Chapter 1: Numbers & Arithmetic (Detailed)
Contents: Integers, Fractions, Decimals, Percentages, Order of Operations, and Practice
Questions with Step-by-step Solutions.
1. Integers & Types of Numbers
Definition: Integers are whole numbers that can be positive, negative, or zero. They do not
include fractions or decimals.
Examples of types:
- Natural numbers: 1, 2, 3, ...
- Whole numbers: 0, 1, 2, 3, ...
- Integers: ..., -3, -2, -1, 0, 1, 2, 3, ...
1.1 Basic operations (with examples)
Addition and subtraction with negative numbers:
Example 1: Calculate 7 + (-4).
Solution:
Step 1: Think of +7 and -4 on the number line. Moving -4 from +7 goes to +3. So 7 + (-4) = 3.
Example 2: Calculate -5 - 3.
Solution:
Step 1: -5 - 3 means move 3 further left from -5 → -8. So -5 - 3 = -8.
2. Fractions
Definition: A fraction represents a part of a whole and is written as numerator/denominator, e.g.,
3/4.
2.1 Simplifying fractions
Example: Simplify 18/24.
Solution:
Step 1: Find GCD of 18 and 24 is 6. Step 2: Divide numerator and denominator by 6 → (18÷6)/(24÷6) =
3/4.
2.2 Addition and subtraction of fractions (same denominator)
Example: 3/8 + 2/8 = (3+2)/8 = 5/8.
2.3 Addition with different denominators
Example: 1/3 + 1/4.
Solution:
Step 1: LCM of 3 and 4 is 12. Convert: 1/3 = 4/12, 1/4 = 3/12. Step 2: Add → 4/12 + 3/12 = 7/12.
2.4 Multiplication and division of fractions
Example: (2/3) × (3/5).
Solution:
Step 1: Multiply numerators → 2×3 = 6. Step 2: Multiply denominators → 3×5 = 15. So 6/15 = simplified
2/5.
3. Decimals
Definition: Decimals represent fractions with denominators that are powers of 10, e.g., 0.75 =
75/100.
Example: Convert 0.375 to a fraction.
Solution:
Step 1: 0.375 = 375/1000. Step 2: Simplify dividing by 125 → 3/8.
Decimal arithmetic tip: Line up the decimal points when adding or subtracting.
4. Percentages
Definition: Percent means per hundred. 20% = 20/100 = 0.20.
Example 1: Find 15% of 240.
Solution:
Step 1: 15% = 0.15. Step 2: 0.15 × 240 = 36. So 15% of 240 = 36.
Example 2: Increase 200 by 12%.
Solution:
Step 1: 12% of 200 = 0.12×200 = 24. Step 2: Add → 200 + 24 = 224.
5. Order of Operations (BODMAS / PEMDAS)
Rule: Brackets, Orders (powers & roots), Division & Multiplication (left to right), Addition &
Subtraction (left to right).
Example: Evaluate 8 + 3 × (6 - 2)^2 ÷ 4.
Solution:
Step 1: Inside brackets: (6 - 2) = 4. Step 2: Power: 4^2 = 16. Step 3: Multiplication & division left to right:
3×16 = 48; 48÷4 = 12. Step 4: Addition: 8 + 12 = 20.
6. Practice Questions with Step-by-step Solutions
Q1: Add: 345 + 678
Solution:
Step 1: 345 + 678 = 1023.
Q2: Subtract: 1000 - 457
Solution:
Step 1: 1000 - 457 = 543.
Q3: Multiply: 56 × 24
Solution:
Step 1: 56 × 24 → Use long multiplication: 56×20=1120, 56×4=224. Add → 1120+224=1344.
Q4: Divide: 144 ÷ 12
Solution:
Step 1: 144 ÷ 12 = 12.
Q5: Simplify: 42/56
Solution:
Step 1: 42/56. GCD of 42 and 56 is 14. Divide both by 14 → (42÷14)/(56÷14)=3/4.
