Unit 1 Functions and Relations: 1-1 Number Theory
Unit 1 Functions and Relations: 1-1 Number Theory
2b2 4 j 2
b2 2 j 2 b is even
If a and b are both even, then they are not relatively
prime which is a contradiction. Therefore, 2 is
irrational.
Theorem: Let n be a positive integer. Then n is either
an integer or it is irrational.
Real Numbers
The number line is a geometric model of the system of
real numbers. Rational numbers are thus fairly easy to
represent:
-2 -1 0 1 2 x
-2 -1 1 2 x
2
-1
Real Numbers
In this way, if an irrational number can be identified
with a length, we can find a point on the number line
corresponding to it.
What this emphasizes is that the number line is
continuous—there are no gaps.
Intervals
Name of Inequality
Notation Number Line Representation
Interval Description
a b
finite, open
(a, b) a<x<b a b
a b
finite, closed
[a, b] axb
a b
a bb
finite, half-
open
(a, b] a<xb a b
[a, b) ax<b
a b
a b
infinite, open
(a, ) a < x <
a
(-, b) - < x < b
b
a b
infinite,
closed
[a, ) a x <
a
[-, b] -< x b
b
Finite and Repeating Decimals
If a nonnegative real number x can be expressed as a
finite sum of of the form
d1 d2 dt
x D 2 ... t
10 10 10
where D and each dn are nonnegative integers and
0 dn 9 for n = 1, 2, …, t, then D.d1d2…dt is the finite
decimal representing x.
Finite and Repeating Decimals
If the decimal representation of a rational number does
not terminate, then the decimal is periodic (or
repeating). The repeating string of numbers is called the
period of the decimal.
a
It turns out that for a rational number where b > 0,
the period is at most b – 1. b
Finite and Repeating Decimals
462
35.538461
13
3 1 9 1 153846 2
0.3 0.09 0.153846
9 3 99 11 999999 13
integer d1d2d3…dp.
Decimal Representation
For delayed-periodic decimals, the process is a little
more complicated. It turns out you can break a delayed-
periodic decimal into a product of terminating and
simple-periodic decimals, so the general form is also a
product of the general forms: The decimal
0.d1d2d3 ...dt dt 1dt 2dt 3 ...dt p can be written as the fraction
M , where M is the integer (note the difference)
10t 10p 1
d1d2d3 ...dt dt 1dt 2dt 3 ...dt p d1d2d3 ...dt .
Decimal Representation
Example: Convert the decimal 0.467988654 to a
fraction.
467988654 467 467988187
0.467988654
3 6
10 10 1
999999000
It’s possible this might reduce, but we can see that there
are no obvious common factors (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, or 10),
so it’s okay to leave it like this.
Absolute Value
The absolute value of a real number a, denoted by |a|, is
the distance from 0 to a on the number line. This
distance is always taken to be nonnegative.
x if x 0
x
x if x 0
Absolute Value
Example: Rewrite each expression without absolute
value bars.
1. 3 1
2. 2
x
3. , if x 0
x