Numeracy Training:

Understanding Numbers
and Systems
SAQA ID: 49648
NQF Level 2
Presented by: Tendai Mago
Introduction to Numeracy

• Welcome to the Numeracy Training!

• Numeracy refers to the ability to understand and work with
numbers in everyday situations.
• This course is designed to improve your numeracy skills,
which are essential for managing finances, understanding
data, and solving practical problems.
Course Outcomes

• By the end of this course, you will:Understand rational and

irrational numbers.
• Use computational tools (calculators, algorithms)
effectively.
• Represent numbers in different ways (scientific notation,
fractions).
• Apply geometric principles in real-world contexts.
• Organize and represent data for better decision-making.
Unit Standards Covered

• 7480: Rational and Irrational Numbers – NQF Level 2 (3

Credits)
• 9008: Estimate, Measure, and Calculate – NQF Level 2 (3
Credits)
• 9007: Patterns and Functions – NQF Level 2 (5 Credits)
• 7469: Personal Budgets and Interest – NQF Level 2 (2
Credits)
• 9009: Data Representation and Statistics – NQF Level 2 (3
Credits)
Why Numeracy Matters

• Numeracy is a critical life skill.It helps you:

• Make informed decisions in personal finances (e.g.,
budgeting, saving).
• Understand and analyze data in everyday life (e.g.,
weather forecasts, bank statements).
• Improve problem-solving and logical thinking.
Introduction to Rational and Irrational
Numbers

• Rational numbers: Can be written as fractions (e.g., 1/2,

3/4, 0.75).
• Irrational numbers: Cannot be expressed as fractions
(e.g., √2, π).
• Real-world examples:Rational: Buying 1.5 kg of apples or
traveling 3/4 of a mile.
• Irrational: Measuring a circle’s circumference using π.
Computational Tools

• Calculators: Simplify complex arithmetic

operations.Example: Using a calculator to find the square
root of a number.
• Algorithms: Step-by-step procedures for solving
problems.Example: Long division or the Pythagorean
theorem.
• Estimation: Approximating values when exact calculations
are not necessary.Example: Estimating a shopping bill in
your head before checkout.
Whole Numbers, Fractions, and
Rounding

• Whole numbers: Counting numbers starting from 0 (0, 1,

2, 3…).
• Fractions: Represent parts of a whole (e.g., 1/4, 3/5).
• Rounding: Simplifying numbers to make them easier to
work with.
• Example: Rounding 7.68 to 7.7 for quick mental
calculations.
• Rounding is crucial in estimating time, money, or quantities
in practical situations.
Integers and Real Numbers

• Integers: Positive and negative whole numbers (e.g., -3, 0,

5).
• Real numbers: All numbers on the number line, including
decimals, fractions, and irrational numbers.
• Example: Temperatures can be integers (-5°C) or real
numbers (22.5°C).
• Application: Measuring distances (kilometers),
temperatures, or calculating profits and losses.
Groups of Numbers

• Natural numbers: Counting numbers starting from 1 (1,

2, 3…).
• Whole numbers: Include 0 and positive numbers (0, 1,
2…).
• Integers: Include negative numbers as well (-3, -2, -1, 0, 1,
2…).
• Rational numbers: Can be written as a fraction (1/2, 3/4).
• Irrational numbers: Cannot be written as a simple
fraction (π, √2).
• Real-world application: Grouping and classifying data
based on these number types.
Decimal Number System

• Decimal system: Base-10 system used in everyday

calculations.
• Decimals: Numbers with a fractional part, represented
after a decimal point (e.g., 3.14, 0.76).Converting between
fractions and decimals:
• Example: 1/2 = 0.5
• Application: Used in monetary transactions,
measurements, and percentages.
Scientific Notation

• Scientific notation: A way to express very large or very

small numbers.Example: 3.0 x 10^8 m/s (speed of light).
• Small number: 5.7 x 10^-6 (size of a cell).
• Advantages: Simplifies calculations with very large or
very small values.Commonly used in science, engineering,
and astronomy.
Estimating the Correct Answer

1.Estimation: Approximating a number based on rough

calculations.Steps for estimation:Round numbers to
simplify calculations.
2.Perform the operation (addition, multiplication, etc.).
3.Check if the estimated value is reasonable.
• Example: Estimating the total cost of groceries before
checkout.Importance: Helps in decision-making when
precision isn’t critical.
Measurement Errors

• Measurement error: The difference between a measured

value and the true value.
• Sources of error:Instrument precision (e.g., a ruler only
measures to the nearest millimeter).
• Human error (e.g., reading a thermometer incorrectly).
• Application: Ensuring accuracy in measurements for
construction, cooking, and medicine.
Unit Standard 9008: Estimation and
Measurement

• Key learning areas:Estimating and measuring physical

quantities like length, mass, volume, and time.
• Applying formulas for area and volume in real-world
contexts (e.g., room dimensions, water consumption).
• Real-world application: Estimating the time it takes to
travel between two places or calculating the amount of
paint needed for a room.
Length Measurements

• SI Units for length:Meters (m), centimeters (cm),

millimeters (mm), kilometers (km).
• Converting between units:1 kilometer = 1000 meters.
• 1 meter = 100 centimeters.
• Example: Converting 1.75 meters to centimeters = 175 cm.
• Application: Used in construction, tailoring, and
geography.
Mass Measurements

• SI Units for mass:Kilograms (kg), grams (g), milligrams

(mg).
• Converting between units:
• 1 kilogram = 1000 grams.
• 1 gram = 1000 milligrams.
• Application: Used in grocery shopping, cooking recipes,
and weighing luggage.
Fluid Measurements

• SI Units for volume:Liters (L), milliliters (mL).

