‘MATHEMArics 1 UNIT 1 Introduction to Mathematics and numbers Tuning-in ‘Task 1 ‘Try to answer the following questions: 1) What are numbers? 2) What are integers? 38) What are digits? Note: the word digit comes from a Latin word meaning finger. 4) What types of numbers are you familisr with? 45) What is the difference between 3.142 and 3,142? Task 2 Explain the difference between the following pairs of words: 1) cardinal - ordinal numbers 2) odd - even numbers 3) common fractions - decimal fractions Task 3 Define the following terms in mathematics and give examples: ‘prime number, a three-digit number, a number line. Note: a two-, three, four, etc. digit mumber, but numbers from 0-9 are known as one- or single-digit numbers,2 Maritemarics Reading 1 Task 4 Read the following text to check some of your answers to Tasks 1-3. Mathematics and numbers Ivis said that mathematics is the basis of all other sciences, and that arithmetic is the basis of mathematics. Numbers consist of whole numbers (integers) which are formed by digits 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9 and by combinations of them. E.g. 247 - two hundred and forty seven - is a number formed by three digits. Parts of numbers smaller than I are sometimes expressed in Lerms of fractions, but in scientific usage they are given as decimals. This is because it is easier to perform ‘the various mathematical operations if decimals are used instead of fractions. ‘The decimal is always represented by point, and not by comma which is reserved for thousands. ‘The main operations are: addition, subtraction, multiplication and division, taking a root and raising to the power. The decimal, or ten-scale system, is used for scientific purposes throughout the world. The other scale in general use nowadays is the binary, or two-scale, in which numbers are expressed by combins~ tions of only two digits, 0 and 1. Thus, in the binary scale, 2 is expressed as 010, 3 is given as 011, 4 is represented as 100, etc. This scale is perfectly adapted to the “on-off” pulses of electricity, soit is widely used in electronic computers. Other branches of mathematics such as algebra and geometry are also exten- sively used in many sciences and even in somo areas of philosophy. Finally, a knowledge of statisti is required by every type of scientist for the analysis of data. Language study 1 Mathematical symbols Scientific texts can easily be recognised by the use of diagrams, symbols, formulae and equations. They are the same in all written languages but are pronounced differently,SRAM AYA VN I ages = Task 5 MarHemarics How the symbol is read plus; positive ‘minus; negative ab; a times b, a multiplied by 6 a over 8, a divided by b, the ratio of a to b equals, is equal to, is is identical with, is equivalent to does not equal, is not equal to is greater than is Tess than is substantially greater than, is much greater than is substantially less than, is much less than is greater than or equal to is less than or equal to @ squared b cubed twelve to the power of five, the fifth power of 12 the square root of nine the cube root of ten the n!® root of a round brackets, parentheses square brackets, brackets curly brackets, braces logarithm of x to the base a factorial n, n factorial @ prime @ double prime, a second sub n , a subscript n integral How would you pronounce the following? ns=9 2) (a+6)* 3) Val > 4) bn 5)b<8 6) 5° Y= 12 7) (o+8)~(c+d) 8) log(2Ja 9) 12 10) aa