Page |1
MATH 20305 Algebra and Trigonometry
2. THE REAL NUMBER SYSTEM
2.1 The Set of Real Numbers
2.2 Axioms for the Real Number System
2.3 Order Properties of the Set of Real Numbers
2.4 Interval Notation
2.1 THE SET OF REAL NUMBERS
Natural Numbers or Counting Numbers: ℕ = {1, 2, 3, … }
Whole Numbers: 𝕎 = {0} ∪ ℕ = {0, 1, 2, … }
Integers: ℤ = {… , −3, −2, −1, 0, 1, 2, 3, … }
𝑎
Rational Numbers: ℚ = {𝑏 |𝑎, 𝑏 ∈ ℤ, 𝑏 ≠ 0}
Irrational Numbers: non-repeating and non-terminating decimals
There is a one-to-one correspondence between the set of real numbers and
the set of points on a line ℓ. This one-to-one correspondence allows us to
represent the set of real numbers using a line and is also referred to as the
one-dimensional coordinate system.
As a convention, zero is designated as the origin and the numbers to the right
of zero are positive while the numbers to its left are negative.
The point corresponding to a number is called the graph of the number, while
the number corresponding to a point is called the coordinate of the point.
2.2 AXIOMS FOR THE REAL NUMBER SYSTEM
The real number system consists of the set of real numbers and two
operations + and ∙ called addition and multiplication, respectively. This
structure, together with its properties, is also called the field of real numbers.
An axiom is a statement which is assumed to be true. A theorem is a
statement whose truth must be established by a proof.
Let 𝑎, 𝑏, 𝑐 ∈ ℝ
Axioms of Equality
Reflexive Property: 𝑎 = 𝑎
Symmetric Property: If 𝑎 = 𝑏, then 𝑏 = 𝑎.
Transitive Property: If 𝑎 = 𝑏 and 𝑏 = 𝑐, then 𝑎 = 𝑐.
Addition Property of Equality: If 𝑎 = 𝑏, then 𝑎 + 𝑐 = 𝑏 + 𝑐.
Multiplication Property of Equality: If 𝑎 = 𝑏, then 𝑎 ∙ 𝑐 = 𝑏 ∙ 𝑐.
Axioms for Addition and Multiplication of Real Numbers
Closure: 𝑎 + 𝑏 and 𝑎 ∙ 𝑏 are unique real numbers
Associative: (𝑎 + 𝑏) + 𝑐 = 𝑎 + (𝑏 + 𝑐) and (𝑎 ∙ 𝑏) ∙ 𝑐 = 𝑎 ∙ (𝑏 ∙ 𝑐)
Commutative: 𝑎 + 𝑏 = 𝑏 + 𝑎 and 𝑎 ∙ 𝑏 = 𝑏 ∙ 𝑎
Identity Axioms
Existence of Additive Identity: There exists a real number 0 such that for any
real number 𝑎, 𝑎 + 0 = 0 + 𝑎 = 𝑎. The number 0 is the identity element for
addition.
Existence of Multiplicative Identity: There exists a real number 1 such that
for any real number 𝑎, 𝑎 ∙ 1 = 1 ∙ 𝑎 = 𝑎. The number 1 is the identity
element for multiplication.
Inverse Axioms
Inverse Axioms for Addition: For every real number 𝑎, there is a unique
inverse element, −𝑎, such that 𝑎 + (−𝑎) = 0. The number – 𝑎 is the additive
inverse of 𝒂.
Inverse Axiom for Multiplication: If 𝑎 ≠ 0, there is a unique inverse element,
1 1 1
𝑎
= 𝑎−1 , such that 𝑎 ∙ 𝑎 = 1. The number 𝑎 is the multiplicative inverse of 𝒂.
Distributive Axiom of Addition over Multiplication
𝑐 ∙ (𝑎 + 𝑏) = 𝑐 ∙ 𝑎 + 𝑐 ∙ 𝑏
(𝑎 + 𝑏) ∙ 𝑐 = 𝑎 ∙ 𝑐 + 𝑏 ∙ 𝑐.
