Basic Mathematics Study Guide
Table of Contents
1. Number Systems
2. Basic Operations
3. Fractions and Decimals
4. Percentages
5. Basic Algebra
6. Geometry Basics
7. Measurement
8. Practice Problems
Number Systems
Types of Numbers
Natural Numbers: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5... (counting numbers)
Whole Numbers: 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5... (natural numbers plus zero)
Integers: ..., -3, -2, -1, 0, 1, 2, 3... (positive and negative whole numbers)
Rational Numbers: Numbers that can be expressed as fractions (a/b where b ≠ 0)
Irrational Numbers: Numbers that cannot be expressed as fractions (π, √2)
Place Value System
Understanding the decimal system where each digit's position determines its value:
Thousands | Hundreds | Tens | Ones | . | Tenths | Hundredths | Thousandths
Example: 2,345.67
2 is in the thousands place (2,000)
3 is in the hundreds place (300)
4 is in the tens place (40)
5 is in the ones place (5)
6 is in the tenths place (0.6)
7 is in the hundredths place (0.07)
Basic Operations
Addition (+)
Combining numbers to find their total
Properties: Commutative (a + b = b + a), Associative ((a + b) + c = a + (b + c))
Example: 25 + 17 = 42
Subtraction (-)
Finding the difference between numbers
Example: 50 - 23 = 27
Multiplication (×)
Repeated addition
Properties: Commutative (a × b = b × a), Associative ((a × b) × c = a × (b × c))
Example: 6 × 8 = 48
Division (÷)
Splitting into equal parts
Example: 72 ÷ 9 = 8
Order of Operations (PEMDAS/BODMAS)
1. Parentheses/Brackets
2. Exponents/Orders
3. Multiplication and Division (left to right)
4. Addition and Subtraction (left to right)
Example: 2 + 3 × 4 = 2 + 12 = 14 (not 20)
Fractions and Decimals
Fractions
A fraction represents a part of a whole: numerator/denominator
Types of Fractions:
Proper fraction: numerator < denominator (3/4)
Improper fraction: numerator ≥ denominator (7/4)
Mixed number: whole number + fraction (1¾)
Operations with Fractions:
Addition/Subtraction: Find common denominator
o 1/3 + 1/4 = 4/12 + 3/12 = 7/12
Multiplication: Multiply numerators and denominators
o 2/3 × 3/4 = 6/12 = 1/2
Division: Multiply by reciprocal
o 2/3 ÷ 3/4 = 2/3 × 4/3 = 8/9
Decimals
Decimal numbers use place value to show parts of a whole.
Converting:
Fraction to decimal: Divide numerator by denominator
Decimal to fraction: Use place value (0.25 = 25/100 = 1/4)
Percentages
Percentages represent parts of 100.
Key Formulas:
Percentage = (Part/Whole) × 100
Part = (Percentage × Whole) / 100
Whole = (Part × 100) / Percentage
Common Conversions:
1/4 = 0.25 = 25%
1/2 = 0.5 = 50%
3/4 = 0.75 = 75%
1/5 = 0.2 = 20%
Applications:
Discounts: Original price - (discount% × original price)
Tax: Original amount + (tax% × original amount)
Interest: Principal + (rate% × principal × time)
Basic Algebra
Variables and Expressions
Variables are letters that represent unknown numbers (x, y, a, b)
Expressions combine numbers and variables (3x + 5)
Terms are parts of expressions separated by + or -
Solving Simple Equations
Steps to solve x + 3 = 8:
1. Subtract 3 from both sides
2. x = 5
Steps to solve 2x = 10:
1. Divide both sides by 2
2. x = 5
Basic Rules
Whatever you do to one side, do to the other
Combine like terms (3x + 2x = 5x)
Distribute multiplication (2(x + 3) = 2x + 6)
Geometry Basics
Points, Lines, and Angles
Point: Exact location (A, B, C)
Line: Extends infinitely in both directions
Ray: Has one endpoint, extends infinitely in one direction
Line segment: Has two endpoints
Angles
Acute: Less than 90°
Right: Exactly 90°
Obtuse: Between 90° and 180°
Straight: Exactly 180°
Basic Shapes
Triangle:
Sum of angles = 180°
Types: Equilateral, Isosceles, Scalene
Area = (1/2) × base × height
Rectangle:
4 right angles
Opposite sides equal
Area = length × width
Perimeter = 2(length + width)
Circle:
All points equal distance from center
Radius: distance from center to edge
Diameter: distance across through center
Area = πr²
Circumference = 2πr
Measurement
Units of Length
Metric: millimeter (mm), centimeter (cm), meter (m), kilometer (km)
Imperial: inch (in), foot (ft), yard (yd), mile (mi)
Units of Weight/Mass
Metric: gram (g), kilogram (kg)
Imperial: ounce (oz), pound (lb)
Units of Capacity
Metric: milliliter (mL), liter (L)
Imperial: fluid ounce (fl oz), cup, pint, quart, gallon
Time
60 seconds = 1 minute
60 minutes = 1 hour
24 hours = 1 day
7 days = 1 week
365 days = 1 year
Practice Problems
Basic Operations
1. 234 + 567 = ?
2. 1,000 - 378 = ?
3. 25 × 16 = ?
4. 144 ÷ 12 = ?
5. 2+3×4-1=?
Fractions
6. 2/3 + 1/4 = ?
7. 3/4 - 1/6 = ?
8. 2/5 × 3/7 = ?
9. 3/4 ÷ 2/3 = ?
10. Convert 0.75 to a fraction
Percentages
11. What is 25% of 80?
12. 15 is what percent of 60?
13. If a shirt costs $40 and is 20% off, what is the sale price?
Algebra
14. Solve: x + 7 = 15
15. Solve: 3x = 21
16. Solve: 2x + 5 = 13
Geometry
17. What is the area of a rectangle with length 8 cm and width 5 cm?
18. What is the circumference of a circle with radius 3 cm?
19. In a triangle, two angles are 60° and 70°. What is the third angle?
Answers
1. 801 2. 622 3. 400 4. 12 5. 13 6. 11/12 7. 7/12 8. 6/35 9. 9/8 or 1⅛ 10. 3/4
2. 20 12. 25% 13. $32 14. x = 8 15. x = 7 16. x = 4 17. 40 cm² 18. 18.84 cm 19. 50°
Tips for Success
Practice regularly with different types of problems
Show your work step by step
Check your answers by working backwards
Use estimation to verify if answers are reasonable
Don't rush - accuracy is more important than speed
Ask for help when you're stuck on a concept
This guide covers fundamental mathematics concepts. For advanced topics, consider additional
resources and practice materials.
