Before you take the Math IC, you should know the common types of numbers. Of these types, the most important ones to understand are probably integers and real numbers. They can be spotted in nearly every question on the test and will be explicitly mentioned at times.
- Whole Numbers. The set of counting numbers, including zero {0, 1, 2, 3, . . .}.
- Natural Numbers. The set of all whole numbers except zero {1, 2, 3, 4, 5, . . .}.
- Integers. The set of all positive and negative whole numbers, including zero. Fractions and decimals are not included {. . . , –3, –2, –1, 0, 1, 2, 3, . . .}.
- Rational Numbers. The set of all numbers that can be expressed as a quotient of integers. That is, any number that can be expressed in the form m⁄n , where m and n are integers. The set of rational numbers includes all integers and all fractions that can be created using integers in the numerator and denominator.
- Irrational Numbers. The set of all numbers that cannot be expressed as a quotient of integers. Examples include π,
, 1.01001000100001000001 . . . . The sets of irrational numbers and rational numbers are mutually exclusive. Any given number must be either rational or irrational; no number can be both.
- Real Numbers. Every number on the number line. The set of real numbers includes all rational and irrational numbers.
- Imaginary Numbers. See the “Miscellaneous Math” chapter later in this book.
On the Math IC, integers and real numbers will appear far more often than any of the other number types.
Even and Odd Numbers
Even numbers are those numbers that are divisible by two with no remainder.
Only integers can be even or odd, meaning decimals and fractions are not included. Zero, however, is an integer and thus a member of the set.
. . . , –6, –4, –2, 0 2, 4, 6, . . .
Odd numbers are those numbers not evenly divisible by two.
. . . , –5, –3, –1, 1, 3, 5, . . .
The set of even numbers and the set of odd numbers are mutually exclusive.
A more rigorous definition of even and odd numbers appears below:
Even numbers are numbers that can be written in the form 2n, where n is an integer. Odd numbers are the numbers that can be written in the form 2n + 1, where n is an integer.
This definition is nothing more than a technical repetition of the fact that even numbers are divisible by two, and odd numbers are not. It may come in handy, though, when you need to represent an even or odd number with a variable.
Operations of Odd and Even Numbers
There are a few basic rules regarding the operations of odd and even numbers that you should know well. If you grasp the principles behind the two types of signed numbers, these rules should all come easily.
Addition:
even + even = even
odd + odd = even
even + odd = odd
Subtraction:
even – even = even
odd – odd = even
even – odd = odd
Multiplication and Division:
even
even = even