Remarks:
 Page |2

1. If 𝑎 + 𝑏 = 0, then by the uniqueness of the inverse element, 𝑏 must be the 2. 𝑎 − (−𝑏) = 𝑎 + 𝑏

additive inverse of 𝑎, so 𝑏 = −𝑎. 3. 𝑎(𝑏 − 𝑐) = 𝑎𝑏 − 𝑎𝑐
2. If 𝑎 ∙ 𝑏 = 1, then 𝑏 must be the multiplicative inverse of 𝑎, so 𝑏 = 𝑎−1 .
Division of Real Numbers
𝑎
Theorem 2.1 (Cancellation Laws) 1. 𝑎 = 1, 𝑎 ≠ 0
Let 𝑎, 𝑏, 𝑐 ∈ ℝ.
𝑎 1
1. (Cancellation Law for Addition) If 𝑎 + 𝑐 = 𝑏 + 𝑐, then 𝑎 = 𝑏. 2. = 𝑎; 1 = 𝑎, 𝑎 ≠ 0
1
𝑎
2. (Cancellation Law for Multiplication) If 𝑎𝑐 = 𝑏𝑐, 𝑐 ≠ 0, then 𝑎 = 𝑏.
𝑎 𝑐
3. 𝑏 = 𝑑 if and only if 𝑎𝑑 = 𝑏𝑐, 𝑏, 𝑑 ≠ 0
Theorem 2.2 For any 𝑎 ∈ ℝ, 𝑎 ∙ 0 = 0.
𝑎 𝑎𝑐
4. 𝑏 = 𝑏𝑐 , 𝑐 ≠ 0
Theorem 2.3 Let 𝑎, 𝑏 ∈ ℝ. If 𝑎𝑏 = 0, then either 𝑎 = 0 or 𝑏 = 0. −𝑎 𝑎 𝑎
5. = =− , 𝑎≠0
𝑏 −𝑏 𝑏
Theorem 2.4 (Law of Signs) Let 𝑎, 𝑏 ∈ ℝ. −𝑎 𝑎
6. = , 𝑏≠0
1. – (−𝑎) = 𝑎 −𝑏 𝑏
2. – 𝑎(𝑏) = −𝑎𝑏
3. −1(𝑎) = −𝑎
4. (– 𝑎)(−𝑏) = 𝑎𝑏 OPERATIONS ON QUOTIENTS OF REAL NUMBERS
𝑎 𝑐 𝑎𝑑+𝑏𝑐
5. – (𝑎 + 𝑏) = (−𝑎) + (−𝑏) Sum: + = , 𝑏, 𝑑 ≠ 0
𝑏 𝑑 𝑏𝑑
𝑎 𝑐 𝑎𝑐
DEF: Let 𝑎, 𝑏 ∈ ℝ. Product: ∙ = , 𝑏, 𝑑 ≠ 0
𝑏 𝑑 𝑏𝑑
1. The operation subtraction assigns to 𝑎 and 𝑏 a real number 𝑎 − 𝑏 𝑎 𝑐 𝑎 𝑑 𝑎𝑑
such that Quotient: ÷ = ∙ = 𝑏, 𝑐, 𝑑 ≠ 0
𝑏 𝑑 𝑏 𝑐 𝑏𝑐
𝑎 − 𝑏 = 𝑎 + (−𝑏).
We refer to 𝑎 − 𝑏 as the difference of 𝑎 and 𝑏.
𝑎
2. The operation division assigns to 𝑎 and 𝑏 a real number 𝑎 ÷ 𝑏 = , 2.3 ORDER PROPERTIES OF THE SET OF REAL NUMBERS
𝑏
such that Recall the one-dimensional coordinate system. Zero is the origin and the
𝑎 1 numbers to the right of zero are positive real numbers while the numbers to
=𝑎⋅ , 𝑏≠0 its left are negative real numbers. That is, for any 𝑎 ∈ ℝ, 𝑎 > 0 if 𝑎 is positive
𝑏 𝑏
and 𝑎 < 0 if 𝑎 is negative.
Remarks:
1. 𝑎 − 𝑏 = 𝑐 if and only if 𝑎 = 𝑏 + 𝑐 DEF: 𝑎, 𝑏 ∈ ℝ. Then
𝑐
2. If 𝑏 ≠ 0, 𝑎 ∙ 𝑏 = 𝑐 if and only if 𝑎 = 𝑏 1. 𝑎 > 𝑏 if and only if 𝑎 − 𝑏 > 0
2. 𝑎 < 𝑏 if and only if 𝑎 − 𝑏 < 0
3. Division by zero is not defined.
Theorem 2.5 Let 𝑎, 𝑏, 𝑐 ∈ ℝ.
