NUMBER THEORY 2

Mathematical Laws
The commutative law
Examples
a) 8 + 12 = 12 + 8
b)8 12 = 12 8
The order in which we add or multiply numbers does not
matter. The result is always the same.
The operations of addition and multiplication satisfy the
commutative law.
The associative law
Examples
a) (8 + 12) + 2 = 8 + (12 + 2)
b)(8 12) 2 = 8 (12 2)
The order in which we add or multiply numbers in groups
of two does not affect their sum or product.

The operations of addition and multiplication satisfy

the associative law.
The distributive law
Examples
a) (4 x 5) + (4 x 3) = 4 x (5 + 3) = 4(5 + 3)
b)(4 x 5) - (4 x 3) = 4 x (5 - 3) = 4(5 - 3)
Multiplication distributes over addition and subtraction.
Closure Property
Closure property: A
set of numbers is
closed under an
operation, if when the
operation is applied
to any two numbers
of a set the result is
another member of
the set, e.g. if we add

two whole numbers,

the result is a whole
number.
Laws of closure as related to:
a)
b)
c)
d)

whole numbers
natural numbers
integers
rational number

Addition and Subtraction of Rational Numbers

Addition of directed numbers.
Examples
a) (+4) + (+ 5) = (+9)
b)(-5) + (-4) = (-8)
c) (-5) + (+4) = -1
When we add two directed numbers with the same sign,
the sign of the result is the same as that of the directed
numbers added.

Subtraction of directed numbers.

Examples
a) (+9) (3) = (+6)
b)(-9) (+3) = (-6)
c) (-9) (-3) = (-6)

A positive number multiplied by a positive number gives

a positive number.
Examples
a) (+2) x (+6) = (+12)
b)2a x 6b = 12ab
A negative number multiplied by a negative number gives
a positive number.
Examples
(-2) (-6) = (+12)
(-2a) (-6b) = (+12ab)
A positive number multiplied by a negative number gives
a negative product.

Examples:
a) (-2) (+6) = (-12)
b)(+2) (-6) = (-12)
Division of Directed Numbers
Division of directed
numbers. Examples:
(+6) (+2) =

(+6)
(+2)

= (+3)

(-6) (-2) =

(6)
(2)

= (+3)

(+6) (-2) =

(+ 6)
(2)

= (-3)

(-6) (+2) =

(6)
(+2)

= (-3)

Division of numbers with unlike signs give a negative

quotient.