O-Level Math Notebook

Chapter 1 - Numbers

Michael Nino 2020-2022 Syllabus

Chapter 1: Numbers
Terms to know:

- Real Numbers(ℝ): all numbers that can be represented on the number line
- Natural Numbers(ℕ): Positive Integers
0, 7, 25
-2, -17, 22/7
- Integers(ℤ): whole numbers
-15, 7, 25
-2.5, 5.7, 22/7
- Rational Numbers(ℚ): Numbers that can be written as a fraction (Ratio).
1.5 (3/2) , 70% (70/100), 0.333… (1/3)
- Irrational Numbers: Numbers that cannot be written as a fraction and when
written in decimal form they do not end

π, √2
- Squared Numbers: 𝟏𝟐 , 𝟐𝟐 , 𝟑𝟐 , 𝟒𝟐 , 𝟓𝟐 ,… → 1,4,9,16,25,…
- Cubic Numbers: 𝟏𝟑 , 𝟐𝟑 , 𝟑𝟑 , 𝟒𝟑 , 𝟓𝟑 ,… → 1,8,27,64,125,…
- Prime Number: Numbers that are only divisible by one or themselves
2,3,5,7,11,13,…
You can use the calculator to determine if a number is prime or not, type the
number, then hit “=” then “shift” and “fact”. If the number stays the same, it’s prime,
if not then it is not a prime number

Writing a mixed number: shift +

Coverting between mixed numbers and improper fractions: shift +

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Units
Metric Ladder

Other Units

- 1 Tonne = 1000 Kg
- 1 Kg = 1000 g
- 1 Litre = 1000 𝒄𝒎𝟑 = 1000 ml
- 1 𝒎𝟑 = 1000 litre

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HCF, LCM and Recurring Numbers
- Highest Common Factor (HCF): Start by listing down all the prime factors of
each number then circle the common ones
find the HCF of 56 and 70

56: 2 x 2 x 2 x 7
70: 2 x 5 x 7
HCM=2x7=14

- Lowest Common Multiple(LCM): Start by listing the multiples of each numbers

until you find the common multiple
find the LCM of 36 and 48

36: 72, 108, 144, 180, ..

48: 96, 144

LCM=144
For faster calculation of the multiples, just write the number, hit “=” then “+” the
screen will display “Ans+” write the same number and keep on hitting “=”

Another method:
find the LCM of 126 and 72
List down the prime factors of each number
126: 2 x 3 x 3 x 7
72: 2 x 2 x 2 x 3 x 3

List the prime factos of one of the two numbers;

72: 2 x 2 x 2 x 3 x 3
and check the remaining factors
the total: 2 x 2 x 2 x 3 x 3 x 7 = 504

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- Recurring Numbers: you need to know how to transfer recurring numbers into
fractions.

Convert 0.3 into a fraction

Let x = 0.3333333
10 x = 3.333333333

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Convert 0.28 into a fraction
Let x = 0.288888888
10 x = 2.88888888
100 X = 28.88888888

Other examples: 0.251111… , 0.8121212…

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 Sequences
Arithmetic: Sequences with a common difference

3 , 9 , 15 , 21

Rule for nth term: 𝒂 + (𝐧 − 𝟏)𝐝

a: first term
d: difference

for the above sequence, find:

a- nth term

b- 10th term

c- The term with a value of 159

for the following sequence, find the nth term:

155 , 148 , 141 , 134 , 127

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 Geometric: Sequences with a common ratio
3 , 6 , 12 , 24

Rule for nth term: 𝒂 ∗ 𝒓𝒏−𝟏

a: first term
r: ratio

for the above sequence, find:

a- nth term

b- 10th term

c- Term with a value of 12288

Use logs or the “fact” button

for the following sequence, find the nth term:

-40 , 20 , -10 , 5 , -2.5

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 Second-Level (Quadratic) Sequences

3 , 6 , 11 , 18 , 27

Rule for nth term: 𝒂 + (𝒏 − 𝟏)∗ 𝒅 + (𝒏 − 𝟏)(𝒏 − 𝟐)

𝒄
𝟐
a: first term
d: first difference
c: second difference
find the nth term of the above sequence:

find the nth term of the below sequence:

2 , 5 , 12 , 23 , 38

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Other examples:
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Given that the nth of the sequence: 2, 4, 7, 11, 16, 22,… is given by (𝑛2 + 𝑛 + 2)
2

