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Notes 1 - Introduction

The document discusses number formats and conventions in South Africa, highlighting the use of decimal commas and spaces for readability. It also explains different time formats, including 24-hour and 12-hour systems, and the use of positive and negative numbers as directional indicators in contexts like temperature and banking. Additionally, it emphasizes the varied uses of numbers beyond counting, such as for identification and information.

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7 views2 pages

Notes 1 - Introduction

The document discusses number formats and conventions in South Africa, highlighting the use of decimal commas and spaces for readability. It also explains different time formats, including 24-hour and 12-hour systems, and the use of positive and negative numbers as directional indicators in contexts like temperature and banking. Additionally, it emphasizes the varied uses of numbers beyond counting, such as for identification and information.

Uploaded by

shirmique
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd

Numbers and calculations with numbers

Introduction January 2025

Number format

• Number formats and conventions refer to the different ways that we


write numbers. In South Africa the convention is to use the decimal comma to
separate whole numbers from decimal fractions. We use spaces to separate
groups of three digits. So, we write one million rand as R1 000 000,00.

• You will sometimes see the use of the decimal point rather than the decimal
comma, for example in account statements, bank statements and till slips. Also,
sometimes people use commas to separate groups of three digits in very large
numbers, for example one million rand is sometimes written as R1,000,000.00.
These are all methods that make numbers easier to read.

• We use different kinds of numbers in different situations. Sometimes these


represent counting numbers or measurement values; sometimes they
represent order, and sometimes they are just codes for identification.

Number convention
• Numbers are not only used for counting and calculation purposes; they are
often used to provide information about something. E.g. flat 301 could mean
the first apartment on the third floor

• In cricket the word “over” is used when six balls have been bowled.

Time format
Time format can be entered in different formats
Format Time segments Description
1 HH:MM: SS This time is based on 24-hour system. The 24-hour system
is a default format. Example: [Link]
2 HH:MM: SS: XM This time is based on 12hour system. AM and PM are given.
Example: [Link] PM
3 HH:MM: This time is based on 24-hour system. Seconds are not
given. Example: 14:18
4 HH:MM: XS This time is based on a 12-hour system. Seconds are not
given. AM or PM is indicated. Example: 03:19 PM

• There are two system to show time i.e. analogue time and digital time.
• The analogue time is also known as the 12-hour clock, where the day is divided
into two-time periods i.e. from midnight to noon, which is referred as AM and
from noon to midnight referred to as PM.

• The digital time is also known as 24-hour period.

• The digital time is usually shown as a four-digit numbers.

Positive and negative numbers as directional indicators


Examples:
Temperature
• The example of the directional indicator is the thermometer. When the mercury
indicator inside the thermometer is aligned with −20, then it means that the
temperature is −𝟐𝟎° which is below the freezing point of water. So, the
negative sign is the indicational indicator showing how many degrees
below zero. Hence, when the mercury indicator is aligned to 29 above zero
then the temperature is 𝟐𝟗° above freezing point of water. So, the positive
sign is the indicator showing how many degrees above zero the
temperature is.
Debt
• If you have money in the bank, it is your credit, e.g. +$𝟐𝟎.
• An amount of money taken out of an account: the opposite of credit indicates
debit, e.g. −$𝟐𝟎.

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