change the operation into addition and reverse the sign of the second integer (or the
subtrahend).

The first thing you have to do is to change the subtraction sign (-) into the addition sign (+).

Afterward, reverse the sign of the second integer (or the subtrahend). The subtrahend is – 45, so we
change the sign of – 45 into 45.

– 18 + 45 =

Step 2: Apply the rules for adding integers.

We need to apply the rules for adding integers to finish the subtraction process.

We have obtained – 18 + 45 from Step 1. This means that we need to add integers with different signs

Using the rules for adding integers with different signs:

– 18 + 45 = 27
Therefore, – 18 + 45 = 27

3. Multiplication of Integers

Multiplying integers is a lot easier than adding or subtracting integers. The rules are pretty simple:

If the integers have the same signs, multiply the integers and put a positive sign in the resulting
integer.

If the integers have different signs, multiply the integers and put a negative sign in the resulting
integer.

You can use this simple reminder when multiplying integers: SAME SIGNS = POSITIVE, UNLIKE SIGNS =
NEGATIVE

Let’s have some examples:

Example 1: Multiply: – 3 × – 5

Solution:

– 3 and – 5 are both negative integers. They have the same signs so their product must be positive.

Therefore, – 3 × – 5 = 15

Example 2: Multiply: 8 × – 3

Solution:

8 and – 3 have different signs, so their product must be negative.

Therefore, 8 × – 3 = – 24

4. Division of Integers

The rules for dividing integers are similar to multiplying integers:

If the integers have the same signs, divide the integers and put a positive sign to the resulting integer.

If the integers have unlike or different signs, divide the integers and put a negative sign to the resulting
integer.

Let’s have some examples:

Example 1: Divide -18 by -2

Solution:

-18 and -2 have the same signs. So, we divide the integers, and the answer must be positive.

-18 ÷ (-2) = 9
Example 2: Divide 18 by – 2

Solution:

18 and – 2 have different signs. So, we divide the integers, and the answer must be negative.

18 ÷ (-2) = – 9

You may have wondered why the Multiplication of Integers and Division of Integers almost have the
same rules. The answer is simple: Dividing integers is just multiplying an integer by the multiplicative
inverse or the reciprocal (we will learn the reciprocal of a number in later topics) of the other. That’s
why their rules are almost similar.

Bonus: Multiplying a Number by Zero (0)

Suppose we want to multiply an integer such as – 12 by 0. What do you think will be the result?

Simple: The answer is 0.

If you multiply any number (real, rational, irrational, integers, fraction, or decimal) by zero, the result
will always be 0. This property is called the Zero Property of Multiplication.

Example 1: 1 000 000 x 0

Solution: By the Zero Property of Multiplication, the answer is 0

Example 2: π x 0

Solution: By the Zero Property of Multiplication, the answer is 0

PEMDAS PROBLEMS WITH ANSWERS

All of us prioritize one thing over another. You most likely prioritize education over leisure, food over
video games, or family over friends.

Similarly, each mathematical operation has a corresponding level of priority.

You have learned to add, subtract, multiply, and divide integers. But what if multiple mathematical
operations are involved, such as in 9 + (3 x 2) – 4? What operation must be performed first, second,
third, and so on?

This review will discuss the standard way of prioritizing mathematical operations, commonly known as
the order of operations or PEMDAS.

Table of Contents:

-What Is PEMDAS?

-How To Solve PEMDAS Problems: 4 Steps

-What is an Exponent?

-How To Compute Numbers with an Exponent

What Is PEMDAS?

PEMDAS is an acronym for Parenthesis, Exponents, Multiplication, Division, Addition, and Subtraction.
This is a standard method of determining which operations you must prioritize first, second, third, and
so on. In other words, PEMDAS tells you what operation must be performed first, given a set of
multiple operations.

In other math textbooks, PEMDAS is referred to as MDAS or GEMDAS.

PEMDAS implies that the operation inside the parenthesis has the highest priority or must be
performed first. Then, you simplify the number with an exponent. Afterward, you multiply or divide
the numbers from left to right. Finally, you add and subtract numbers from left to right.

A fun way to remember PEMDAS is this sentence “Please Excuse My Dear Aunt Sally.”

How To Solve PEMDAS Problems: 4 Steps

If there is more than one mathematical operation involved in your calculation, you must follow
PEMDAS. The steps to perform PEMDAS are as follows:

1.First, perform the operation inside the parenthesis or grouping symbol.

2.Simplify any number with exponents.

3.Perform multiplication or division from left to right.

4.Perform addition or subtraction from left to right.

Note: Make sure that you can perform mathematical operations on integers because they will be
applied in our succeeding examples.

Example 1: 9 + (3 x 2) – 4

The given problem has more than one operation involved. There is an addition, a multiplication, and a
subtraction sign. There is also an operation inside the parenthesis. This means that we need to use
PEMDAS.

Solution:

P – Perform the operation inside the parenthesis or grouping symbol.