• Converting between units:1 liter = 1000 milliliters.
• Example: A water bottle holds 500 mL, which is 0.5 liters.
• Application: Measuring liquids in daily life (e.g., water,
fuel, oil).
Time Measurements

• SI Units for time:Seconds (s), minutes (min), hours (h).

• Conversions:1 hour = 60 minutes, 1 minute = 60
seconds.
• Application: Used in managing schedules, setting alarms,
and calculating durations (e.g., cooking time).
Thermometers

• Measuring temperature:Celsius (°C) and Fahrenheit (°F)

scales.
• Celsius: Water freezes at 0°C, boils at 100°C.
• Fahrenheit: Water freezes at 32°F, boils at 212°F.
• Application: Monitoring weather, cooking, and medical
health.
Introduction to Geometry

• Geometry: The study of shapes, sizes, and properties of

figures.
• Geometric figures: Circles, triangles, squares, rectangles.
• Application: Used in construction, architecture, and art.
Symmetry

• Symmetry: A balanced arrangement where one side

mirrors the other.
• Types of symmetry:Line symmetry (reflection).
• Rotational symmetry.
• Examples:
• Butterfly wings, human faces, architectural designs.
Transformation of Geometric Figures

• Transformation: Changing the position of a figure without

altering its shape.
• Types of transformation:
• Translation: Sliding the figure without rotating.
• Rotation: Turning the figure around a point.
• Reflection: Flipping the figure over a line.
• Application: Used in computer graphics, design, and
animation.
Geometric Formulae

• Common formulae:
• Area of a rectangle: A = length x width.
• Area of a triangle: A = 1/2 x base x height.
• Volume of a cube: V = side^3.
• Application: Calculating materials needed for construction
or packaging.
Theorem of Pythagoras

• Formula: A^2 + B^2 = C^2 (for right-angled triangles).

• Application: Used in navigation, construction, and
architecture.
• Example: Finding the length of a ladder leaning against a
wall.
SI Units and Imperial System

• SI Units (metric): Meters, liters, grams.

• Imperial system: Inches, feet, pounds, gallons (used in
the UK and the US).
• Converting between systems:1 inch = 2.54 cm.
• 1 pound = 0.45 kg.
• Application: Traveling or working internationally.
Scale Drawings

• Scale: A ratio that represents the size of the drawing

compared to the real object.Example: 1:100 means 1 cm on
the drawing equals 100 cm in real life.
• Application: Used in architecture and map design.
Introduction to Personal Budgets
(Unit Standard 7469)

• Budget: A financial plan that tracks income and expenses.

• Importance: Helps manage finances, avoid debt, and plan
for the future.
• Components: Income, fixed expenses (rent, bills), variable
expenses (groceries, entertainment).
Budgeting Techniques

Steps to create a budget:

1.Calculate total monthly income.
2.List all expenses (fixed and variable).
3.Compare income and expenses.
4.Adjust spending as needed.
• Example: Using budgeting apps like Mint or a simple
spreadsheet to track finances.
Understanding Variances

• Variance: The difference between planned and actual

expenses.
• Positive variance: You spent less than expected.
• Negative variance: You spent more than expected.
• Application: Adjusting future budgets based on past
spending.
Savings and Investments

• Importance of saving: Build an emergency fund and plan

for long-term goals.
• Investment options:Savings accounts (low risk, low
return).
• Stocks and bonds (higher risk, higher return).
• Example: Saving 10% of your income every month for
future needs.
Simple and Compound Interest

• Simple interest: Interest on the principal

amount.Formula: I = P x R x T (Interest = Principal x Rate x
Time).
• Compound interest: Interest on both the principal and
accumulated interest.Formula: A = P(1 + R)^T (A = Total
amount, P = Principal).
• Application: Used in loans, savings, and investments.
Inflation and Its Impact

• Inflation: The increase in the price of goods and services

over time.
• Impact: Reduces purchasing power (you can buy less with
the same amount of money).
• Example: A loaf of bread costing $1 today may cost $1.20
in a year due to inflation.
Depreciation and Appreciation

• Depreciation: The decrease in value of an asset over

time.Example: Cars lose value as they age.
• Appreciation: The increase in value of an asset over
time.Example: Real estate typically increases in value.
• Application: Important in personal finance and business
investments.
Unit Standard 9009: Organizing and
Representing Data

• Data organization: Collecting, sorting, and presenting

information in a structured way.
• Data representation: Using charts, graphs, and tables to
visualize data.
• Example: Representing sales data using a bar chart.
Using Statistics in Everyday Life

• Importance of statistics:Understanding trends and

making informed decisions.
• Example: Analyzing monthly electricity usage to reduce
costs.
• Key concepts: Mean, median, and mode.
• Mean: The average value of a data set.
• Median: The middle value when data is ordered.
• Mode: The most frequent value in a data set.
Graphical Representation of Data

• Common types of graphs:Bar chart: Comparing

categories (e.g., sales by product).
• Pie chart: Showing proportions (e.g., market share).
• Line graph: Showing trends over time (e.g., temperature
changes).
• Application: Used in business reports, research papers,
and presentations.
Frequency Distribution and Range

• Frequency distribution: A table that shows the number

of occurrences for each data value.
• Range: The difference between the highest and lowest
value in a data set.
• Example: The range of temperatures over a week.
• Application: Used to understand the spread and
distribution of data.
Summarizing Data

• Summary statistics:Mean: Average of a data set.

• Median: The middle value.
• Mode: The most frequent value.
• Application: Summarizing survey results or analyzing test
scores.
Conclusion

• Key takeaways:Numbers and calculations play a

significant role in everyday life.
• Mastering numeracy helps you manage finances, solve
problems, and make better decisions.
• Apply the skills learned in this course to personal and
professional contexts for success!