Trichotomy Property: One and only one of the following relations holds:
Subtraction of Real Numbers
𝑎 = 𝑏, 𝑎 > 𝑏, 𝑜𝑟 𝑎 < 𝑏.
1. 𝑎 − 𝑎 = 0
Order Axioms: For any 𝑎, 𝑏, 𝑐 ∈ ℝ,
 Page |3

1. Transitive Property: If 𝑎 > 𝑏 and 𝑏 > 𝑐 then 𝑎 > 𝑐 3. |𝑥 + 𝑦| ≤ |𝑥| + |𝑦|

2. Addition Property: If 𝑎 > 𝑏, then 𝑎 + 𝑐 > 𝑏 + 𝑐
3. Multiplication Property: If 𝑎 > 𝑏 and 𝑐 > 0, then 𝑎𝑐 > 𝑏𝑐. DEF: The distance between two points 𝑃𝑥 with coordinate 𝑥 and 𝑃𝑦 with
̅̅̅̅̅̅
coordinate 𝑦 is 𝑑 = 𝑃𝑥 𝑃𝑦 = |𝑥 − 𝑦| = |𝑦 − 𝑥|.
Theorem 2.6: For any 𝑎, 𝑏, 𝑐 ∈ ℝ,
1. The set of positive real numbers is closed under addition and Exercises: Write TRUE if the statement is always true, write FALSE otherwise.
multiplication. 1. The set {−1, 1, 1 + √2, 1 − √2} is closed under addition.
2. If 𝑎 > 𝑏, then – 𝑎 < −𝑏 2. All irrational numbers have a multiplicative inverse.
3. 𝑎2 ≥ 0 3. ℚ ∩ ℝ ⊆ ℤ
4. If 𝑎 > 𝑏 and 𝑐 < 0, then 𝑎𝑐 < 𝑏𝑐 4. The set of irrational numbers is closed under multiplication.
1
5. If 𝑎 > 0, then 𝑎 > 0 5. The additive inverse of 𝑎 − 𝑏 is 𝑏 − 𝑎.
1
6. If 𝑎 > 𝑏 > 0, then <
1 6. A nonnegative number is always positive.
𝑎 𝑏 7. The sum of any two integers is always an integer.
8. The number 3.14159265 is rational.
2.4 INTERVAL NOTATION
9. The set of negative integers is closed under addition.
10. If 𝑥 + 10 = 0, then 𝑥 = −10.
DEF: The set {𝑥|𝑎 < 𝑥 < 𝑏} is an open interval, denoted also by (𝑎, 𝑏) where
𝑎 𝑖s the left endpoint and 𝑏 is the right endpoint. The closed interval from
Simplify the following. If possible, write your answer in interval or/and set
𝑎 to 𝑏, denoted also by [𝑎, 𝑏], is the open interval (𝑎, 𝑏) together with the
notation or in symbols.
two endpoints. (Show on the board interval notations)
1. ℕ ∩ ℝ
Example: Simplify the following. If possible, write your answer in interval
2. ℕ\ℤ
or/and set notation or in symbols.
3. (−∞, 2) ∩ [−1,4) ∩ (0, 10)
1. ℤ\ℕ 2. ℚ ∩ ℤ 3. ℤ\ℚ 3
1 3 4. (0,1) ∩ [(−1, 2) ∪ (1, ∞)
4. [−4, −1) ∪ (−2, 3) 5. (0,2) ∩ [(−1, 2) ∪ (2 , ∞)
5. [−1, 4) ∪ (−2, 3)
DEF: If 𝑥 is any real number, the absolute value of 𝑥, written as |𝑥|, is defined
−𝑥 𝑖𝑓 𝑥 < 0
as: |𝑥| = { 0 𝑖𝑓 𝑥 = 0
𝑥 𝑖𝑓 𝑥 > 0
From the definition, it is easily seen that for any 𝑥 ∈ ℝ,
1. |𝑥| ≥ 0
2. −|𝑥| ≤ 𝑥 ≤ |𝑥|
3. |−𝑥| = |𝑥|
Theorem 2.7: Let 𝑥, 𝑦 ∈ ℝ. Then
1. |𝑥𝑦| = |𝑥||𝑦|
𝑥 |𝑥|
2. | |= , 𝑦 ≠ 0
𝑦 |𝑦|