Find the nth term of the sequence:

a) 4, 7, 11, 16, 22

b) 7, 11, 16, 22

1 2 3 4 5
Given the sequence: , , , ,
3 4 5 6 7

a) Find the nth term

36
b) Find the term that gives a value of
37

Sequences could be:

1- Arithmetic 𝒂 + (𝐧 − 𝟏)𝐝
2- Geometric 𝒂 ∗ 𝒓𝒏−𝟏
3- Second-Level (Quadratic) 𝒂 + (𝒏 − 𝟏)∗ 𝒅 + 𝟐 (𝒏 − 𝟏)(𝒏 − 𝟐)
𝒄

4- Combination
5- 𝑛2 𝒐𝒓 𝑛3
6- (𝑛 + 1)2 𝒐𝒓 (𝑛 + 1)3 − 𝒐𝒓 (𝑛 + 𝑎𝑛𝑦 𝑖𝑛𝑡𝑒𝑔𝑒𝑟)
7- 𝑛(𝑛 + 1) 𝒐𝒓 𝑛(𝑛 − 1)
8- (𝑛 + 1)(𝑛 + 2)

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Sequence 1st Term 2nd Term 3rd Term 4th Term 5th Term 6th Term nth Term
A 10 7 4 1
B 1 3 9 27
C 11 10 13 28
D -3 0 5 12
E 1 8 27 64
4 9 16 25
F 6 12 20 30
G 7 14 23 34
H 4𝜋 9𝜋 16𝜋 25𝜋

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 Approximation and Estimation

Naming the digits

2 0 7 6 . 5 3 2

Write the above number correct to:

a) The nearest 10

b) The nearest 1

c) The nearest 1 d.p

d) The nearest whole number

When to start counting the significant figures?
First non-zero number from the left
Highlight the first significant figure

a) 20.155

b) 0.00015

c) 10.0001
When the question asks to approximate to the nearest unit (km, cm, hour) it means
to the nearest 1 for the same unit.
Approximate the following to the nearest meter
a) 25.5m

b) 355cm

c) 3.21251km

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 Complete the following table by rounding the numbers
Number 1 s.f 2 s.f 3 s.f 1 d.p 2 d.p 3 d.p
6.3528 6.0 6.4 6.35 6.4 6.35 6.353
850481 900000 850000 850000 850481 850481 850481
42.035 40.0 42.0 42.0 42.0 42.04 42.035
0.006712 0.007 0.0067 0.00671 0.0 0.01 0.007
99.9871 100 100 100 100 99.99 99.987
150.932 200 150 151 150.900 150.930 150.932

Measurements and Bounds

The length of a pen is 225mm to the nearest 1mm. find the upper and lower bounds for the
length of the pen.
Finding the upper and lower bounds can be done in 3 steps:
1- Find the rounding figure (in this case “1”)
2- Divide it by 2 (1/2)
3- Add and subtract to/from the original number

Find the upper and lower bounds for the area of the following rectangle

w=12.35cm (2d.p)

l=33.3cm (1d.p)

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 Zaina wants to find an estimate for the value of π, so she orders a pizza and tries to
measure its circumference to the nearest 1 cm, and it turns out to be 94 cm, given that she
measures the radius as 15.2 cm correct to 1 d.p, find her maximum value of π.

(Circumference = 2 π r)

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 Operation Max Min
Multiplication Max x Max Min x Min
Addition Max + Max Min + Min
Division Max / Min Min / Max
Subtraction Max - Min Min - Max

Standard Form
It is used when dealing with either very large or very small numbers, it is written in the form:
𝑎 × 10𝑛 where “n” is an integer and a is: 1 ≤ 𝑎 < 10

Write the following in standard form

a- 500000

b- 0.265

c- 0.000024

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 You can use the calculator by hitting: shift→setup→Sci “7” → 9 (highest numbered
option). Then the calculator will transform any number into standard form, but make
sure you ignore the redundant zeroes.
Reverting back to normal setup: shift→setup→Norm “8” → 2 (highest numbered option)

Ratio and proportion

It is usually used to describe a fraction

1800$ is to be divided between three brothers: Rami, Kamal and Mohammad in the
ratio 3:2:1 respectively, how much will each of them get?