The first thing we need to perform is the operation inside the parenthesis. In particular, we are going
to solve 3 x 2 first.
The operation inside the parenthesis is 3 x 2 which is equal to 6.

E – Simplify any number with exponents.

There are no exponents involved in the given problem. Thus, we will skip this step.

MD – Perform multiplication or division from left to right.

No more multiplication or division is involved in 9 + 6 – 4. Therefore, we will skip this step.

AS – Perform addition or subtraction from left to right.

We perform addition first since it is the first one that appears from the left. 9 + 6 = 15. Lastly, we
perform subtraction: 15 – 4 = 11 .

Let’s review what we have done:

9 + (3 x 2) – 4

9+6–4

15 – 4

11

Hence, using PEMDAS, 9 + (3 x 2) – 4 = 11

I hope you still remember the rules of operations on integers because we will use them for the
following example.

Example 2: (-17 – 2) x 3 – 9

Let us use PEMDAS to answer the above problem.

P – Perform the operation inside the parenthesis.

The operation inside the parenthesis is – 17 – 2. By subtracting the given integers, we will obtain – 17 –
2 = – 19.

E – Simplify any number with exponents.

The given problem doesn’t have any exponent. Thus, we will skip this step.

MD – Perform multiplication or division from left to right.

AS – Perform addition or subtraction from left to right.

Here’s a quick review of what we have done:

(-17 – 2) x 3 – 9

(-19) x 3 – 9

-57 – 9

– 66

Hence, using PEMDAS, (- 17 – 2) x 3 – 9 = -66

Before our third example, let’s discuss how to compute numbers with exponents.

What is an Exponent?

An exponent is a number written on the upper right of another number called the base. This means
that the base is raised to a specific power.

For example, in 23, the exponent is 3 (the small letter above or the superscript), while the base is 2.
How To Compute Numbers with an Exponent:

Although an exponent is written as a tiny number above the base, its impact is powerful!

The exponent corresponds to the number of times the base must be multiplied by itself. For example,
in 2³, we have two as the base while three as the exponent. This means you must use the base (i.e., 2)
three times in a multiplication process.

23 = 2 x 2 x 2 = 8

Therefore, 23 = 8.

Now, can you compute for 92?

Our exponent is 2, which means we need to use 9 two times in a multiplication process:

92 = 9 x 9 = 81

Therefore, 92 = 81

Remember how to compute exponents since we will use this method for our third example.

Example 3: What is the value of 33 – (9 x 2) ÷ 6?

Let us apply PEMDAS to solve the question.

P – Perform the operation inside the parenthesis or grouping symbol.

E – Simplify any number with exponents.

33 is a number with an exponent. Hence, we need to simplify it. Note that 33 = 3 x 3 x 3 = 27

MD – Perform multiplication or division from left to right.

Only division is involved, and no more multiplication sign is left. Hence, we solve 18 ÷ 6

AS – Perform addition or subtraction from left to right.

Here is a quick review of what we have done:

33 – (9 x 2) ÷ 6

33 – 18 ÷ 6

27 – 18 ÷ 6

27 – 3

24

Hence, using PEMDAS, 33 – (9 x 2) ÷ 6 = 24

Example 4: Compute for 81 ÷ (42 – 7) x 3

We can determine the answer to the given problem above using PEMDAS.

As usual, we start our computation with the operation inside the parenthesis. However, two things are
involved inside the parenthesis: An exponent and a subtraction sign. Note that it is easier to perform
the exponent first before performing subtraction.

81 ÷ (42 – 7) x 3

81 ÷ (16 – 7) x 3

Now, we can perform subtraction which is inside the parenthesis:

81 ÷ (16 – 7) x 3

81 ÷ 9 x 3

We have already performed P of PEMDAS. Since no more exponents are involved, we move to the next
operations, multiplication, and division (MD). Let’s go back to the same problem:

81 ÷ 9 x 3

Since division appeared first from the left, we will perform it first.
 81 ÷ 9 x 3

9x3

Lastly, we will perform multiplication

9 x 3 = 27

Let’s try to answer something more challenging in our fifth example.

Example 5: Compute for 200 – 15² + (144 ÷ (-12) ) x (14 ÷ (-2))

Let us begin by performing the operations inside the parenthesis. There are two parentheses. Thus, we
will perform the operations inside them simultaneously.

We already did the P of PEMDAS, so we are now on E, which is exponents. We simplify the number with
an exponent.

We are now on the MD part of PEMDAS. There is only multiplication involved, and there is no division
sign left. Hence,

Next is the AS part of PEMDAS. Since subtraction appeared first from the left, it must be performed
first.
Finally, let us add the remaining numbers

Here is a quick review of what we have done above:

200 – 152 + (144 ÷ (-12) ) x (14 ÷ (-2) )

200 – 152 + (- 12) x (- 7)

200 – 225 + 84

-25 + 84

59

Hence, using PEMDAS, 200 – 152 + (144 ÷ (-12) ) x (14 ÷ (-2) ) = 59

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