Q6: Add fractions: 5/6 + 7/8
Solution:
Step 1: 5/6 + 7/8. LCM of 6 and 8 is 24. Convert: 5/6=20/24, 7/8=21/24. Add → 41/24 = 1 17/24.
Q7: Multiply fractions: (3/4) × (8/9)
Solution:
Step 1: (3/4) × (8/9). Multiply numerators → 3×8=24. Denominators → 4×9=36. 24/36 simplify divide by
12 → 2/3.
Q8: Convert to fraction: 0.625
Solution:
Step 1: 0.625 = 625/1000 = simplify divide by 125 → 5/8.
Q9: Find 18% of 450
Solution:
Step 1: 18% of 450 = 0.18 × 450 = 81.
Q10: Solve for x: 2x + 5 = 17
Solution:
Step 1: 2x + 5 = 17 → 2x = 12 → x = 6.
Q11: Evaluate: (3 + 5) × (12 ÷ 4) - 6
Solution:
Step 1: (3+5)=8; 12÷4=3; 8×3=24; 24-6=18. Answer = 18.
Q12: Find LCM of 12 and 18
Solution:
Step 1: Prime factors: 12=2^2×3; 18=2×3^2. LCM = 2^2×3^2 = 36.
Q13: Find HCF (GCD) of 84 and 126
Solution:
Step 1: Use Euclid or prime factors. 84=2^2×3×7; 126=2×3^2×7. GCD = 2×3×7 = 42.
Q14: Decimal addition: 12.75 + 3.048
Solution:
Step 1: 12.75 + 3.048 → align decimals: 12.750 + 3.048 = 15.798.
Q15: Percentage decrease: Reduce 500 by 15%
Solution:
Step 1: 15% of 500 = 0.15×500 = 75. Reduce: 500 - 75 = 425.
Q16: Convert 7/16 to decimal
Solution:
Step 1: 7/16 as decimal → divide 7 by 16 = 0.4375.
Q17: Square root: √625
Solution:
Step 1: √625 = 25 (since 25×25=625).
Q18: Area of rectangle: length 12 cm, width 7 cm
Solution:
Step 1: Area = length × width = 12 × 7 = 84 cm².
Q19: Volume of cylinder: r=3 cm, h=10 cm (use π)
Solution:
Step 1: Volume = πr²h = π×3²×10 = 90π cm³ ≈ 282.74 cm³ (using π≈3.1416).
Q20: Solve: 3(x - 2) = 15
Solution:
Step 1: 3(x-2)=15 → divide by 3 → x-2=5 → x=7.
Additional Practice: Fractions & Equations (Detailed
Steps)
A1: Solve: 3/5 + 4/15
Solution:
Step 1: 3/5 + 4/15. LCM of 5 and 15 is 15. Convert: 3/5 = 9/15. Add → 9/15 + 4/15 = 13/15.
A2: Solve: 7/8 - 1/6
Solution:
Step 1: 7/8 - 1/6. LCM of 8 and 6 is 24. Convert: 7/8 = 21/24, 1/6 = 4/24. Subtract → 21/24 - 4/24 =
17/24.
A3: Solve: (x/3) + 4 = 10
Solution:
Step 1: (x/3) + 4 = 10 → subtract 4: x/3 = 6 → multiply by 3: x = 18.
A4: Solve: 2(x + 5) = 26
Solution:
Step 1: 2(x+5)=26 → divide both sides by 2: x+5=13 → x=8.
A5: Multiply: 5.25 × 0.4
Solution:
Step 1: 5.25 × 0.4 = 5.25 × 4/10 = (5.25×4)/10 = 21/10 = 2.1.
Important Tips & Formulas
- To convert a fraction to a percentage: multiply by 100.
- To convert a decimal to a fraction: write decimal over a power of 10 then simplify.
- Remember BODMAS/PEMDAS order for correct evaluation.
- For LCM and GCD, use prime factorization method for accuracy.
- Practice mental math for faster arithmetic in exams.
End of Chapter 1: Numbers & Arithmetic. If you want the full 30-page book in this style, I will
continue with Chapter 2 onwards and expand each chapter with more examples and exercises.