A sum of money is to be divided between three brothers: Rami, Kamal and

Mohammad in the ratio 3:2:1 respectively, find the total amount if Mohammad
receives 600$? And find how much will Rami and Kamal receive.

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 Foreign Exchange
“Directly Proportional”

On a holiday, Laith exchanges 400 JDs into Euros, when the exchange rate was
1Euro=0.9JDs, at the end of the holiday, laith has 190 Euros left, how many Euros did
he spend?

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Later on, he exchanges the 190 Euro for 160 JDs, find the new exchange rate

An iPhone costs 700 Jds in Jordan, 700$ in USA, if the exchange rate is 1$:.709JDs,
find out in which country it would cost less and by how much (in $).

Map Scale

Always represented in the form 1:n where the first number represents what’s on the map
while the second number represents the actual length in real life. Usually, both
numbers are given in (cm).

On a map with a scale of 1:12000, a river has a length of 5.4 cm. Find the real
length of the river in Km

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 The distance between two towns is represented by 54.3cm while in real life they are
190.05 Km apart, find the map scale

Make sure you keep your answer in the form 1:n and both numbers should be in cm,
unless the question states otherwise.

Area Scale

It follows the same concept but you need to “square” the area scale in order to be able
to do cross multiplication

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 Percentages

A Real Madrid official T-shirt was on 30% sale, if its original price was 65$, find
the new price.

Barry Allen, also known as the superhero “Flash” has decided to take a break from
crime fighting, and because of that decision, crime rate has increased by 75% in Star
city. Given that only 8 crimes were happening while “The Flash” was on duty, find the
new number of crimes in Star City.

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 Lisa’s weight is 69.9 Kg, she performs a couple strenuous exercises for six hours and
her weight drops to 69.3 Kg. Find the percentage loss.

The price of one Kg of Onion was 0.35$ back in 1991, it now costs .75$. Find the
percentage increase.

Simple Interest
𝒓
Rule 𝑰= 𝒑× ×𝒕 I=Interest, p=Principal amount, r=ratio, t=time
𝟏𝟎𝟎

Bashar invests 320$ at a simple interest rate of 5.5% per year, find the total amount
he makes after 7 years.

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 Ammar invests 6000$ at a yearly interest rate of 4.5%, find his profit after 7
months.

Zaid invests 300$ at a rate of interest r%, if his total amount after 3 years is 345$,
find r.

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 Compound Interest

𝒓 𝒕
Rule 𝑻 = 𝑷 (𝟏 + ) T=Total Amount, p=Principal amount, r=ratio, t=time
𝟏𝟎𝟎

Natalie invest 4200$ at a compound interest rate of 3.2% for 3 years, find the profit
she makes, to the nearest $

Razan invests a sum of money for 4 years at a compound interest rate of 3%, if this
amount increases by 565$ of its original value, find the principal amount correct to 3s.f

Compound Interest – Exponential Growth

Compound interest’s rule can be used for questions related to the growth rate

in 1990, the population of Jordan was 3.4 million, if the yearly growth rate is 4.5%,
after how many years will the population exceed 12 million and state the year when
this happens

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 Depreciation – (Compound Interest – Decay)

𝒓 𝒕
Rule 𝑻 = 𝑷 (𝟏 − ) Same as the compound interest rule, but use a “-“
𝟏𝟎𝟎

A car was bought for 35,000$ and it loses 5.6% of its value each year, find its value
after 5 years

Same rule applies to questions related to a decrease in population

For population questions, make sure you distinguish between a question asking
about a yearly change (growth) versus a question comparing between a population in a
year against a different year.

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 Speed, Distance and Time
Rule: Speed = Distance / Time

Distinguishing between time format and number format

Number Format Time Format

1.5 1:30
5.55 5:33
7.23 7:14
3.25 3:15

Use the button on the calcular to switch a number to time format and the
to turn the time-formatted figure into a number.

A Plane leaves Amman at 1:00 PM and arrives to Dubai at 15:30, find the
duration of the flight

Iris starts studying on Wednesday at 20:00 for 6 straight hours, find the time
when she finishes.

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 A doctor’s shift starts at 22:15 and finishes at 6:45, find the duration of his shift

A station has a regular bus that leaves every 15 minutes, if this station starts
working at 9:00 and finishes at 5:30, how many buses will leave the station during
this period

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Convert 8000 seconds into hrs : min : seconds format

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